Essential minimum living costs increased by 1.8% in the past year with a cumulative increase of 18.8% nationally since 2020.
The figures are contained in the annual Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) report published by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
The research team found that households with older children (second-level age) were at a greater risk of deep income inadequacy when dependent on social welfare.
The cost of children aged 12-years and over is the highest of any other age group according to research.
At €158 per week in 2025, social welfare meets 64% of needs for this age-group.
The cost of the needs of a primary school age child is €98, while the needs of a preschool-age child costs €72 per week.
The report also found that the essential standard of living needs for a one parent household with a primary and second-level child cost €555 per week.
When dependent on social welfare supports, income only met 82% of this household’s minimum needs.
The cost of a minimum basket of goods for an urban single adult in minimum wage full-time employment rose by 5.6% in 2025.
The report said that while employment generally improves household income, the adequacy of the national minimum wage “continues to be a concern”.
