Ireland Is One of the Most Affordable Countries in the World for Baby Essentials

Anyone who has stood in a supermarket aisle doing mental arithmetic over a pack of nappies will understand: the cost of keeping a baby alive, clean and fed is genuinely eye-watering. So when research lands that suggests Ireland is actually one of the more affordable places in the world to have a baby, it’s worth pausing the chaos for a moment to take that in.

A new study by international money transfer service Remitly looked at the price of 14 baby essentials across more than 90 countries and then compared that total cost against average local wages. The findings for Ireland are genuinely surprising — and, for once, in a good way.

Ireland ranks eighth in the world for baby affordability

According to the research, the full basket of a baby’s first-year essentials costs around $5,300 USD in Ireland, which works out at roughly 8% of the average Irish wage. That places Ireland eighth globally for affordability — meaning the vast majority of countries in the study see parents spending a far greater proportion of their income on the same essentials.

It won’t make the sleepless nights any easier, but it does put things in a slightly different light.

Nappies and formula: Ireland is among the cheapest in the world

Here’s where it gets particularly interesting for parents of babies and toddlers. Ireland comes in joint second globally for the affordability of nappy changes — covering nappies, wipes and rash cream for a full year — at around $978 USD, equivalent to just 1.5% of the average Irish wage. That’s an impressive result for anyone who has ever done a panicked late-night nappy run.

Formula tells a similar story. Ireland is joint third-most affordable in the world for a year’s supply of baby formula, at approximately $940 USD — around 1.4% of the average wage. For any parent who has wrestled with the relentless cost of formula-feeding, this is worth knowing.

Sleep essentials also fared well, with Ireland ranking joint fifth globally. A year’s worth of sleep-related items — think cots, bedding, sleep aids — comes in at around $353 USD, or 0.5% of the average wage.

Clothing is where things get pricier

It can’t all be good news, unfortunately. When it comes to clothing, Ireland is among the more expensive countries in the study. A year’s worth of baby clothes costs around $2,500 USD — a significant chunk of that overall basket. Of course, any parent who has watched a three-month-old outgrow an outfit in a matter of weeks already knew that. Second-hand and hand-me-down culture exists for very good reason.

The wider Remitly study covers formula, nappies, clothing, sleep and travel essentials across more than 90 countries, so it offers a genuinely detailed picture of how parenting costs vary around the world. For Irish parents it’s a rare piece of reassurance — even if the washing machine is still full, the coffee is cold and you still haven’t found where you put your keys.