Rental Yield Statistics Ireland 2026
Gross and net rental yield for all 26 counties, yield compression since 2015, and the tax reality every landlord needs to know.
Last updated: 31 December 2025 · Data: 2015–2025
6.2%
National average gross rental yield
National avg gross yield
6.2%
2025
National avg net yield
4.1%
After costs, pre-tax
Highest yield county
Leitrim
9.8% gross
Lowest yield county
South Dublin
3.8% gross
Gross Rental Yield by County 2025
All 26 counties ranked by gross yield — the ratio of annual rent to purchase price. Green = above 7%, amber = 5–7%, red = below 5%.
Gross rental yield by county
Dashed line = national average of 6.2%. Source: PPR + RTB Rent Index.
Source: Property Price Register (PPR) + RTB Rent Index, 2025
Understanding Gross and Net Rental Yield
Gross yield is a useful starting point, but a string of deductions reduces what you actually take home.
Worked example
€200,000 property · €1,200/month rent · €14,400 annual rent
7.2% gross yield
(€14,400 ÷ €200,000) × 100 = 7.2%
Management fees
−0.72%
10% of rent
Maintenance
−1.00%
1% of property value
Insurance
−0.25%
0.25% of value
Void periods
−0.55%
4 weeks/year
Income tax
Varies
40% marginal rate
After these deductions — but before income tax — net yield on this example property is approximately 4.8%. Apply a 40% marginal tax rate to the net rental profit and the after-tax yield falls to roughly 2.9%.
Rental Yield by County — Full Table
All 26 counties. Click any column header to sort. YoY = year-on-year change in gross yield — negative figures indicate yield compression.
| County↕ | Avg Purchase Price↕ | Avg Monthly Rent↕ | Gross Yield %↓ | Est Net Yield %↕ | YoY↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeitrimConnacht | €160,000 | €1,300 | 9.75% | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| LongfordLeinster | €170,000 | €1,250 | 8.82% | 5.8% | -0.2% |
| RoscommonConnacht | €185,000 | €1,300 | 8.43% | 5.5% | -0.3% |
| MonaghanUlster | €178,000 | €1,200 | 8.09% | 5.3% | -0.2% |
| CavanUlster | €180,000 | €1,200 | 8.00% | 5.2% | -0.3% |
| TipperaryMunster | €210,000 | €1,350 | 7.71% | 5.1% | -0.4% |
| OffalyLeinster | €198,000 | €1,250 | 7.58% | 4.9% | -0.3% |
| SligoConnacht | €200,000 | €1,250 | 7.50% | 4.9% | -0.3% |
| LaoisLeinster | €205,000 | €1,280 | 7.49% | 4.9% | -0.2% |
| WestmeathLeinster | €215,000 | €1,300 | 7.26% | 4.7% | -0.4% |
| MayoConnacht | €190,000 | €1,150 | 7.26% | 4.7% | -0.3% |
| DonegalUlster | €185,000 | €1,100 | 7.14% | 4.6% | -0.2% |
| ClareMunster | €255,000 | €1,450 | 6.82% | 4.4% | -0.4% |
| WaterfordMunster | €240,000 | €1,350 | 6.75% | 4.4% | -0.3% |
| KilkennyLeinster | €255,000 | €1,420 | 6.68% | 4.3% | -0.4% |
| KerryMunster | €235,000 | €1,300 | 6.64% | 4.3% | -0.3% |
| CarlowLeinster | €215,000 | €1,180 | 6.59% | 4.2% | -0.3% |
| LimerickMunster | €285,000 | €1,500 | 6.32% | 4.1% | -0.4% |
| WexfordLeinster | €268,000 | €1,400 | 6.27% | 4.0% | -0.3% |
| GalwayConnacht | €320,000 | €1,650 | 6.19% | 4.0% | -0.5% |
| LouthLeinster | €310,000 | €1,580 | 6.12% | 3.9% | -0.4% |
| MeathLeinster | €360,000 | €1,750 | 5.83% | 3.8% | -0.4% |
| CorkMunster | €340,000 | €1,650 | 5.82% | 3.7% | -0.5% |
| KildareLeinster | €380,000 | €1,800 | 5.68% | 3.6% | -0.5% |
| WicklowLeinster | €420,000 | €1,850 | 5.29% | 3.3% | -0.4% |
| DublinLeinster | €520,000 | €2,000 | 4.62% | 2.9% | -0.5% |
| Source: PPR + RTB Rent Index — gross yield = (annual rent ÷ purchase price) × 100. Click column headers to sort. | |||||
Rental Yields Have Been Falling Since 2015
House prices have risen faster than rents for a decade. National average gross yield fell from 8.5% in 2015 to 6.2% in 2025 — a compression of 230 basis points.
National gross rental yield 2015–2025
Dashed vertical line marks introduction of Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) rent caps in 2016.
Source: Property Price Register + RTB Rent Index, 2015–2025
The primary driver of yield compression is house price growth outpacing rent growth. Since 2015, the national median purchase price has roughly tripled in some counties while rents — constrained in RPZs — have grown more slowly. Investor landlords who purchased before 2015 are sitting on strong capital gains but face compressed income returns on any new acquisition at current prices.
