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EconomyIreland edition

Ireland rent increase: 6.3% in September 2026, still ahead of pay

Rents in Ireland were 6.3% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, a faster rise than in August, while hourly pay grew 3.9% in the year to the second quarter. Pay growth has picked up since late 2025, but rents are still climbing faster, so renting continues to take a bigger bite out of earnings.

Published 2 min read

Ireland · Rent inflationIreland: Nov 2015 8.6%, Dec 2015 8.3%, Jan 2016 8.2%, Feb 2016 8.4%, Mar 2016 8.3%, Apr 2016 8.8%, May 2016 8.7%, Jun 2016 8.8%, Jul 2016 8.7%, Aug 2016 8.4%, Sept 2016 8.9%, Oct 2016 9.3%, Nov 2016 8.9%, Dec 2016 8.9%, Jan 2017 7.8%, Feb 2017 7.8%, Mar 2017 7.3%, Apr 2017 6.8%, May 2017 6.5%, Jun 2017 7.1%, Jul 2017 6.6%, Aug 2017 6.6%, Sept 2017 6.1%, Oct 2017 5.8%, Nov 2017 5.8%, Dec 2017 6%, Jan 2018 6.2%, Feb 2018 6.2%, Mar 2018 7%, Apr 2018 7%, May 2018 7.4%, Jun 2018 6.1%, Jul 2018 6%, Aug 2018 6.3%, Sept 2018 5.9%, Oct 2018 6.1%, Nov 2018 6.6%, Dec 2018 6.2%, Jan 2019 6.4%, Feb 2019 5.6%, Mar 2019 5.3%, Apr 2019 5.3%, May 2019 5%, Jun 2019 5.5%, Jul 2019 5.6%, Aug 2019 5.3%, Sept 2019 5.6%, Oct 2019 5.1%, Nov 2019 4.6%, Dec 2019 4.5%, Jan 2020 4.1%, Feb 2020 4.1%, Mar 2020 3.5%, Apr 2020 1.5%, May 2020 0.3%, Jun 2020 -0.4%, Jul 2020 -0.6%, Aug 2020 -1%, Sept 2020 -1.9%, Oct 2020 -2.4%, Nov 2020 -2.4%, Dec 2020 -2.3%, Jan 2021 -1.9%, Feb 2021 -2%, Mar 2021 -1%, Apr 2021 1.6%, May 2021 2.4%, Jun 2021 2%, Jul 2021 2.1%, Aug 2021 3.3%, Sept 2021 5.5%, Oct 2021 6.8%, Nov 2021 7.3%, Dec 2021 7.7%, Jan 2022 7.8%, Feb 2022 8.4%, Mar 2022 8.5%, Apr 2022 8.5%, May 2022 10.1%, Jun 2022 11.4%, Jul 2022 12.2%, Aug 2022 12.1%, Sept 2022 10.1%, Oct 2022 9.6%, Nov 2022 9.6%, Dec 2022 9.4%, Jan 2023 9.2%, Feb 2023 9.3%, Mar 2023 9%, Apr 2023 8%, May 2023 7.2%, Jun 2023 7%, Jul 2023 6.7%, Aug 2023 6.5%, Sept 2023 7%, Oct 2023 6.6%, Nov 2023 6.2%, Dec 2023 6.4%, Jan 2024 6.3%, Feb 2024 5.7%, Mar 2024 5.4%, Apr 2024 5.4%, May 2024 5.1%, Jun 2024 5.5%, Jul 2024 5.1%, Aug 2024 4.6%, Sept 2024 4.7%, Oct 2024 5%, Nov 2024 5.3%, Dec 2024 5.3%, Jan 2025 5.3%, Feb 2025 5.1%, Mar 2025 5.3%, Apr 2025 5.3%, May 2025 5.4%, Jun 2025 4.8%, Jul 2025 4.7%, Aug 2025 4.4%, Sept 2025 3.9%, Oct 2025 3.7%, Nov 2025 3.5%, Dec 2025 3.3%, Jan 2026 3.3%, Feb 2026 3.2%, Mar 2026 3.7%, Apr 2026 4.4%, May 2026 4.3%, Jun 2026 5.9%, Jul 2026 5.8%, Aug 2026 5.5%, Sept 2026 6.3% Ireland · Rent inflation % · Nov 2015–Sept 2026 -2.4%4.9%12.2%Ireland Nov 2015: 8.6%Ireland Dec 2015: 8.3%Ireland Jan 2016: 8.2%Ireland Feb 2016: 8.4%Ireland Mar 2016: 8.3%Ireland Apr 2016: 8.8%Ireland May 2016: 8.7%Ireland Jun 2016: 8.8%Ireland Jul 2016: 8.7%Ireland Aug 2016: 8.4%Ireland Sept 2016: 8.9%Ireland Oct 2016: 