The difference between prices in Dublin and those outside the capital has risen, according to the latest price analysis from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The analysis - which is based on data for 78 goods and services from the CSO's Consumer Price Index - found that prices were on average 4.4 per cent higher in Dublin than the rest of the country.
This represents an increase on the 3.5 per cent difference recorded in November 2006. Outside Dublin refers to regional cities and towns with a population less than 20,000.
The CSO said part of this reflects the change in the items covered as the majority of the new items have higher prices in Dublin.
Among the new items included in the list are medium uncooked chickens, draught cider, "alcopops" and small bottles of wine on licensed premises, tinned tomatoes and men's haircuts.
The analysis shows that when drinks out are excluded from the comparison, the difference falls to an average of 1.7 per cent higher in Dublin.
The price of alcohol consumed on a licensed premises was consistently higher in Dublin. The greatest difference was for a half-pint of lager, where average prices in Dublin were 14 per cent higher than outside the city.
Meat and fish prices were generally comparable, but fruit and vegetable prices were mostly higher in Dublin.
It was more expensive in Dublin for nine of the 10 fruit and vegetable items included in the analysis. The differences ranged from 8.4 per cent more expensive for onions to 1.7 per cent cheaper for carrots, the CSO said.
But for other food items such as cheese, butter, eggs, bread, flour, sugar and non-alcoholic drinks like tea, milk and orange juice, prices on average were found to be lower in Dublin.