Switcher.ie reveals Ireland’s most affordable places for first time buyers as deposit saving time soars

The latest research by Switcher.ie has revealed the most affordable places for first-time buyers in Ireland. Our First Time Buyer Affordability Index 2026 shows the least and most attainable areas for joint buyers and sole buyers based on how long it would take to save for a deposit in each region.

For housebuyers starting to save this year, our calculations estimate that gathering a deposit could take longer than in previous years. This is due to people saving less and property price rises of typically around 7% throughout 2025, although projections will change year on year due to market and seasonal fluctuations.

• The average time it takes for a couple to save for a mortgage deposit in Ireland is 7 years 2 months, up from 4 years 7 months last year.
• Cork, Galway and Meath first-time buyers see deposit saving times almost double.
• Longford is the most affordable place for first-time buyers, taking 2 years, 3 months to save for a deposit – up from one year, 7 months in 2025.
• Dún Laoghaire is the least affordable place and could take up to 21 years, 3 months to raise a down payment, which is similar to last year.
• Roscommon is most affordable for sole buyers. Saving for a deposit takes 3 years, 5 months. Whereas in Dún Laoghaire it could take a staggering 66 years, 5 months.
• Longford, Leitrim, Donegal, Roscommon, Mayo, Cavan, Clare, Limerick City, Offaly and Monaghan are the 10 most affordable regions.
• Dún Laoghaire, South Dublin, Galway City, Louth, Wicklow, Fingal, Dublin City, Meath, Kildare, and Cork County are the 10 least affordable places.
• 65% of Ireland’s new builds were completed in the 10 most expensive regions during 2025, while the cheapest 10 areas only attracted 11% of new dwellings. This disadvantages first-time buyers who need to use Help to Buy schemes.
• Find out how your region ranks and see the full Index at Ireland’s most affordable places for first time buyers.

* Deposit saving calculations are based on median annual earnings, median property prices and household savings rates from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

For Joint Buyers

Top 5 most affordable places for joint buyers

Longford was the most affordable place for joint first-time buyers for the third year running. One of the cheapest places to buy a house, it would take just 2.3 years to save the minimum 10% deposit.

Leitrim, Donegal, Mayo, and Roscommon joined Longford in the top five most affordable counties for home buyers. To save a deposit in the shortest time, buyers should look to one of these counties or others at the top of our Affordability Index.

Couples earning the average salary in Leitrim could save for a mortgage deposit in two years and four months, in Donegal, Roscommon or Mayo, it could take two years and five months.

Our research showed that the most affordable places for first-time buyers were not necessarily the areas with the lowest house prices. Although cheaper property prices help, having a comparably higher income makes your mortgage more affordable, and deposits take less time to save. The income-to-house price ratio was around 1 to 3 in these areas.

Top 5 least affordable places for joint buyers

Unsurprisingly, areas in and around Dublin were the most out of reach for first-time buyers, with Dún Laoghaire the least affordable place for both joint and sole buyers.

Dún Laoghaire ranks as most out of reach for mortgage seekers, requiring a couple to save for a staggering 21 years and 3 months. South Dublin, Galway City, Louth and Wicklow follow at around 10 years, making them the most challenging regions for joint buyers.

The income-to-house-price ratio of over 1:5 makes buying in these desirable areas an impossible dream, even for most dual-income households without a massive deposit.

For sole buyers

Top 5 most affordable places

Roscommon, Leitrim,  Longford, Donegal and Cavan proved most affordable for sole buyers. If buying alone, it would take at least 3 and a half years to save for a deposit in one of these counties, based on the typical local salary. A sole buyer can expect to part with at least four times their salary to own a property.

Top 5 least affordable places

Dún Laoghaire, Wicklow, Dublin and Galway were most out of reach for sole buyers, with a sole transaction in Dun Laoghaire averaging €548,000 – meaning it could take a resident on the average salary for that area up to 66.5 years to save for a deposit.

Help to Buy schemes and Ireland’s new builds

Many first-time buyers rely on help-to-buy schemes and grants, which often require them to purchase a newly built home.

We looked at new build availability in each local authority to gauge how many houses may be eligible for one of the Help to Buy schemes.

Our research revealed a correlation between areas with the highest house prices and the number of new builds in 2025.

This means the type of housing that qualifies FTBs for many help-to-buy schemes has been built in the most expensive areas, with affluent areas in and around Dublin attracting the lion’s share of new builds in 2025 and places like Longford, Donegal and Leitrim only seeing a fraction.

Commercial Director of Switcher.ie,  Eoin Clarke commented:

Despite healthy wage rises over the last couple of years, getting a foot on the Irish property ladder isn’t proving any easier. Much depends on where you live, work, and plan to buy a property; however, now that Ireland has laws in place to support flexible working, the daily commute has taken a back seat. Cheaper, rural locations are now a feasible option for singles and couples buying their first home.

Switcher.ie’s First Time Buyer Affordability Index reveals how long it might take to save for a mortgage deposit in each region. It considered earning power, household savings, and local property prices for each area to estimate how long it might take to build a deposit.

We found that the midland counties of Longford, Leitrim, and Roscommon were listed among the most affordable, while the western regions of Donegal and Mayo were also in the top 5, possibly due to their distance from Dublin and other commercial hubs.

Unsurprisingly, areas in and around Dublin were least affordable for sole and joint buyers, with areas like Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown just a pipe dream for many sole purchasers. Our latest study suggests even coastal towns like Galway and Louth are fast becoming out of reach for joint buyers.

To boost the chances of mortgage approval, first-time buyers should invest time in learning about mortgages and begin saving and preparing early. There’s a range of first-time buyer schemes worth exploring, like the First Home Scheme and Help to Buy Scheme, which can help with mortgage costs or provide tax relief, as well as lesser-known ones like the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme.

Although buying a first home is pretty daunting, house-hunters can take the stress out of homebuying with a mortgage broker. They’ll provide expert mortgage guidance, find a home loan that matches your needs, and support you through the application process every step of the way.