Cork city is second-most expensive place in country to be a student

Cork city now ranks as the second-most expensive place in Ireland to live as a college student, with the average annual cost rising to more than €17,500, new figures show.

This represents a €634 increase in the cost of living for students compared to last year, and a €1,533 jump from 2023.

This year’s Student Cost of Living Index from Switcher.ie shows that Dublin remains the most expensive city for college, with students spending almost €20,000 a year.

Cork takes second place, with students spending an average of €1,667 a month on groceries, rent, utilities, and entertainment.

The €17,503 figure includes the €2,500 student contribution fee. For the nine-month academic year, Switcher.ie estimates students in Cork spend €725 a month on accommodation; €95 on electricity, gas, and internet bills; €270 on groceries; €146 on transport; €383 on going out and entertainment; and €48 on the gym.

Switcher.ie said 2023 expenses were used to show how costs have changed over a typical four-year degree, as many students who began college that year would now be entering their final year.

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In Dublin, students are expected to spend €1,943 a month on rent (€989), utilities (€95), groceries (€248), transport (€146), going out and entertainment (€409), and the gym (€58), bringing annual costs to €19,990.

This is a 2% increase on last year and €1,420 more than in 2023.

At the lower end of the index, Letterkenny in Donegal is the cheapest student town, with students spending around €1,285 a month.

In Cork, international students could pay more than €33,000 a year if fees are €18,886. The total could rise further for non-EU students paying higher course fees.

For example, students studying dentistry would pay €55,214 in tuition fees, bringing the total cost for one academic year to more than €70,000.

Switcher.ie commercial director Eoin Clarke said rent and everyday expenses have added almost €500 to the average cost of college since last year.

“Even in towns traditionally viewed as affordable, higher bills are making it harder for students and families to stretch their budgets,” 

he said.

“Accommodation continues to take one of the biggest bites out of student budgets. Some of the highest rent increases were recorded in Tralee, Cork, Dundalk and Sligo, where rising private student accommodation prices pushed up the average student accommodation cost in each town.

“The location of study now has an even bigger impact on student pockets, with a gap of almost €6,000 over the academic year between Dublin and Letterkenny,” Mr Clarke added.

He added that while lower accommodation costs give students in Donegal and Sligo a “valuable head start”, those studying in Dublin “face much greater pressure before books, course materials or unexpected expenses are considered”.