Waterford remains cheapest city to go to college nationwide as yearly cost revealed
Meanwhile, Waterford remains the fourth-cheapest student town or city in the country
Waterford city remains the cheapest city to go to college in the country, a new study has revealed.
Switcher.ie’s Student Cost of Living Guide 2026 has revealed the cheapest and most expensive places to study in Ireland.
In 2026, students in Waterford could spend €15,253 over the academic year, 3 per cent or €426 more than in 2025, and €655 or 4 per cent more than in 2023.
Waterford remains Ireland’s fourth-cheapest student urban area, costing €905 less than the national average and €4,737 less than Dublin over the academic year.
The city’s overall increase was close to the middle of the table, with students spending around €47 more per month in 2026.
Student accommodation in Waterford averages €518 per month, the third-lowest figure in the study, after annual rent costs rose by around €77.
Waterford has the second-cheapest gym membership costs in the study, averaging €42 per month.
Letterkenny, Sligo and Dundalk are the only college towns that are cheaper for students than Waterford.
On the other end of the scale, Dublin, Cork, Maynooth, Carlow, Limerick and Galway remain the six most expensive places to study in the country.
Dublin sits firmly at the top, costing students an average of €1,943 per month, with rent alone reaching €989 per month.
Having fun also costs more in the capital. Dublin students could spend around €39 more per month than those in Waterford, where average monthly socialising costs are €370.
Rent remains a major drain on student budgets in Cork and Maynooth, while Carlow’s comparatively high private accommodation costs keep it among the least affordable towns.
Limerick and Galway complete the bottom half of the table as rising rent, utility and socialising expenses place further strain on day-to-day budgets.
Eoin Clarke, Commercial Director at Switcher.ie said “Our research shows that rent and everyday expenses have added almost €500 to the average cost of college since last year.
“Even in towns traditionally viewed as affordable, higher bills are making it harder for students and families to stretch their budgets.
“Accommodation continues to take one of the biggest bites out of student budgets.
“Some of the highest rent increases were recorded in Tralee, Cork, Dundalk and Sligo, where rising private student accommodation prices pushed up the average student accommodation cost in each town.”
Mr Clarke said that students are facing increasing financial pressures ahead of the academic year.
“The location of study now has an even bigger impact on student pockets, with a gap of almost €6,000 over the academic year between Dublin and Letterkenny.
“Lower accommodation and everyday costs give students in Waterford and other affordable towns a valuable head start, while those studying in Dublin face much greater pressure before books, course materials or unexpected expenses are considered.
“Before considering education loans, students and parents should explore financial supports like SUSI grants, scholarships and the Student Assistance Fund first and remember to claim any tax relief due for tuition fees and rent.”
He concluded by encouraging students to budget ahead of the start of the academic year.