9.3%Ireland Nov 2016: 8.9%Ireland Dec 2016: 8.9%Ireland Jan 2017: 7.8%Ireland Feb 2017: 7.8%Ireland Mar 2017: 7.3%Ireland Apr 2017: 6.8%Ireland May 2017: 6.5%Ireland Jun 2017: 7.1%Ireland Jul 2017: 6.6%Ireland Aug 2017: 6.6%Ireland Sept 2017: 6.1%Ireland Oct 2017: 5.8%Ireland Nov 2017: 5.8%Ireland Dec 2017: 6%Ireland Jan 2018: 6.2%Ireland Feb 2018: 6.2%Ireland Mar 2018: 7%Ireland Apr 2018: 7%Ireland May 2018: 7.4%Ireland Jun 2018: 6.1%Ireland Jul 2018: 6%Ireland Aug 2018: 6.3%Ireland Sept 2018: 5.9%Ireland Oct 2018: 6.1%Ireland Nov 2018: 6.6%Ireland Dec 2018: 6.2%Ireland Jan 2019: 6.4%Ireland Feb 2019: 5.6%Ireland Mar 2019: 5.3%Ireland Apr 2019: 5.3%Ireland May 2019: 5%Ireland Jun 2019: 5.5%Ireland Jul 2019: 5.6%Ireland Aug 2019: 5.3%Ireland Sept 2019: 5.6%Ireland Oct 2019: 5.1%Ireland Nov 2019: 4.6%Ireland Dec 2019: 4.5%Ireland Jan 2020: 4.1%Ireland Feb 2020: 4.1%Ireland Mar 2020: 3.5%Ireland Apr 2020: 1.5%Ireland May 2020: 0.3%Ireland Jun 2020: -0.4%Ireland Jul 2020: -0.6%Ireland Aug 2020: -1%Ireland Sept 2020: -1.9%Ireland Oct 2020: -2.4%Ireland Nov 2020: -2.4%Ireland Dec 2020: -2.3%Ireland Jan 2021: -1.9%Ireland Feb 2021: -2%Ireland Mar 2021: -1%Ireland Apr 2021: 1.6%Ireland May 2021: 2.4%Ireland Jun 2021: 2%Ireland Jul 2021: 2.1%Ireland Aug 2021: 3.3%Ireland Sept 2021: 5.5%Ireland Oct 2021: 6.8%Ireland Nov 2021: 7.3%Ireland Dec 2021: 7.7%Ireland Jan 2022: 7.8%Ireland Feb 2022: 8.4%Ireland Mar 2022: 8.5%Ireland Apr 2022: 8.5%Ireland May 2022: 10.1%Ireland Jun 2022: 11.4%Ireland Jul 2022: 12.2%Ireland Aug 2022: 12.1%Ireland Sept 2022: 10.1%Ireland Oct 2022: 9.6%Ireland Nov 2022: 9.6%Ireland Dec 2022: 9.4%Ireland Jan 2023: 9.2%Ireland Feb 2023: 9.3%Ireland Mar 2023: 9%Ireland Apr 2023: 8%Ireland May 2023: 7.2%Ireland Jun 2023: 7%Ireland Jul 2023: 6.7%Ireland Aug 2023: 6.5%Ireland Sept 2023: 7%Ireland Oct 2023: 6.6%Ireland Nov 2023: 6.2%Ireland Dec 2023: 6.4%Ireland Jan 2024: 6.3%Ireland Feb 2024: 5.7%Ireland Mar 2024: 5.4%Ireland Apr 2024: 5.4%Ireland May 2024: 5.1%Ireland Jun 2024: 5.5%Ireland Jul 2024: 5.1%Ireland Aug 2024: 4.6%Ireland Sept 2024: 4.7%Ireland Oct 2024: 5%Ireland Nov 2024: 5.3%Ireland Dec 2024: 5.3%Ireland Jan 2025: 5.3%Ireland Feb 2025: 5.1%Ireland Mar 2025: 5.3%Ireland Apr 2025: 5.3%Ireland May 2025: 5.4%Ireland Jun 2025: 4.8%Ireland Jul 2025: 4.7%Ireland Aug 2025: 4.4%Ireland Sept 2025: 3.9%Ireland Oct 2025: 3.7%Ireland Nov 2025: 3.5%Ireland Dec 2025: 3.3%Ireland Jan 2026: 3.3%Ireland Feb 2026: 3.2%Ireland Mar 2026: 3.7%Ireland Apr 2026: 4.4%Ireland May 2026: 4.3%Ireland Jun 2026: 5.9%Ireland Jul 2026: 5.8%Ireland Aug 2026: 5.5%Ireland Sept 2026: 6.3%6.3%Nov 2015Apr 2021Sept 2026 Eurostat (European Commission) https://vernumo.com/en-ie/a/ireland-rent-increase-6-3-in-september-2026-still-ahead-of-pay-ixo9f
Eurostat (European Commission)

