Limerick

  • Purpose-built student accommodation: €360 – €550 per person, per month.
  • University of Limerick on-campus accommodation is fully booked.
  • Other suitable accommodation: €270 - €350 per person, per month.

    • Off-campus accommodation, which is still available on both sides of Limerick city, is a popular choice for many students.

    One past LIT student, who enjoyed both on- off-campus accommodation, said: “I really enjoyed the student accommodation beside LIT. Security guards are around 24/7 and they make it their business to get to know you and make sure you are okay. I had a really nice experience living in Limerick and always felt safe.”

    Another fourth-year UL student commented: “I lived in four different places in Castletroy. In first year, I lived in Brookfield student accommodation, which was safe, clean and ideal for beginning college. I really loved living in a house with my friends after that though. There was so much more freedom and it felt more homely. I always really loved living around UL. ”

    Athlone

  • Purpose-built student accommodation: €250 - €420 per person, per month.
  • Other suitable accommodation: €240 - €330 per person, per month.

    • Athlone is renowned for its affordable rent and high-quality accommodation. Situated in the middle of the country, many people opt to commute to college. One recent graduate told us: “I commuted from Offaly and I saved a massive amount doing so. The bus routes are good too. I stayed with friends a lot anyway. For the most part, the accommodation was absolutely lovely, like Wellmount, Valleycourt or Ardnaglug. There is definitely a need for more housing though as my friends did struggle each year to find their next place. Athlone is definitely a safe area to live but, like anywhere, you should walk with somebody if you’re out at night or in unfamiliar areas.”

    Cork

  • Purpose-built student accommodation: €400 - €610 per person, per month.
  • Other suitable accommodation: €380 - €600 per person, per month.

    • A fourth-year nursing student at UCC told us that she feels Cork is safe and an enjoyable and popular city to live in as a student: “We lived on College Road for two years, which is a high-demand area. A lot of students want to get accommodation here as it would be considered a good area for socialising and parties.

    We had to pay up front in cash for 21 weeks of rent in September and again in January

    “We had to pay up front in cash for 21 weeks of rent in September and again in January for 19 weeks. The eight-bed, one-bathroom house was in an okay condition and I shared with eight other girls. We felt safe in our accommodation as the majority of houses are homes to students. There is need for more accommodation around the college as it can be difficult to secure. In Cork, people begin to look for accommodation in February/March for the following academic year.”

    Galway

  • Purpose-built student accommodation: €583-€752.
  • Corrib Village and Goldcrest Village are booked up for the 18/19 academic year.
  • Room or digs: €350-€700 per person, per month.

    • Galway is truly a beautiful city in which to live and attend college. However, everybody seems to know that at this point and accommodation is becoming scarce while prices rise each year.

    “I lived in the same house up until now. It was in a nice quiet estate. We had a dishwasher, washing machine and a dryer, which was great. Galway is very family orientated, so I always felt safe. I’ve heard of people paying anywhere from €390- €590,” says a third-year mature NUIG student.

    “If you’re relying on daft.ie or one of the agencies in town, you haven’t a hope of getting decent accommodation. There’s been such a shortage the last few years – I know of people living in hostels.

    “The hostels in town actually advertise for student accommodation. Cuirt na Coirbe upped its price for next year by €1,000, which is an 18% rise and it gave students a week to come up with the funds. I was lucky to get reasonably priced off-campus accommodation.”

    Dublin

    Dublin is renowned for being expensive and difficult for students to live in, but experiences vary and there are significant price differences between the colleges. You will need to be quick but it is possible to get semi-affordable accommodation in Dublin.

    City centre – DIT, Trinity

  • Purpose-built student accommodation: €655-€1,511 single room per month including utilities.
  • Room or digs: €550-€1,000.

    • University College Dublin

  • Purpose-built on-campus student accommodation: €736-€1,260 per person, per month.
  • Join the online waiting list before the CAO offers are released on 20 August.
  • Room or digs: €400-€900 single room per month excluding utilities

    • Dublin City University

  • Purpose-built on-campus student accommodation: €588-€710 per person, per month including utilities
  • Online applications for incoming first years closed on 16 August.
  • Room or digs: €450-€900 single room per month excluding utilities.

    • Prices do vary depending on the area of the city your college is located, but prepare to sacrifice your dream of having an en suite room with a double bed in the heart of Dublin city without paying big money. We spoke to one third-year DCU student from Westmeath about his housing experiences in the big smoke.

    The sad reality is that most students either can’t afford or don’t get on-campus accommodation

    “I was in student accommodation in first year which was alright, but not great. It was quite expensive, a good walk from campus and my housemates were not very clean to say the least.

    “I was lucky enough to get on-campus accommodation last year, which was great. It feels so much safer than a house or whatever and you save a lot of money on transport and food because you can just go home to cook lunch. The sad reality is that most students either can’t afford or don’t get on-campus accommodation,” he says.

    “I have a room in Shanowen Square for this year but I am still looking for another place because they increased their price by like 27% so it is around €900 a month, which is insane. Who can afford that?”

    What students should look out for when living off-campus

    When planning to live off-campus, students should budget for:

  • Electricity
  • Heating oil (if applicable)
  • Weekly refuse collection
  • Bedding
  • Inventory
  • Cable TV or basic TV connection
  • TV Licence

    • What to consider before signing the lease:

  • Check walking/driving distance to college
  • Check distance and transport to shops and amenities
  • Check public transport fares
  • Do you feel safe in the area?
  • Will you have your own space when you need it?
  • Is there enough natural light in your bedroom?
  • What kind of central heating is there?
  • Are there any signs of damp?
  • Are there any repairs needed?
  • Are there any security measures in place?
  • How many months is the lease for?
  • Is there a security deposit required?
  • How and when is rent paid?
  • What does rent include? Make sure to budget for bills.

    • Rents have risen 70% on average.

    Rents have risen 70% on average

    Echoing reports from previous years, many parents and students find themselves under financial strain trying to secure accommodation at a reasonable price.

    According to Ronan Lyons’ daft.ie report published in May of this year: “Rents have now risen by 70% on average – 87% in Dublin, 68% in the other cities and 53% elsewhere – from their lowest point. Across the country, rents are significantly higher than a decade ago. In Dublin, rents are 30% higher than their previous Celtic Tiger peak”.

    In Dublin, rents are 30% higher than their previous Celtic Tiger peak

    The good news is that despite this price increase, there is plenty of decent housing available for student rental across the country. Off-campus student housing is very popular in Limerick, Galway, Cork, Athlone and other areas. In Dublin, apartment block and flats are more common. On-campus living is the more popular option for first year undergraduates, with the inclusion of security and a top-notch location for lectures, college events and parties. There are benefits to off-campus living too though, so not to worry if you haven’t secured your place on campus. Having the opportunity to live independently for the first time in your life is an experience in itself and there is no better way to do this than budgeting for bills and having the freedom to invite over whoever you want, whenever you want. Plus, the cost of rent off-campus is much lower in most places.