Cost of Living in the Ireland

The cost of living in Ireland for an international student isn’t expensive compared to the rest of the world. Except for the capital city of Dublin, the rest of Ireland provides a decent standard of living without having the needs of deep pockets. Apart from offering world-class education, the cities over there are known for providing an affordable average cost of living in Ireland. Therefore, you can consider Ireland as your destination for qualitative education with a reasonable cost of living. The estimated cost of living for an international student in Ireland is around £7000-12000. However, this shouldn’t be seen as a blanket rate for living in Ireland, and there are a lot of factors that have to be considered for calculating the living cost in Ireland per month. For example, the cost of living usually includes the accommodation cost, travel expenses, food cost, utility cost, study material related to cost, etc. So the rates can vary from one student to another and thus the average expenditure in Ireland. Many students tend to use public transport, while some of you may choose to buy a pre-owned car and live in an affordable neighborhood on the outskirts. Students also rent a shared apartment and cook food at home to avoid extravagant expenses. The average expense in Ireland is more in tier1 and tier2 cities. There are also one-time expenses like purchasing beds, some electronic equipment, etc. These costs don’t actually feature in the cost of living, but they form part of the expenses for the first year. Students also have to take insurance policy.

Galway is located on the west coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The place has an affordable average monthly cost of living in Ireland. The city has one of Ireland’s cheapest housing rents, and it’s 80% cheaper than Dublin’s capital city. In addition, the place houses the National University of Ireland Galway, which is among the top 1% of the university in the world. So you will get a reasonable living cost in Ireland per month with world-class education. Cork is one of the most populated cities in Ireland. The place is known for its nightlife and lively peoples. The place is a big hit among students, and cost-effective monthly living expenses in Ireland supplement it. University College Cork is one of the best five-star universities with world-class research and learning facilities. The cost of living in Ireland isn’t an issue per se if you are ready to explore places beyond Dublin. Limerick being one of the country’s oldest cities, provides an affordable cost of living in Ireland for Indian students. The place is one of the best for having a high standard of living without deep pockets. For higher education, the University Of Limerick is one of the best institutions in Ireland, with students from more than 100 countries and offering more than 130 courses. The low rents are Limerick’s USP, reflected in the average cost of living in Ireland. Waterford is one of the calmest places in all of Ireland. Here you will not have nightlife or excessive partying. The place is known for some world-class institutions and a place with a reasonable average expenditure in Ireland. The place has Waterford Institute of Technology, which is regarded as Ireland’s best technical institution.

Ireland has witnessed an upward trend in rents, and places like Dublin have become very expensive, and students are finding it challenging to manage their living expenses in Ireland. The rent for a studio apartment in Dublin is around £600. The rents have come down a bit after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the rents have now gone up. With its world-class infrastructure and a hub for business opportunities, Dublin has a lot to offer for both the students and post-completion of the degree. The cost of living in Ireland is highest in Dublin. The living cost for one person in Dublin is around EUR 905. Different parts of Dublin have varying rates, and people can choose a place of their liking and affordability. However, as a student, you must give due importance to the average expenditure in Ireland. The tuition fee is payable once a year. Still, the average monthly cost of living in Ireland will always affect your finances, and a lack of financial capability can put you in trouble and affect your studies. Other places in Ireland are relatively cheaper, but there are places like County Wicklow, wherein you can get high real estate prices. The average expense in Ireland is overly affected by the rents, but this is an issue primarily restricted to the capital city of Dublin. However, even cities like Galway and Cork have costly areas with high rents and the high average cost of living in Ireland. Thus the onus to manage the cost of living in Ireland for Indian students depends solely on them. If you are ready to do your studies at a place apart from Dublin, you will be saving a lot on the cost of living in Ireland. Even all the cheap areas aren’t that cheap, so an affordable neighbourhood will help you in cities like Waterford and Cork.

