Ireland is a beautiful island with a mild climate. Like India, Ireland brags it’s youth populace, with 40% of its residents being younger than 25. It was positioned the most amiable nation planet by Lonely Planet in 2008 and 2010 and 10th most secure nation out of 27 OECD nations. The Irish government is committed to supporting students and will invest 11.1 billion EUR in education in 2020. To attract international students, hundreds of scholarship and funding programs are available. Here are some important specifics to look at:
Accommodation Costs for Students
The costs of living in Ireland are a bit higher than the average for the European area. The spending should be somewhere between 550 – 1,000 EUR/month. Average costs of living in Irish cities (including accommodation costs):
- Dublin ~ 1,100 – 1,800 EUR/month
- Cork ~ 860 – 1,400 EUR/month
- Galway and other smaller cities ~ 800 – 1,100 EUR/month
Colleges/Universities offer accommodation in student dorms, which generally costs ~ 200 – 300 EUR which is above the European average. It is hard to track down a place as they are limited and the demand is huge. Apart from residence halls, you can rent/share an apartment or choose to live with an Irish family.
The average accommodation prices for students in Ireland are:
- Student living alone/partner/colleagues: 400 – 900 EUR/month, 450 – 550 EUR/month
- Student living on campus: 300 – 650 EUR/month
Food & Other Costs
Average monthly food costs are not high. You’ll spend around 250 – 350 EUR/month for grocery shopping. You can find cheaper food products in supermarkets such as Tesco, Dunnes, Aldi, Superquinn or Lidl. A typical 3 course meal in a mid-range restaurant would cost around 55 EUR, whereas, one can dine in a café for 15 EUR. The range is vast and there are a lot of options.
Other costs associated with accommodation:
- Utilities: around 30 – 50 EUR/month
- Internet: up to 60 EUR/month
Transportation Costs
Around 27% of the students use public transport in Ireland, and a monthly pass with a special discount for students is around 50 – 55 EUR/month. The most popular mode of transportation is the bicycle, chosen by 38% of the students. You can rent a bicycle to get around the city for around 20 EUR/day.