Dublin Vs London: Which Is Better?

When choosing between Dublin vs London, the best city depends on the individual. If you’re looking forward to historical sightseeing, castles and iconic tourist attractions, London is better. If you want to immerse yourself in lively culture, the pub scene and nearby countryside, Dublin is better.

Here, we’ll discuss the differences between Dublin and London, if Dublin or London is cheaper, Dublin vs London weather and the cost of living in Dublin vs London.

Table of Contents

Is there more to do in Dublin or London?

First, is there more to do in Dublin or London?

Overall, there is a lot more to do in London than in Dublin. London is a much larger city than Dublin, with famed attractions like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye, London Tower Bridge and more.

You can find all of the best things to do in London for first timers here.

dublin vs london — Big Ben in London, England

However, there are excellent things to do in Dublin, too. In Dublin, you can visit the legendary Book of Kells in Trinity College Library, tour the industrial Guinness Storehouse, and walk though history at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral.

Plus, the Irish countryside is way more epic than the English countryside. So, if you’re planning to venture outside of the city, Dublin is better.

You can find all the most unique things to do in Ireland here.

ireland vs england funny — Cliffs Of Moher in Ireland countryside

Dublin Vs London: Which Is Cheaper?

That being said, a trip to Dublin is much cheaper than a trip to London.

The average cost of a one-week trip to Dublin is $1000 USD per person. The average cost of a one-week trip London is $1800 USD per person.

Obviously, a trip to London is almost twice the price of a trip to Dublin, mainly due to accommodations and the ample tourist attractions that London offers in comparison to Dublin.

In Dublin, you can expect to spend around $100 USD per day on accommodations and $20 USD per meal. Of course, this is assuming you don’t plan to spend hundreds of dollars at the pub every night.

On the contrary, in London, you can expect to spend around $200 USD per day on accommodations and $20 USD per meal.

Is it cheaper to fly into London or Dublin from the US?

Likewise, typically, it is slightly cheaper to fly into Dublin than into London from the US. Although, the cost of flights to London and Dublin from the US are usually very comparable.

According to Google Flights, during peak summer season, you can expect to pay around $800 USD for one round-trip flight from the US to either Dublin or London.

During low winter season, you can expect to pay around $500 USD for one round-trip flight from the US to either Dublin or London.

If you want to save as much money as possible on flights, download my free printable checklist to learn how to travel hack your way to free flights here!

Is Dublin weather like London?

Next, in terms of the weather you’ll experience on your trip, Dublin weather is very similar to London weather.

Whether you visit Dublin or London, you can expect mild-to-chilly temperatures, clouds and some rainfall.

london vs dublin — Temple Bar in Dublin, Ireland

The best time to visit Dublin and London for the best weather is May-August. During these summer months, you have the best chance for sunshine and t-shirt weather.

You can find exactly what to pack for a trip to Dublin or London in summer here.

If you visit Dublin or London during the colder months (September-April), be sure to pack a warm coat, preferably one that is waterproof.

You can find exactly what to pack for a trip to Dublin or London in fall/spring here.

Cost Of Living In Dublin Vs London

Lastly, according to Numbeo research, the cost of living in Dublin is lower than the cost of living in London.

Even though grocery and restaurant food is cheaper in London than in Dublin, the cost of rent, utilities, transportation, child care and leisure activities are more expensive in London than in Dublin.

Here is a quick visual breakdown for the cost of living in Dublin vs London.

Living Cost Type	Cheapest City (Dublin vs London)
Rent	Dublin
Restaurants	London
Market groceries	London
Transportation	Dublin
Utilities	Dublin
Sports/leisure	Dublin
Child care	Dublin
Clothing	Equal

Naturally, depending on your travel style — whether you buy groceries on trips or eat out for every meal, etc. — the cost of living in these cities may affect your trip budget.

I highly recommend downloading my free printable trip budget breakdown to help you effectively budget your Dublin or London trip. I swear this printable keeps me on budget for every single trip.