The fee structure is dynamic, and it depends on a plethora of factors such as the course which you have opted for, the university where you are planning to take the admission, the place where the University is located, etc. The fee is usually high for Engineering and Medicine courses than Humanities subjects. The course fee is also determined by the institutions based on their employability post completion of the course. Many students get a work visa after completing the course, and then they can continue their work in Ireland. You should always consider a range of factors before taking admission to a university, and the foremost thing is the average monthly cost of living in Ireland. Taking the cost of living in Ireland into consideration, you will be in a much better position to make a wise decision in regard to your finances. But these fees are indicative, and you should always confirm the fees with the university beforehand. Also, check for any other extra charges the university might be taking in, and it may come as a surprise if you haven’t checked everything. To lessen the burden of fees, the Irish Government gives scholarships to meritorious students. If you have an impeccable academic record, the chances are very likely that you may get a scholarship. The Irish Government does not only provide the scholarships, rather a range of scholarship exists run by private individuals and organisations. The scholarships have different coverages, and not all are the same. So if you are planning to apply for a scholarship, do check their criteria and the amount they cover. This is something which is going to help you in sorting your finances and in turn, it will help you manage your living expenses in Ireland.

The monthly cost of living in Ireland depends on the place where you choose to live, the lifestyle you are adopting and your personal needs. There are many components of the cost of living, and of all this, accommodation, utilities, transport and food covers up 95% of the average expenditure in Ireland. The average monthly expenses in Ireland revolves around these charges, and it is possible that there might be some alteration in the actual rates. The costs mentioned above indicate that if you make certain changes in your lifestyle, you can make some considerable savings on monthly living expenses in Ireland. Cooking at home, renting a shared apartment, using public transport are few tips for students going to Ireland. The fee structure is considerably high when compared with Indian institutions, so lifestyle-related expenses must be adequately managed to keep your finances healthy.

The accommodation cost depends on the place where you are residing in Ireland. Cities like Dublin have very high living cost, and students have to spend a hefty amount on monthly living expenses in Ireland. The accommodation cost is usually less for a studio apartment or 1BHKs, while for a 3BHK flat, it is usually costly. The rent is anywhere from 450 Euros to 1500 Euros for a studio apartment. However, there is one aspect that makes Ireland an ideal place for your higher studies is that apart from Dublin, all the cities have a modest cost of living in Ireland. Places like Cork and Galway have world-class institutions, but the living cost in Ireland per month is minimal. You can also do some part-time job to support your living while studying. It’s a rising global trend of earning while learning. It helps you live a better life without burdening your family with overt expenses.

On average, students spend around 100 to 250 euros per month on food-related expenses. Food expenses depend solely on an individual, and they can vary from one person to another depending on the lifestyle he or she chooses. If you are regular with an outing and it's a lot at restaurants, it will definitely impact your monthly living expenses in Ireland. However, if you prefer to cook at home, it will substantially differ in the average monthly cost of living in Ireland. A meal at a low-range restaurant can cost you 20 euros while your monthly grocery bill can be easily accommodated in 200 euros. This proves the difference a lifestyle change can create in your average expenditure in Ireland. Many students choose to have homemade food as it is not only cost-effective but also healthy. And after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is always advised to eat healthily and eat at home.

Transportation cost in Ireland can be a bit high for both public as well as private services. It is always advised to use Smart cards given by the transport department to avail up to 30% discount on travel-related expenses. There are different types of Smart cards available in Ireland for travelling within the city and Intercity Travels. However, the cost of travel via monthly pass is still higher than most countries and ranges from 105 Euros to 120 euros. Other discounts also offer Fare Capping and leap 90 discounts, which help students save a lot while traveling by train. Most people use bicycles for local commute, and it helps people stay fit and save a considerable amount on their living expenses in Ireland. You can also buy a bike for rent and use it for the period you are studying at the University.

There can be a lot of expenses that may not figure in the monthly living expenses in Ireland. You will have all these expenses, but they can be reduced or increased depending on your lifestyle. Students have to spend a considerable amount on stationery and study materials, phone bills, internet bills, medical insurances, etc. These expenses maybe not be a part of the average expenditure in Ireland. But they do take a considerable amount of money, and these expenses must be included while calculating the overall cost of education in Ireland. The price of personal services like a routine dental check-up or a haircut can easily add 50-100 euros to your monthly expenses. The expense of books and stationery also depends on the course which you are pursuing. For instance, textbooks in Medicine and Engineering can cost a lot more than other subjects. As far as possible, you should use free resources provided by the university and the resources available on the internet. The cost of living in Ireland for Indian students is usually less as they tend to live in less extravagant ways, so it will not be something to worry about if you are ready to make some adjustments and augment your financial capability.

If you are a frequent restaurant-goer, you must note that Ireland is the fourth most expensive place for eating out. The cost of food is high, so it is always advised to keep a tab on your expenses and rely more on homemade food to avoid extravagant living expenses in Ireland.