Since 2002, Eire has used euro (€). However Northen Ireland still uses pound (£) but lot of shops especially in Derry (Londonderry) and Belfast also accept euro. 1 £ is around equal at 1.5 €. You can change your euro to pound at the border, bank and all tourist place in Northen Ireland. Pound is generally not accept in Eire. Credit card is accepted is Northen Ireland but your bank apply very expensive fees so do not used it to retrieve a lot of time.

Life cost in Ireland (most in Northen Ireland than in Eire) is one of the most expensive in Europe. The food is at least 30% expensive, and fuel is around at 1.12 € (in June 2006) for gazole and the same for unleaded. There is some big supermarket like Dunnes Stores or Tesco where you can find cheapest food and it's often open late or open 24hours a day. For sleeping you have different choice :

• Camping : very cheaper with 10 to 16€ for two person but be carefoul of weather !
• Hostel : very cheaper with 18€ by person in dormatory of 5 person. You can also sleep in private room but it's more expensive with a price of 25€. To find a good hostel go Indepent hostels (very cheapest but very very clean). You can cook in the hostel so it's very interesting for low budget or family
• Bed and Breakfast : quite expensive with a price of 50€ for a room of 2 persons. You can find bed and Breakfast everywhere in Ireland (at least one bed and breakfast every 50 meters in some tourist city like Killarney).
• Hotel : very expensive with a price of 65 € or more.