However, Sligo remains the second cheapest student county this year, costing €5,805 less than Dublin, the most expensive according to Switcher.ie’s Student Cost of Living Guide 2024.
Sligo was also the second cheapest on the list for student accommodation, costing an average of €441 per month, €577 less than Dublin per month.
Since last year’s study, Switcher.ie found student costs have jumped by an average of 3%, with students facing higher accommodation costs and college fees and forking out more for nights out, transport, and groceries in 2024.
Increase overall, per year, include:
Entertainment: +5% (+€165)
Accommodation: +3% (+€174)
Groceries: +5% (+€90 )
College fees: 3% (+€400 )
Utilities: 4% (€30)
This year, the cheapest student rents are still available in Sligo, Waterford, Dundalk, and Athlone, while Dublin, Maynooth, and Cork top the table.
The most significant hikes in student rent were seen in Carlow, Tralee, Limerick, and Athlone, which jumped by around 4%, mainly due to the increasing prices of private student accommodation.
Best-value groceries were found in Sligo, Athlone, Letterkenny, Dundalk, and Tralee, but poor students in Cork, Maynooth, Dublin, and Waterford could be paying as much as 50% more for their weekly shop.
A night on the town could set the average student back €165 or 5% more than last year. The spend on a typical student month of drinks, eating out, takeaways, cinema, and nightclubbing is lowest in Letterkenny, Dundalk, Carlow, Sligo, and Dundalk.
1. Letterkenny
Total + fees per year: €13,147
Average per month: €1,127
Monthly cost increase: +3% (+€39)
Accommodation: €381 per month.
Groceries: €172 per month.
Entertainment: €310 per month.
Transport: €138 per month.
2. Sligo
Total + fees per year: €13,668
Monthly cost increase: 3% (+€56)
Average per month: €1,185
Accommodation: €441 per month.
Groceries: €163 per month.
Entertainment: €308 per month.
Transport: €134 per month.