More than 1 in 3 young Irish adults under the age of 35 are seriously or already actively considering leaving Ireland due to rising living costs, according to the Bpact Ireland Cost of Living Survey 2026. The findings point to a generational crisis of confidence in Ireland’s economic prospects that goes far beyond household budgeting concerns.
More than half of -35s have considered leaving Ireland because of cost pressures
The survey, conducted among 1,795 nationally representative Irish adults, found that 58.4% of under-35s have considered leaving Ireland to some degree because of cost pressures, including 28.9% who are seriously considering emigration and 4.2% who have already done so. This compares to just 11.5% of those aged 65 and over who have entertained the idea of leaving.
Housing is the biggest challenge
The picture facing young adults is stark. Housing is identified as the top budget pressure by 55.9% of under-35s — the single most distinctive financial challenge of their cohort — compared to just 2.8% of those aged 65 and over. More than half of all young adults believe they will never be able to afford to buy a home. An extraordinary 87.3% of under-35s believe today’s generation has it financially harder than their parents’ generation at the same age, with 56.7% saying it is ‘much more difficult’.
15% of -35s have skipped meals due to cost pressures
These pressures translate into concrete hardship. Among under-35s, 37.0% received financial support from family or friends in the past year, 14.9% skipped meals due to cost pressures, and only 47.3% could easily cover a €1,000 emergency from savings. Nearly a quarter (24.5%) of the 35–44 cohort also received family financial support, underscoring that the problem extends into early middle age.
18% of -35s cannot cover a €1,000 emergency
The survey also identifies a financial support deficit that falls most heavily on the young: 18% of under-35s either cannot cover a €1,000 emergency or must borrow formally to do so, compared to 6.1% of those aged 65 and over. The informal transfer of resources from older to younger family members is providing a safety net that public policy has yet to replace.
About the survey
The Bpact Ireland Cost of Living Survey 2026 was conducted online between 1 and 20 April 2026 among a nationally representative sample of 1,795 Irish adults. Data was weighted to be representative of the Irish population by age, gender, and regional assembly area. Maximum margin of error: ±2.31%. Fieldwork and analysis: Bpact Ireland.
