- Energy
The average Cork household now pays around €1,729 a year for electricity and €1,498 for gas on standard tariffs.
The biggest opportunity to cut costs remains switching. Moving both gas and electricity to the cheapest discounted plans currently on the market could save around €817 a year compared with sticking to a standard deal.
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- Broadband and mobile
Many customers will see prices rise again in 2026 due to CPI-linked increases built into contracts, typically applied in spring. Under current rules, these increases don’t allow customers to cancel penalty-free mid-contract.
New consumer protection laws expected later in 2026 will change this, but for now, switching once you’re out of contract remains the best way to avoid higher bills, as even modest increases can add €60–€120 a year to household costs.
- Health insurance
The average cost of a plan has climbed steadily with the typical adult premium reaching around €1,880, up about 8% since the start of 2025 and up to €250 more per year per family.
Anyone coming up to renewal should review their policy carefully, as switching to a better-value plan - while keeping the cover you need - can still deliver meaningful savings.
- Car insurance
Central Bank figures show the average motor insurance premium rose by around 9% in 2024, reaching about €623 per policy.
Drivers looking to keep costs down in 2026 can shop around at renewal and compare quotes, and pay annually instead of monthly where possible.
- Groceries
With the average family grocery shop costing around €400-€500 a month on supermarket food alone, groceries continue to put real pressure on household budgets.
Switcher.ie’s analysis of big-label versus own-brand items across Ireland’s major supermarkets shows families could cut their food bills by HALF by choosing supermarket value ranges, freeing up around €2,750 over the course of a year.
- PRSI
PRSI is increasing in stages each October until 2028. From October 2026, most employees will see their PRSI rate rise from 4.2% to 4.35% - around €75 extra per year for someone earning €50,000.
Make sure you’re not overpaying tax. Many workers are entitled to refunds for credits and reliefs they haven’t claimed, with the average tax refund worth around €900.
