Ireland is now the most expensive country out of 28 nations in the EU to run a house, a new survey has revealed.
And the cost of living here and paying for house costs, rental costs, water, gas, electricity and maintenance is almost 57% higher than the EU average.
Ireland is second only to Switzerland in terms of European prices - although country nicknamed the Land of Milk and Honey is not a member of the trading bloc.
Housing in the country famous for the Alps and Toblerone chocolate is 73.9% higher than the EU average, while in the UK it is 56.5% above the median.
Other nations to feature in the most expensive top five for running a home include Luxembourg and Denmark, which are fourth and fifth on the list.
The Eurostat survey, which covered 440 products in 30 European countries, compared the current costs here with the other 28 countries.
Meanwhile, booze and tobacco prices varied considerably throughout the EU.
Norwegians are forced to pay more than 126% above the average price, while in Bulgaria can get their alcohol for 41.8% less.
The cost of food in Scandinavia was also very high - with hard -pressed consumers in Denmark paying double that of shoppers in Romania for a similar basket of groceries.
Other countries listed where food is more expensive include Switzeland where the grub costs 63.6% higher than the EU average
Meanwhile, the UK had prices for housing, alcohol and tobacco, restaurants and hotels, recreation, transportation, communications, and furniture that were above the EU average.
But food, clothing and the costs of buying cars were cheaper than the typical country.
Greece topped the communications cost list with internet services, telephone and postal services making it the most expensive EU country in that sector.
However, in every other area apart from food costs Greece was placed below the EU average.
