Your home is not just the largest financial investment you are ever likely to make, it is also a refuge from the world for you and your loved ones. Home insurance is invaluable for financial protection against an unexpected event and for peace of mind. 

But how much should you expect to pay for home insurance and how do you know if you are getting value for money? It can be hard to know if you are getting a good deal.

This home insurance cost guide will outline the factors associated with the cost of home insurance and also how to tell if the quote you are getting is in the right ballpark compared to similar homes in Ireland.

Home-Insurance-Cost-Guide

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Home insurance costs

Home insurance costs are calculated based on a range of factors, some related to the property itself, some related to your address, and some related to wider economic and geological factors. 

Insurers will evaluate the degree of risk related to each individual property in calculating your home insurance premium.

Added to this is the influence of climate change, with Ireland’s increasingly erratic and unpredictable weather playing a part in home insurance pricing and also availability for homeowners. Recent large scale storm damage and our moist climate contribute to an increase in insurance claims which can only have an impact on insurance prices.

Factors that contribute to cost of home insurance

So, which factors contribute to the quote you get when you go to renew your home insurance? Here are some:

The size and type of your property will affect how much you pay for home insurance. Home insurance buildings cover is a significant portion of the cost of your policy and this is based on the rebuild cost.

The rebuild cost is based on how much it would cost to repair or rebuild the fabric of your home should an event such as a fire, storm, or flood occur.

Larger homes and older homes, especially protected structures, may have a higher rebuild cost and so cost more to insure.

Home contents cover is based on how much it would cost to replace your belongings should they be destroyed or damaged in an unexpected event. 

The contents cover in your home insurance policy is usually based on a proportion of your buildings cover. If you have tenants insurance, the value of your contents will determine your premium also.

However, if you have a higher overall value of contents cover to protect your belongings, or if you add specified additional high value items to your policy, this will increase your home insurance cost. Adding cover for accidental damage or ‘all risks’ cover for your possessions outside the home will also add to the cost of your premium.

The location of your home has several considerations for home insurers such as crime rates, flood risk, and geological factors such as likelihood of subsidence.

Homeowners in areas at risk of flooding, for example, will pay more for home insurance and may even find that flood cover is excluded from their home insurance.

Crime rates in your property’s location will also affect your likelihood of being burgled and needing to make a home insurance claim.

Installing measures to protect your home can reduce your home insurance cost significantly. 

Alarms, especially monitored or CCTV alarms, high security locks, and fire alarms all mitigate the risk of burglary or fire in your home.

Maintaining your home to a good standard and ensuring that locks, alarms etc. are in good working order will all lessen the chances of having to make a claim and mean that you keep your home insurance premium down.

If there have been previous home insurance claims at your address, or if you have made a claim on a previous home insurance policy, then your home insurance will be more expensive.

The good news is that a higher rate for your home insurance may be only for a few years or based on recent or larger scale claims so this factor does not always apply.

Average home insurance prices

Information from the Central Statistics Office consumer price index for May 2025, puts the average home insurance premium in Dublin and surrounding areas at between €455 to €865 per year. Other sources suggest a national average of €430 per year.

The wide variation reflects the range of factors unique to each property as outlined above.

Here are some home insurance price ranges for different homes in Ireland.

Cork County, 5 bed house

Built in 2006, 5 bed 7 bath, standard alarm, buildings cover €400,000 and contents cover €50,000, no cover for additional contents or accidental damage.

Allianz Select €718.53 per year, €250 excess
Aviva bLive Fixed €772.19 per year, €275 excess
AXA €1,357.48 per year, €350 excess
Redclick Generali €1,422.72 per year, €250 excess

Wexford, bungalow

Built in 2005, 4 bed 2 bath, monitored alarm, buildings cover €180,000 and contents cover €30,000, no cover for additional contents or additional damage.

Aviva bLive Fixed €351.18 per year, €275 excess
Allianz Select €433.08 per year, €250 excess
RSA Safehome Choice €575.76 per year, €350 excess
Redclick Generali €793.71 per year, €250 excess

Dublin 8, 4 bed house

Built in 1900, 4 bed 2 bath, monitored alarm, buildings cover €200,000 and contents cover €40,000, no cover for additional contents or accidental damage.

 

Allianz Select €421.37 per year, €250 excess
RSA Safehome Choice €934.82 per year, €350 excess
Redclick Generali €1027.24 per year, €275 excess

Athlone, 2 bed terraced house

Built in 2015, 2 bed 2 bath, standard alarm, buildings cover €150,000 and contents cover €40,000, no cover for additional contents or accidental damage.

Ivernia Home Plus €288.90 per year, €300 excess
Allianz Select €323.59 per year, €250 excess
Aviva bLive Fixed €353.98 per year, €274 excess
Zurich Homestar €480.76 per year, €350 excess

How to save on home insurance

If you feel that the quote you have received is on the high side there are ways to reduce the cost of home insurance.

Do not automatically renew your home insurance policy every year as insurance companies do not always value loyalty. It is a good idea in any case to regularly review your home insurance cover to ensure it adequately protects your home.

Get several quotes to compare prices and insurers, and consider buying home insurance online for online discounts.

You will make savings with multiple policy discounts by having more than one policy with the same insurer.

Insuring your car and home with the same insurer, for example, or insuring your home and holiday home, van, or even your pet can all get you a discount.

The excess on your policy is the amount that you pay upfront when it comes to making a claim. 

If you take a higher voluntary excess, then you may lower your home insurance premium. Bear in mind,though, that this may make it uneconomic to make a smaller claim on the policy.

Your home insurance should fit with your needs and budget and there are many individual factors that contribute to your home insurance price.

Seeking expert advice, such as speaking to a Compare Insurance specialist insurance advisor, will mean that you tailor your cover to protect what is most important to you without spending more than you have to. Our advisors have a deep understanding of and insight into the Irish home insurance market and can get you a great deal on your home insurance.

Compare Insurance

Start saving on your home insurance today. Get a quote online or browse our articles on home insurance and complete our online assessment to get and compare great quotes on home insurance.

You can also get a consultation with a Central Bank vetted insurance advisor to tailor your home insurance cover so that it is the best fit for you and your budget.

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Take our 90-second online assessment and get the best home insurance quotes on the market. Our vetted home insurance partners are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and will outline the various options available to you.