Cost of living in Ireland | A quick guide to everything you must know!

Ireland is incredibly proud of its nationalistic sentiments and for all things quintessentially Celtic. Ranked in the top 10 places to study abroad as per the IMB World Competitiveness Ranking 2019 list, Ireland is one of the most hospitable English-speaking countries in Europe. The fun-loving Irish people are known for their love of customs and traditions. Not to mention Ireland is also lauded for its ethereal natural beauty, which is often a feature in many mainstream hit films such as “Harry Potter,” “Braveheart,” and the viral series “Game of Thrones.” Ireland is known for its contribution to literature in the form of literary giants such as Oscar Wilde and James Joyce. However, before you start packing your bags for Ireland, you need to have a broad idea about the cost of living in Ireland to avoid puncturing a hole in your savings. Let us dive into this article for the same!

Factors affecting the cost of living in Ireland

1. Education

If you’re planning to live in Ireland for a good few years, then you need to make a note of the point that the significant brunt of your costs will be that of your tuition fees. A few other aspects of your stay can be factors of a pocket pinch for you.

When you live in Ireland or any other European country, the cost of education is likely to be higher. Another factor that determines the cost of education is the university. For example, if it is a private university, the cost will be inevitably higher. If your chosen field of study is humanities, the cost will be reasonable. However, if the course you are applying for relates to any one of these – engineering, medical, or management, then the cost will be significantly higher.

Another study program that can be cost-intensive is any filmmaking course. And this is due to the cost of film equipment and other technological devices used to train students in a simulated environment. The approximate tuition fees in Ireland can be between $11238.75 and $28096.88.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation is one of the worrying factors for students living in Ireland. If the purpose of your visit is higher education, you will have the option of staying at one of the on-campus hostels. This will be hands down the cheapest place in Ireland to live due to subsidized rates for students. If you are looking for a shared room set-up, the monthly rent can cost you $337 to $674. If you want a private room, the cost will be higher, ranging from $449 to $955.16 monthly.

3. Exchange rate

Exchange rates keep fluctuating throughout the year. What you envisioned as the cost of tuition fees and accommodation charges at the start of your stay can take a different picture and a bill by the time you reach the end of the financial year. This is because all currencies either fall or rise against the dollar. As the prevalent currency in Ireland is the euro, you need to factor in costs based on the value of 1 euro, which is higher than the dollar by 1.12, meaning that 1 euro= 1.12 US dollars. So, whenever you draw up your expenses for your cost of living in Ireland, you need to do so by keeping an approximation for unforeseen expenses. 

4. Location

Your living expenses in Ireland can also be higher or lower depending upon the location of your university. The most expensive cities in Ireland for international studies are Dublin, Longford, and Londonderry. Dublin is the capital of the island country. So, like all capital cities, it too is expensive due to higher demands in terms of employment, education, and accommodation.

Due to the soaring demand and supply gap, you may find the room rent to be quite steep in Dublin. The best course of action in this scenario would be to choose a university in one of the least expensive cities, where not only the cost of tuition will be affordable, but the room rent, as well as food, will be within your budget.

5. Spending habits

Your cost of living in Ireland will also be affected by how you spend your savings. This goes for staying in any city or country, whether that is your hometown or the city where you work. If you like eating out a lot or want to enjoy the nightlife in Ireland, then your monthly expenses will be on the high. But, if you keep these expenses to a minimum, manage to work part-time somewhere, or take up freelancing projects, then you will be able to save up some money at the end of the month that you can invest for more important things or this fund can come in handy during an emergency like a medical crisis.

Cost of accommodation in Ireland

As mentioned above, the second most pressing cost of living in Ireland for students, aside from tuition fees, is accommodation. This not just includes the room rent but other facets such as investing in utilities, services, and monthly groceries.

1. University hostels

University hostel units are always the cheaper option when drawing up a budget for living in Ireland. The average cost per month is around $657.37, whereas if you book private accommodation outside of campus, it can cost you up to $1056.29.

2. Rented accommodation (single)

As of November 2021, Ireland has seen a jump of 6.8% in terms of room rent. The average accommodation cost per month in Ireland now stands at $1700.18 for a private or single arrangement. If you are looking for a well-furnished apartment, the expense can go up to $2000.

3. Rented accommodation (shared)

When you come to study in Ireland and want to save up on money as much as possible, you should ideally be looking at shared accommodation, which is much cheaper. The average cost will be around $150-$400 outside of campus. This margin, however, is exclusive of utilities and food.

Plus, when you stay on a shared basis, you are less likely to feel alone and isolated from people, which is most often a factor affecting students who come to study and live in a different country and city.

4. Homestays

Irish people are famous worldwide for their warmth, hospitality, and respect for family traditions. Thus, a homestay setup is perfect for students who want to experience true Irish culture in the most authentic way possible. Homestay means you will get the complete security of a loving family home-cooked meals. You do not need to worry about arranging for other utilities such as gas, electricity, water, and Wi-Fi. All of these expenses will be included and taken care of by the host family.

If you eagerly want to know what’s it like to live in Ireland, then go for a homestay set-up. You can either lookup for an Irish family through an agency or contact your university office, which will put you in touch with a university-certified family.

Travelling costs in Ireland

Ireland as an island is well connected by public transport, which will keep your daily commute costs to a bare minimum. A typical bus journey can cost you around $16, and a typical train journey is around $14.53.

If you are living on the campus, then you can avoid having to pay transportation costs daily. Traveling long distances can also be cost-effective within the country if you rent cars. A full-size SUV will cost you around $101 a day, whereas a mini car can cost you around $12 a day.

Food and recreation

When you live in Ireland, you are surely going to love the cuisine that is fresh, wholesome, and cooked with a lot of passion. Some famous Irish dishes are soda bread, bacon and cabbage, Irish stew, Irish breakfast, and any seafood-based dish procured fresh from the ocean. Ireland is a country with a rich cultural heritage in terms of recreation. Some places you can drop by for a visit during the weekends or during your holidays are-

1. Lisburn
2. Cork City
3. Belfast City
4. Sligo
5. Limerick
6. The Cliffs of Moher
7. Killarney National Park
8. The Ring of Kerry
9. Little Museum of Dublin
10. The Rock of Cashel
11. Blarney Castle
12. St.Stephen’s Green
13. The English Market
14. The Aran Islands

Are there any additional expenses?

Aside from tuition fees, accommodation costs, and transportation charges, a few other expenses when you are living in Ireland can include the following:

• Student visa costs– All students need to apply for a visa before they can go to Ireland to study. The application part generally involves a nominal fee.  
• Miscellaneous expenses– These include shopping for clothes, shoes, stationery, eating out in restaurants, etc.
• Health insurance– The Irish government has made it mandatory to invest in health insurance so you might consider keeping aside some money for that every month when you are living in Ireland.

Liked this Blog? Read 6 steps to get the Ireland Student Visa | Requirements, fees, and more!

FAQs

Q1. What are the benefits of living in Ireland?

Ireland is a beautiful country considered one of the best places to pursue higher education in Europe. It is the only English-speaking country in the western world that offers post-study work visas to students after successfully completing their course.

Q2. Is it expensive to live in Ireland?

As per a recent survey, Ireland is the second most expensive country to reside in the entire Western Europe region. However, if you choose to pursue your course in one of the least expensive cities, then you can expect your monthly expenses to be well within your budget. This needs to be kept under check by constantly monitoring your additional expenses.

Q3. How much does an average master’s degree cost in Ireland?

The average cost of a master’s degree in Ireland can vary from $4944.35 to $11237.15.