Recent property listings in Ireland and Poland highlight a growing disparity in European rental markets, where a budget of approximately €800 per month can secure either a rural outbuilding in Longford or a modern capital city apartment depending on what country you live in.
In County Longford, a standalone 1-bedroom unit in the rural Knockloughlin area is currently listed at €850 per month. Located approximately 6km from Longford town in a “quiet area” according to the listing, the property is cabin-style outbuilding situated on a gravel yard.
According to the listing on Daft.ie, the unit provides basic self-contained facilities, including a small kitchenette featuring a hob and a tiny bathroom. Images from the listing show bare soil patches and a blue tarp in the yard nearby outside.
There is the local link unmarked stop nearby, and it is 20 minutes bike from Longford town according to Google Maps.
Prospective tenants must provide references and a one-month deposit alongside the first month’s rent.
“Ceramic heaters installed to reduce heating cost,” the seller says.
But what would the same money or less get you in another EU member state like Poland?
By contrast, a monthly budget of around €782.83 (3,306 Polish zloty) currently secures a fully furnished 1-bedroom apartment in Warsaw’s northern Bielany district. This includes around €590 in rent and approximately €190 in additional monthly fees.
The Polish listing, posted on the Otodom Polish property website, features a separate bedroom plus living room with open kitchen and is located within 15 minutes’ drive of the city center.
Unlike the rural Irish counterpart, this urban unit includes standard residential infrastructure such as proper built-in wardrobes, a bathtub, a shower, and balcony access.
The property is also situated near the Wawrzyszew metro station, providing high-capacity public transport links.
The price gap underscores the chronic undersupply currently defining the Irish housing market.
House and rental prices across Ireland continue to rise, even in rural areas outside of Dublin.