Couple finds success in Berlin after struggling in Dublin

Daryl O’Leary and Maiara dos Santos Carvalho left Dublin in July 2022 after struggling to buy a home. They lived in a small one-bedroom apartment, paying €1,260 in rent each month. Despite their good jobs—Daryl as a graphic designer and Maiara as a sales manager—the housing market in Dublin was challenging. The couple tried to find a bigger place but found that rents were too high. Daryl mentioned they looked at properties with rents over €2,000. They took part in several property viewings and made bids, but faced fierce competition. During one digital auction for a home in Sandyford, they watched the price jump dramatically. It sold for €100,000 more than the asking price, which discouraged them. After a period of working remotely in Greece, they decided to move to Berlin. They had both visited the city and liked it, and Daryl spoke some German. Maiara received a job offer that included relocation support, making the move easier. They settled into a new apartment in Berlin for €1,700 a month and bought a two-bedroom place in the Moabit neighborhood for €514,000 after six months of searching. Now, they feel much happier in Berlin. Daryl stated the differences in housing costs, quality, and overall quality of life between Berlin and Dublin are significant. Maiara reflected on how tough the home-buying process felt in Ireland, saying it often seemed like everything was against them despite their good salaries.