Does Ireland deserve its rip-off reputation? Every Friday in August, Pricewatch asks visitors what they find cheapest and most expensive here.

Manuela Mical (22) from Germany
In Ireland for four months

What's expensive in Ireland? Food and drink both in supermarkets and restaurants but especially in the city centre. It is okay when you live here but as a tourist it is much dearer. My boyfriend has been complaining about the price of beer - in Germany it is really cheap.

What's cheap? Clothes are cheap, not in expensive shops, but Penneys for instance is very good value. We have shops like that in Germany but they are not as cheap.

Is it dearer than you thought? I was here before for a few days and I realised how easy it was to spend money.

Have you spent more than you expected? No.

Would high prices stop you coming back? I think if you like a city you will return and are not put off by prices. Maybe next year I will come back as a tourist.

Bea Starace (18) from Italy
In Ireland for two months

What's expensive in Ireland? Food is very dear and the price of services such as bus tickets and cinema tickets. I am a student and I have to pay €74 a month for my bus pass but if I wasn't a student it would be much more. Cinema tickets are €8.50 here and it is only €4 at home.

What's cheap? Clothes and shoes. Yesterday I bought a pair of Lacoste shoes and they cost €40 - they would be three times that at home. Maybe Armani here would be more expensive than Italy.

Is it dearer than you thought? Yes, Ireland is represented in postcards by pictures of sheep and sheep-keepers so people think it is not very modern but Dublin is a very modern city and is very expensive.

Have you spent more than you expected? I think so.

Would high prices stop you coming back? No, I will come back. I want to improve my English and it is very good here.

Marcus Grennan (35) from the US
In Ireland for two weeks

What's expensive in Ireland? Petrol is more than twice what it costs at home, I think. The cost of renting a car is crazy, I was charged more than $100 for a day. I don't know how you can afford to drive.

What's cheap? Food seems good value.

Is it dearer than you thought? No, I was in London before I came here and I thought that was really expensive.

Have you spent more than you expected? No, but I haven't been here long.

Would high prices stop you coming back? No.