The long view

highest in 10 yrs
12.2% July 2022
lowest in 10 yrs
-2.4% October 2020
10-yr average
5.5%
Readings below the latest figure
63%

Vernumo calculation

Ireland Rent inflation →

Rent inflation jumped back up in September

Rents in the consumer price index rose 6.3% over the 12 months to September 2026. That reverses a summer of gradual easing: the annual rate was 5.9% in June, 5.8% in July and 5.5% in August, so September's figure is the highest of the four months shown. F1+3

The jump from August is large for a measure that usually moves slowly. One month does not set a new trend, but it does mean the summer slowdown has not continued. F3+1

Pay is recovering, but from a low base

Hourly wages and salaries grew 3.9% in the year to the second quarter of 2026, the most recent quarter available. A year earlier the picture was weaker: growth slipped from 3.7% in the third quarter of 2025 to 2.7% at the end of 2025, then recovered to 3.2% in the first quarter of 2026. F5+3

Even after that recovery, rents are rising faster than pay. The two come from different statistics, a monthly price index for rents and a quarterly labour cost index for wages, so the gap between them is a rough guide rather than an exact measure of how much rent eats into income. F4+1

The cost of buying moved in the same direction as rents. The OECD house price index was 6% higher in the second quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, the same quarter as the latest pay figure. Only one quarter of this index is available here, so it shows where prices stood rather than how fast the pace is changing. C71+1

For tenants, rent is outrunning wage rises

A tenant whose rent and hourly pay both moved with the national averages would find rent claiming a growing share of earnings. Pay growth of 3.9% has narrowed the distance compared with late 2025, but September's rent figure keeps housing costs ahead. F4+2

People saving to buy face similar arithmetic, because house prices in the second quarter rose faster than hourly pay in the same period. These are averages across the country, and individual rents, wages and local prices can differ a great deal from them. C71+1

What these averages cannot tell you

The rent figure is a national average and does not show differences between cities and regions or between new and existing tenancies. The wage figure covers hourly pay before tax, not take-home income or hours worked, so it cannot show how household budgets changed overall. F4+1

The timing also does not line up neatly. Rent data run to September, while the latest pay data stop at the second quarter, so no wage figure yet covers the months of the rent jump. The figures show how fast costs and pay changed; they do not show why. F4+1