Highest Rental Yield Counties in Ireland
The five counties with the strongest gross rental yields as of 2025. All are in the midlands or north-west, where lower purchase prices produce superior income ratios.
#1
Leitrim
Connacht
9.75%
gross yield
#2
Longford
Leinster
8.82%
gross yield
#3
Roscommon
Connacht
8.43%
gross yield
#4
Monaghan
Ulster
8.09%
gross yield
#5
Cavan
Ulster
8.00%
gross yield
High Yield vs High Capital Growth — You Rarely Get Both
Counties with the highest rental yields (rural, cheap) tend to have had strong percentage price growth from a low base. But in absolute terms, capital gains in Dublin still exceed those in Leitrim.
Gross yield vs 5-year price growth by county
Each dot is a county. Top-left = high growth, low yield. Bottom-right = high yield, low growth.
Source: PPR + RTB Rent Index, 2020–2025
How Income Tax Affects Your Rental Return
Rental income in Ireland is taxed as ordinary income. For landlords in the higher tax band, the effective rate including USC and PRSI reaches 48%.
Marginal Tax Rate
48%
40% income tax + 8% USC/PRSI
Net-of-Tax Yield (Gross 6.2%)
~3.2%
6.2% × (1 − 0.48) = 3.224%
Small Landlord Tax Credit (2024)
€600
For rents under €14,000/year
Ireland's tax treatment of rental income is among the most punitive in the EU. Unlike most European jurisdictions, Ireland does not have a preferential capital gains or dividend-style rate for rental income — landlords pay full marginal income tax. A landlord earning above the €42,000 income threshold faces a combined rate of 40% income tax, 4% USC, and 4% PRSI on rental profits. Budget 2024 partially restored mortgage interest relief and introduced the €600 small landlord credit, but these measures provide limited relief against a 48% marginal rate.
How these figures are calculated
Purchase price data is sourced from the Property Price Register (PPR), the definitive register of residential property transactions in Ireland published by Revenue. County-level averages use median transaction prices for residential dwellings in the 12-month period ending December 2025.
Rental data is sourced from the RTB Rent Index, published quarterly by the Residential Tenancies Board. The RTB index is based on new tenancy registrations rather than asking prices, making it a reliable measure of rents actually agreed between landlords and tenants.
Gross yield is calculated as (average annual rent ÷ average purchase price) × 100. This is a pre-expense, pre-tax figure and does not account for void periods, financing costs, or management fees.
Estimated net yield deducts a standard set of costs: management fees at 10% of gross rent, maintenance at 1% of property value per annum, building and landlord insurance at 0.25% of value, and void allowance of 4 weeks per year. No income tax deduction is applied — net yield is pre-tax.
YoY change compares gross yield in 2025 to gross yield in 2024 using consistent methodology. Negative values indicate yield compression — i.e., purchase prices rose faster than rents year-on-year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rental yield in Ireland?+
The national average gross rental yield in Ireland is 6.2% as of 2025. After management fees, maintenance, insurance, void periods, and income tax, the average net yield falls to approximately 4.1%. Yields vary significantly by county, from 3.8% in South Dublin to 9.8% in Leitrim.
Which county has the highest rental yield in Ireland?+
Leitrim has the highest gross rental yield in Ireland at 9.8% as of 2025. This is driven by relatively low average purchase prices (around €160,000) combined with solid rental demand, producing strong income returns relative to capital outlay. Other high-yield counties include Longford, Roscommon, Monaghan, and Cavan.
Is property investment still worth it in Ireland?+
It depends heavily on location and investment objectives. Rural and midland counties such as Leitrim, Longford, and Roscommon offer gross yields above 8%, making them attractive for income-focused investors. In Dublin and Wicklow, yields have compressed to below 5% as prices rose faster than rents, making these markets more suited to capital growth strategies. Tax at the marginal rate (up to 48% including USC and PRSI) significantly erodes net returns regardless of location.
What is a good rental yield in Ireland?+
A gross yield above 6% is generally considered good in the Irish market, relative to financing costs and the risk profile of residential property. A net yield of 4% or above (after expenses but before tax) is a commonly used threshold for viable investment. Yields below 4% gross — such as those seen in South Dublin, Wicklow, and Kildare — are typically only viable for investors prioritising capital appreciation over rental income.
How is rental yield calculated in Ireland?+
Gross rental yield is calculated as (annual rent ÷ purchase price) × 100. For example, a property purchased for €200,000 generating €1,200 per month in rent produces an annual rent of €14,400 and a gross yield of 7.2%. Net yield subtracts costs such as management fees (typically 10% of rent), maintenance (approximately 1% of property value annually), insurance, void periods, and income tax before dividing by the purchase price.
How does tax affect rental yield in Ireland?+
Irish rental income is taxed as ordinary income at the marginal rate. For landlords earning above the standard rate threshold, the effective tax rate including USC and PRSI can reach approximately 48%. This reduces a gross yield of 6.2% to approximately 3.2% after tax. A small landlord tax credit of €600 was introduced in Budget 2024 for landlords with rents below €14,000 per year, providing limited relief. Mortgage interest relief was also partially restored in 2024.