Cost of going to college in Cork jumps by 3% in 2025 – the second most expensive student town in Ireland
- In 2025, it costs €17,369 per year to go to college in Cork, 3% or €543 more per year than 2024, and €1,398 or 9%, more per year than 2023.
- In 2025, students eligible for free tuition fees can expect to spend, on average, €16,179 per year going to college – €556 more than last year, and €1,081 more than 2023.
- Carlow, Letterkenny, Limerick, and Sligo had the highest jump in average college expenses this year, costing up to €129 more each month.
- Letterkenny remains the cheapest student town in Ireland, costing €1,256 per month: €129 more per month than in 2024, and €168 more than 2023.
- Letterkenny, Sligo, and Dundalk are the top 3 cheapest towns
- Dublin, Cork and Maynooth remain the most expensive towns
- International students could fork out approx €27,871 per annum, €1,391 more than last year, and €2,234 more than 2023.
- Dublin students may have to shell out an eye-watering €642 more per month – around 50% extra – on accommodation, fees, nights out, and groceries compared to their peers in Letterkenny, the country’s cheapest student town.
Soaring living costs continue to weigh heavily on Ireland’s students, who are now spending even more on accommodation and day-to-day living.
Switcher.ie’s Student Cost of Living Guide 2025 reveals the cheapest student towns in Ireland, up-to-date expenses in each place, and how much student costs have jumped in the past year.
The study aims to help students, parents, teachers, and third-level organisations prepare for the year ahead and determine what they might need to budget, save, or borrow.
The latest figures show that average annual student expenses have climbed again in 2025, driven largely by sharp rises in rental prices on the already limited supply of student housing.
In 2025, it costs €17,369 per year to go to college in Cork, 3% or €543 more per year than 2024, and €1,398 or 9%, more per year than 2023.
Cork is the second most expensive student county this year, but it still costs Cork €2,709 less per year than Dublin, the most expensive town.
Overall, students eligible for free tuition fees can expect to spend an average of €16,179 on college in 2025 – €556 more per year than in 2024, and €1,081 more than 2023.
International students could fork out an average of €27,871 per annum, €1,391 more than last year and €2,234 more than 2023.
Student costs climb again in 2025
Since last year’s study, we found student costs have jumped by an average of 4% – more than double the current inflation rate – with students facing higher accommodation costs and college fees, and forking out more for nights out, transport, and groceries in 2025.
Increases overall, per year, include:
- Entertainment: +4% (+€107)
- Accommodation: +4% (+€192)
- Groceries: +12% (+€198)
- Non-EU college fees: 7% (+€835)
- Utilities: 2% (+€108)
Six cheapest student towns
This year, the cheapest student rents are again found in Letterkenny, Sligo, Dundalk, Waterford and Athlone, while Dublin, Cork and Maynooth top the table.
The most significant hikes in student rent were seen in Letterkenny, Carlow, Waterford, Sligo, and Cork, which jumped by around 8%, mainly due to the increasing prices of private student accommodation.
The best value groceries were found in Tralee, Sligo, Dundalk, and Letterkenny, but poor students in Cork, Dublin, Carlow and Waterford could be paying as much as 27% more for their weekly shop.
A night on the town could set the average student back €197 or 3.5% more than last year. The typical monthly spend on drinks, eating out, takeaways, cinema, and nightclubbing is lowest in Sligo, Letterkenny, Dundalk, and Carlow.
1. Letterkenny
Total + fees per year: €14,300
Accommodation per month: €453
Groceries per month: €207
Entertainment per month: €330
Transport per month: €140
Average per month: €1,256, ↑ 9% (€129)
2. Sligo
Total + fees per year: €14,342
Accommodation: €460 per month.
Groceries: €186 per month.
Entertainment: €328 per month.
Transport: €142 per month.
Average per month: €1,260 ↑ 5% (€75)
3. Dundalk
Total + fees per year: €15,197
Accommodation per month: €554
Groceries per month: €190
Entertainment per month: €343
Transport per month: €140
Average per month: €1,355 ↑ 2% (+€26)
4. Waterford
Total + fees per year: €15,327
Accommodation per month: €509
Groceries per month: €232 .
Entertainment per month: €355.
Transport per month: €145
Average per month: €1,370 ↑ 4% (+€67)
5. Athlone
Total + fees per year: €15,659
Accommodation per month: €562
Groceries per month: €213
Entertainment per month: €353
Transport per month: €140
Average per month: €1,407 ↑ 3% (+€55)
6. Tralee
Total + fees per year: €15,817
Accommodation per month: €600
Groceries per month: €180
Entertainment per month: €351
Transport per month: €142
Average per month: €1,424 ↑ 1% (+€24)
Six most expensive student towns
The highest accommodation costs are found in Dublin, with students, on average, paying almost twice as much as those in Letterkenny and Sligo.
Having fun costs the most in Dublin and Cork, where the tab for a typical month of student ents will set you back up to €400, compared to just €328 in Sligo.
1. Dublin
Total + fees per year: €20,077
Accommodation per month: €974
Groceries per month: €243
Entertainment per month: €401
Transport: €143 per month.
Average per month: €1,897 ↑ +3% (+€61)
2. Cork
Total + fees per year: €17,369
Accommodation per month: €688
Groceries per month: €264
Entertainment per month: €356
Transport per month: €145
Average per month: €1,597 ↑ 3% (+€60)
3. Maynooth
Total + fees per year: €17,107
Accommodation per month: €706
Groceries per month: €229
Entertainment per month: €352
Transport per month: €141
Average per month: €1,567 ↑ 1% (+€18)
4. Carlow
Total + fees per year: €16,797
Accommodation per month: €657
Groceries per month: €233
Entertainment per month: €351
Transport per month: €143
Average per month: €1,533 ↑ 7% (+€127)
5. Limerick
Total + fees per year: €16,291
Accommodation per month.: €624
Groceries per month: €224
Entertainment per month: €351
Transport per month: €145
Average per month: €1,477 ↑ % (+€64)
6. Galway
Total + fees per year: €15,867
Accommodation per month: €582
Groceries per month: €216
Entertainment per month: €352
Transport per month: €145
Average per month: €1,430 ↑ 2% (+€35)
Eoin Clarke, commercial director of Switcher.ie comments:
“While inflation may have eased, students are still feeling the pinch. Private student accommodation costs have surged in the past year, and for many, the cost of college life is now at its highest point yet. Even towns that have traditionally been viewed as affordable are seeing sharp year-on-year increases, making it harder for students to stretch their budgets.
Our study found that in 2025, college-goers will need around €556 more than last year to cover annual expenses, while non-EU students face paying an average of €1,391 more. Since we began tracking costs in 2023, average expenses for Irish students have jumped by €1,081, while non-EU students are paying a staggering €2,234 more.
The good news is there are ways to ease the financial pressure; from grants, tax relief, and scholarships to simply making the most of student discounts and freebies – while careful planning, savvy shopping, and using budget tracking apps can all help students make their money go further.”