AI analyst view

Little change expected low confidence next 3 monthly releases

Estimate range: 5.5–6.3%

Why

  • Over the past four months the annual rent rate has moved within a narrow band, easing through the summer before jumping in September. Rent indices tend to change slowly because most leases reset only occasionally, so a sharp one-month rise often partly unwinds rather than becoming a new trend. F1 F2 F3 F4
  • Pay growth has risen for two quarters in a row, which usually supports demand for rented homes and limits how far rent inflation can fall in the near term. F6 F7 F8
  • Purchase prices were also rising at a pace close to rents in the second quarter. That makes a rapid fall in rent inflation less likely, although house prices and rents are measured differently and do not move in lockstep. C71

What would change this view

  • If the annual rent rate rises above 6.3% again in October, I would shift to expecting a higher level.
  • If rent inflation drops below the August low of 5.5%, I would expect a downward trend instead.
  • If third-quarter pay growth falls back toward the 2.7% seen at the end of 2025, pressure on rents would likely ease.

This is the AI’s own interpretation of the official figures above, not an official forecast. It may turn out wrong.

Scenarios to watch

  • Scenario, not a forecast If the October and November rent readings stay at or above the September rate while pay growth holds near its second-quarter pace, the gap between housing costs and wages would widen again.
  • Scenario, not a forecast If September proves to be a one-off and rent inflation returns to the range seen over the summer, while wage growth keeps recovering, the gap between rents and pay would narrow.

What to check next

  • October 2026 rent figure in the consumer price index, to see whether September's rise holds
  • Third-quarter 2026 labour cost index, the first wage data covering the months of the rent jump
  • Next quarterly reading of the OECD house price index for Ireland, to compare with the 6% second-quarter rise

Verified data used in this report

IndicatorValuePeriodSourcesAccessed
F1Ireland · Rent inflation5.9%Jun 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F2Ireland · Rent inflation5.8%Jul 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F3Ireland · Rent inflation5.5%Aug 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F4Ireland · Rent inflation6.3%Sept 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F5Ireland hourly wages and salaries (labour cost index, quarterly, 12-month change)3.7%Q3 2025Eurostat (European Commission)
F6Ireland hourly wages and salaries (labour cost index, quarterly, 12-month change)2.7%Q4 2025Eurostat (European Commission)
F7Ireland hourly wages and salaries (labour cost index, quarterly, 12-month change)3.2%Q1 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F8Ireland hourly wages and salaries (labour cost index, quarterly, 12-month change)3.9%Q2 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
C71Ireland · House prices6%Q2 2026OECD
Other background figures (9)
IndicatorValuePeriodSourcesAccessed
R166Ireland position among OECD member countries by real GDP growth, counted from the highest (1 = highest in the OECD)12025World Bank
R167number of OECD member countries with real GDP growth data for this period382025World Bank
R168Ireland real GDP growth, OECD comparison measure (World Bank, real GDP growth; can differ from the national release)12.34%2025World Bank
R286Ireland position among OECD member countries by population growth, counted from the highest (1 = highest in the OECD)12025World Bank
R287number of OECD member countries with population growth data for this period382025World Bank
R288Ireland population growth, OECD comparison measure (World Bank, population growth; can differ from the national release)1.63%2025World Bank
R343Ireland position among OECD member countries by share of population aged 65 and over, counted from the lowest (1 = lowest in the OECD)92025World Bank
R344number of OECD member countries with share of population aged 65 and over data for this period382025World Bank
R345Ireland share of population aged 65 and over, OECD comparison measure (World Bank, population aged 65 and over (% of total); can differ from the national release)16.21%2025World Bank

Sources

  • Source: Eurostat, accessed 2026-11-04 — license
  • Source: OECD, accessed 2026-11-04 — license
  • Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) — license

How this report was checked

  • Data: the newest reference period cited is Q2 2026.
  • Figures were collected from the source on
  • Written by an AI model (claude-opus-5-5) using only the official figures listed in this report.
  • Automatic checks passed: every number matches a cited figure, every paragraph names its evidence, and there is no investment advice or copied source text.
  • A separate quality-check model raised concerns, and the report was rewritten once to address them.
  • No person reviewed this report before publication. Automatic checks confirm the numbers, not every interpretation.
Update history
  • 2026-11-04 07:30 UTC — created
  • 2026-11-04 07:30 UTC — approved+published

This analysis was written by AI from official statistics and passed automated checks. Last checked: 2026-11-03

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