Moving to Kilkenny in 2026
Ireland's medieval capital offers genuine character, very affordable living, and a compact city that makes daily life genuinely pleasant.
1. Why expats choose Kilkenny
Kilkenny is one of Ireland's most distinctive cities, with a compact medieval core, a world-famous arts festival, and a quality of life that consistently draws people who visit and decide to stay. The population of about 27,000 is small enough that you feel embedded in the community, large enough to have all the services you need.
It is not a major tech hub, but that is part of its appeal. Kilkenny attracts remote workers, those working in the broader South East region, people employed in agriculture, food and drink (Glanbia and Diageo both have significant presences), and those in HSE and public sector roles in the South East. Taxback.com, one of Ireland's larger fintech companies, is headquartered here.
Rents are among the most affordable of any Irish city, and property purchase prices follow the same pattern. For families moving from Dublin who can maintain remote-first roles, Kilkenny offers a lifestyle shift that is hard to replicate anywhere else in Ireland.
The Marble City: Kilkenny takes its nickname from the dark limestone (sometimes called marble) quarried locally for centuries. The medieval architecture, narrow lanes, and Kilkenny Castle give it an atmosphere that no other Irish city quite matches.
2. Kilkenny city neighbourhoods
City centre / Medieval Quarter
The historic core around Kilkenny Castle, Parliament Street, and the Butter Slip. Period properties, vibrant pubs and restaurants, and walkable to everything. Higher rents for the area, but still very affordable by national standards.
Freshford Road / Hebron Road (north)
Residential suburbs north of the city with newer housing estates, good primary schools, and close to the Kilkenny Business Park. Popular with families. A 10-minute drive or cycle to the city centre.
Callan Road / Loughboy (west)
Southwest suburbs with good value family homes. Close to Nowlan Park (Kilkenny GAA) and well-served by secondary schools. The most affordable residential options within the city boundaries.
Ferrybank / Waterford Road (south)
South Kilkenny, straddling the River Nore and close to the Waterford city boundary. Those who work across both cities find this a useful location. Quieter and more suburban in character.
3. Rent in Kilkenny 2026
| Property type | Kilkenny city avg/month |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed | €900–€1,200 |
| 2-bedroom apartment | €1,200–€1,500 |
| 3-bedroom house | €1,400–€1,800 |
Source: RTB Rent Index Q4 2025.
Kilkenny city is in a Rent Pressure Zone. Annual increases within existing tenancies are capped. New tenancies are set at market rate. Rents here are among the lowest of any Irish city, making Kilkenny one of the most affordable urban options in the country.
4. Commuter towns around Kilkenny
Kilkenny has a rail connection south to Thomastown and New Ross corridor, plus bus services to surrounding towns across Kilkenny and Wexford.
Thomastown — 20 minutes by rail
A small arts-community town on the River Nore with a strong creative culture around the Grennan Mill Craft School. Very low rents. Grennan College is a well-regarded secondary. Popular with remote workers and artists.
Callan — 22 minutes by bus
An old market town with a CBS secondary and primary school. Some of the lowest rents in Leinster. Compact, community-focused, genuinely affordable for families on a budget.
New Ross — 25 minutes by road
Technically Wexford, but one of Kilkenny's closest commuter options by road. Full services, two secondary schools (CBS and Good Counsel College), and a strong civic identity. The Dunbrody Famine Ship is a unique local attraction.
Castlecomer — 28 minutes by bus
The former coal-mining heartland of Ireland, reinvented with adventure tourism and artisan food. Very low rents. Community school. Strong fit for remote workers who want maximum space at minimum cost.
5. Getting around Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a small city and is highly walkable within the city core. Irish Rail services run from MacDonagh Station to Dublin Heuston (1h 45min) and south to Thomastown and Waterford. The Dublin service is reliable and frequent, making Kilkenny a viable option for those with a two-to-three-day-per-week Dublin commute.
Bus Éireann operates regional routes to Carlow, Waterford, and Clonmel, and local town services across Kilkenny county. The city itself is compact enough that most residents walk or cycle for day-to-day errands.
A car is recommended for those with children in the commuter belt towns, or for accessing the surrounding countryside and National Park. Parking in Kilkenny city is straightforward compared to Dublin or Cork, with several car parks in the city centre and no major congestion issues outside school hours.
Waterford Airport is the nearest regional airport, around 50 minutes south by road. Dublin Airport is 2 hours by road or rail-and-Aircoach.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kilkenny a good city to live in?
- Kilkenny consistently ranks as one of Ireland's most liveable cities. It has a strong community identity, excellent food and arts culture, very affordable housing, and a medieval character that makes day-to-day life genuinely pleasant. It is particularly well-suited to families, remote workers, and those in the South East public sector.
- Can you commute from Kilkenny to Dublin?
- Yes. The Irish Rail service from MacDonagh Station to Dublin Heuston takes around 1h 45min and runs multiple times daily. For a two-to-three-day Dublin commute, Kilkenny is a workable option, particularly given the significant savings on rent and cost of living.
- What is the job market like in Kilkenny?
- Kilkenny is not a major employment hub compared to Dublin, Cork, or Limerick. The main employers are in agri-food (Glanbia), hospitality, public sector (HSE, County Council), and a small number of tech and fintech firms. Most expats in Kilkenny are either remote workers, partners of locally-employed spouses, or in the public sector.