By Sean Murphy
THE cost-of-living crisis means attending third-level education in the county has never been dearer, according to new figures.
But Donegal’s largest town still has the lowest overall costs nationally for students living away from home, it is claimed.
The comparison website switcher.ie singled out Letterkenny in its newly published yearly Student Cost of Living study.
It tracked accommodation, utilities, groceries, transport, entertainment, gym costs and college fees across 12 Irish student towns, ranking the cheapest and most expensive.
This year’s research found that students eligible for free tuition could now spend an average of €16,158 over the academic year.
In Letterkenny, this sum falls to €14,065 – which is €265 more than in 2025 and €1,274 more than in 2023.
But the town retains its crown as Ireland’s cheapest student destination, costing €5,925 less than Dublin, and €2,093 less than the national average over the academic year.
Letterkenny recorded the second-smallest overall increase in the study, with students spending around €29 more a month this year.
Accommodation averages €463 per month in Letterkenny, the lowest figure in the study, and it also has the joint-lowest socialising costs, averaging €330 per month.
The study breakdown shows that accommodation in Letterkenny is €463, utilities €95, groceries €213, transport €141, entertainment €330, and gym membership is €44 for a total monthly living cost of €1,285, according to switcher.ie.
Their figures amount to an annual bill of €14,065 for third-level study in Donegal’s largest town.
Compared to last year, this equates to an increase of €29 per month or €265 per year – which is a two per cent rise year on year.
It is a significantly higher increase when compared to 2023: it is now €1,274 dearer annually, which is a 10 per cent hike in just three years.
Comparison website switcher.ie has published its annual Student Cost of Living study.
Despite the increases, Letterkenny remains the cheapest university town in the whole country ahead of Sligo, which is the second cheapest, and then Dundalk, Waterford, Athlone, Tralee, Galway, Limerick, Carlow, Maynooth, Cork, and Dublin.
Compared to Letterkenny’s annual cost of €14,065, the cost in Sligo is €14,205 and Dublin costs €19,990.
Students are looking for uni accommodation.
Switcher.ie stated that its monthly figures cover accommodation and everyday living costs only, while annual totals also include the €2,500 student contribution charge, which, it said, is “generally paid separately rather than as a monthly expense”.
A spokesperson said: “Location 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 costs give students in Letterkenny and Sligo a valuable head start.
“Students should remember to claim any tax relief due for tuition fees and rent.
“Planning a realistic budget can also help identify any shortfall and reduce the need for expensive last-minute borrowing.”
She added: “Letterkenny continues to lead the affordability table, helped by the lowest accommodation costs in the country.
“Students in Letterkenny also benefit from some of the country’s lowest socialising costs, with drinks, eating out, cinema trips and other entertainment, averaging €330 per month.
“Rent averages €463 per month in Letterkenny, the lowest figure in the study.”