The average monthly rent for a double room reached €812 in the second quarter of 2026, while advertised room availability remained below historical levels, adding to the pressure on people relying on shared accommodation.
Ireland’s room-rental market remains under pressure, with new figures from Daft.ie showing that the cost of renting a double room increased over the year while the number of advertised rooms declined.
The Daft.ie Rental Report for the second quarter of 2026 put the average monthly rent for a double room in a shared house at €812 nationwide. That was an increase of 1.5% compared with the previous quarter and 6.3% compared with the same period in 2025.
The report also recorded 2,480 rooms advertised for rent on 1 August 2026. That was 20% fewer than a year earlier and 26% below the average availability recorded between 2015 and 2019.
The figures highlight the importance of shared accommodation in Ireland’s housing market, particularly for people who cannot afford to rent an entire property.
Dublin city-centre rooms cost more than €1,000
Room rents vary considerably across the country, reflecting differences in location and accommodation.
Daft.ie recorded an average monthly rent of €1,021 for a double room in Dublin city centre during the second quarter of 2026.
At the other end of the reported range, the average for a double room in Leitrim was €466 a month.
The gap illustrates the financial challenge facing people who need to live close to jobs, colleges and transport links in expensive locations.
These figures refer to advertised room rents and do not represent the amount every tenant pays. Actual costs depend on the property, the type of room and the terms of the rental arrangement.
Room availability remains below historical levels
The number of rooms advertised for rent provides another indication of the choices available to people seeking shared accommodation.
Daft.ie recorded 2,480 advertised rooms nationally on 1 August 2026. Although this is a snapshot of online listings rather than a count of every room available through formal and informal arrangements, it provides a consistent measure of advertised supply.
The total was 20% lower than a year earlier and remained 26% below the 2015–2019 average.
This does not establish why the number of listings has fallen. However, it shows that people searching for rooms through the platform were facing a more limited pool of advertised options than in the historical comparison period.
Shared accommodation is part of the wider rental challenge
The pressure on room renters comes amid high costs across Ireland’s wider rental market.
The Residential Tenancies Board and the Economic and Social Research Institute reported that the standardised average rent for new tenancies reached €1,839 per month in the first quarter of 2026. The corresponding average for existing tenancies was €1,513.
These figures measure registered tenancies and are not directly comparable with Daft.ie’s advertised room-rent estimates. They nevertheless provide context for the broader cost of securing rental accommodation.
For people who cannot afford a whole property, renting a room can offer a more affordable alternative. However, the financial benefit depends on the rent charged, the location and whether a suitable room is available.
Students, workers relocating for employment and people on limited incomes may all rely on shared accommodation. Rising room rents can increase their housing costs, while fewer advertised options may make finding suitable accommodation more difficult.
The Daft.ie figures do not quantify how many people are being forced to move, accept unsuitable housing or leave particular areas. Those outcomes would require separate evidence.
Why Ireland’s room-rental figures matter
Housing debates often concentrate on housebuilding, apartment rents and the availability of entire homes. Room-rental data provide another perspective on the options available to people who depend on shared accommodation.
The latest figures show that the average advertised rent for a double room reached €812 a month in the second quarter of 2026, while advertised availability remained below its pre-pandemic average.
The figures do not, on their own, explain the causes of these changes or establish the experiences of every renter. They do, however, provide a measurable basis for tracking the cost and availability of rooms over time.
As Ireland continues to face housing affordability challenges, monitoring room rents alongside the wider rental market can help show how conditions are changing for people who rely on shared homes.
Source: Daft.ie Rental Report, Q2 2026; Residential Tenancies Board and Economic and Social Research Institute, Rent Index, Q1 2026.
