Cost of going to college in Dundalk rises 2% in 2025

The cost of going to college in Dundalk increases by 2% in 2025, but it's still the third cheapest student town in Ireland, according to new figures by Switcher.ie.

In 2025, it costs €15,197, per year to go to college in Dundalk, 2% or €236 more per year than 2024, and €599, or 4% more than 2023.

Dundalk climbed to the third cheapest student county this year, and costs €4,880 less per year than Dublin, the most expensive town. 

The best value groceries were found in Tralee, Sligo, Dundalk, and Letterkenny, but poor students in Cork, Dublin, Carlow and Waterford could be paying as much as 27% more for their weekly shop.

A night on the town could set the average student back €197 or 3.5% more than last year. The typical monthly spend on drinks, eating out, takeaways, cinema, and nightclubbing is lowest in Sligo, Letterkenny, Dundalk, and Carlow.

Overall, students eligible for free tuition fees can expect to spend an average of €16,179 on college in 2025 - €556 more per year than in 2024, and €1,081 more than 2023.

International students could fork out an average of €27,871 per annum, €1,391 more than last year and €2,234 more than 2023.

A breakdown of the Dundalk costs are: 

Total + fees per year: €15,197

• Accommodation per month: €554 
• Groceries per month: €190 
• Entertainment per month: €343 
• Transport per month: €140 

Average per month: €1,355 ↑  2% (+€26) 

Eoin Clarke, commercial director of Switcher.ie said:

“While inflation may have eased, students are still feeling the pinch. Private student accommodation costs have surged in the past year, and for many, the cost of college life is now at its highest point yet. Even towns that have traditionally been viewed as affordable are seeing sharp year-on-year increases, making it harder for students to stretch their budgets.

“Our study found that in 2025, college-goers will need around €556 more than last year to cover annual expenses, while non-EU students face paying an average of €1,391 more. Since we began tracking costs in 2023, average expenses for Irish students have jumped by €1,081, while non-EU students are paying a staggering €2,234 more.

“The good news is there are ways to ease the financial pressure; from grants, tax relief, and scholarships to simply making the most of student discounts and freebies - while careful planning, savvy shopping, and using budget tracking apps can all help students make their money go further.”

The full report can be read at:https://switcher.ie/loans/guides/student-cost-of-living-ireland/