Karol Cop, an event videographer raising a family in Dublin, has shared three reasons people may not want to move to Ireland, despite having plenty of positives to say too
Liam McInerney Content Editor
18:30, 31 Jan 2026
A sunny day in Dublin as people cross the Ha’penny Bridge (Image: kickstand via Getty Images)
A bloke who documents his life in Ireland has disclosed three factors why others perhaps shouldn’t relocate to the nation as he did.
Karol Cop, who moved to Dublin from Europe, also manages a YouTube channel where he examines Ireland’s splendour and heritage while sharing glimpses into everyday existence.
He has previously discussed his adoration for Dublin, describing it as a metropolis that is “never boring” and there’s “always something happening”.
He equally branded Ireland among the world’s most rapidly expanding economies and noted excellent prospects for securing employment across different industries.
Nevertheless, despite the overwhelming positivity, he has identified three problems, which he referenced in one clip entitled “three reasons not to move to Ireland”.
An aerial view of Dublin city centre (Image: Getty Images)
He emphasised that his aim wasn’t to frighten anyone considering emigrating here but to urge them to make an informed choice and consider the lifestyle they desire long-term.
Housing crisis
It’s hardly news to Irish residents that a housing crisis exists and this was reason number one Karol highlighted as a warning sign.
He stated purchasing property in Ireland was “almost impossible” for numerous people, even couples where both partners were employed full-time.
Elaborating on his argument, he continued: “House prices are very high, especially in cities like Dublin, Cork, or Galway. A small house can cost you from €300,000.”
A ‘sale agreed’ sign stands in the garden of a house in Dublin
He additionally discussed the “nightmare” of renting where individuals are compelled to pay exorbitant monthly fees for minuscule flats that desperately require maintenance.
Karol, who is bringing up a family in Ireland, also mentioned he has witnessed up to 100 people applying to reside in a single flat, and noted it is typical for individuals in their 30s and 40s to share accommodation.
He further observed that some individuals lived miles from their place of work and spent hours commuting daily. Concluding his initial point, he stated: “So if your dream is to own a home or live comfortable here, Ireland can be very disappointing.”
Living expenses
His second rationale was equally linked to finances, and he informed viewers that Ireland ranked amongst the most costly nations in Europe.
He explained most items were expensive, including electricity, internet, phone bills, transport, restaurants and simply purchasing a coffee.
South Great George’s Street on a rainy day (Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)
A typical grocery shop can equally drain your wallet, according to Karol, who mentioned the necessity of needing to drive also creates the additional burden of extremely high motor insurance costs.
Sharing his viewpoint, he stated: “At the end of the month many people have very little money left. Saving money here is very hard. You work a lot, you spend almost all of your time working, but you still feel stressed about money because at the end you have nothing.”
Weather
The climate in Ireland isn’t something we can boast about, but it’s equally entirely beyond our influence. Nevertheless, Karol reckons the dismal weather, something he personally doesn’t mind, has detrimental effects on ordinary folk who are battling in other areas of their lives.
He explained: “It’s many grey days and very little sun. You should know, in winter here, days are very short, it gets dark very early, sometimes at 4pm. This affects mental health and people here feel tired, sad, lonely, depressed. Also, because housing is expensive and life is stressful, people work a lot and the work balance here is not always as good as people think.
“You may feel like you are only working to pay rent and bills, not really enjoying life. Yes, Ireland is beautiful, people are kind, but daily life can feel heavy and stressful.”