A new analysis of rents shows big increases in Dublin, Cork and Galway over the past five years - with drops everywhere else.
The Irish Independent has examined data from 2010 and 2015 comparing actual rents paid across the country.
Areas of Dublin that have seen rent increases include apartments at Islandbridge (30% increase) and Ranelagh (28%), while the rent on three bed semi-detached houses has dropped in Dun Laoghaire, Balbriggan and Swords.
Outside the capital, the sharpest rises in rents have been seen for two bed apartments in Ratoath, Co Meath (15%) and Renmore in Galway City (13%).
Monthly rent on 'large homes' in Dublin can be €2,300, while a similar sized property can command a rent of only €450 in some other parts of the country.
Overall, the report finds that only in Dublin, Galway and Cork is it more expensive to rent than it was five years ago.
The Independent's Environment Editor Paul Melia explains how they looked at the information:
