Things are getting tighter for Cork’s students.

As the new academic year approaches, the average student’s annual living expenses on Leeside have surged to €15,970, including tuition fees and daily expenditures.

New research shows that Cork is the third most expensive student town in Ireland, alongside Dublin and Maynooth, with students paying an average of €1,441 per month for accommodation, food, transportation, and study materials.

“Soaring inflation has meant student budgets have been hit hard – with rents, utilities, food and entertainment costs skyrocketing,” said Kate Lwlor of Switcher.ie, which commissioned the report.

“In Ireland, the price of a pint is up by nine percent, a takeaway pizza now costs 16 percent more than last year, while energy bills and rents have gone through the roof.”

The breakdown of living expenses for Cork was as follows:

• €15,970 per year including fees, around €1,441 per month:
• Accommodation: €660 per month
• Groceries: €183 per month
• Entertainment: €329 per month
• Transport: €138 per month.

If you’re looking for a way to save while studying, you might like to consider Letterkenny, which costs €1,088 per month – €353 less than learning on Leeside.