I did this and received Irish citizenship in April 2023. The cost was 100 Eur for a Passport and Passport Card. The Passport alone would have been 75 Eur.
Ireland is the lowest cost at least in Western Europe. Easiest as well.
Italy is much more expensive. It is common as Ireland is. CT’s two largest minority groups are Italians and the Irish.
The EU is looking at the demographic problems of a shrinking birth rate. They are looking for tax money.
One of my sisters truly wants to buy a home in Dublin. Her husband loves the idea of traveling the EU in his retirement. After three years as her husband living in Ireland he can apply for Irish citizenship. The hang up, he is a doctor who wants to be tied to his work. He likes his job. For now they do not want to pay the high Irish taxes on his income.