How to Budget

The following approximate figures serve as an indication of the overall expenses per month.   Please note these figures serve as a guide only.

Accommodation Costs

Cork English Academy can organise both self catering apartments where you will share with other students or a host family for the duration of your stay. Please see our accommodation page for prices and more details.

If you are staying in Cork for a long term period you may decide to arrange your own accommodation. Please be aware that rents for a single room in a shared house or apartment in Cork city are usually between €300 and €500 per month. Prior to moving into your new accommodation you are usually required to pay the landlord or Letting Agency one month’s rent and a refundable security deposit (usually the same price as a month’s rent).

Electricity, heating and internet bills are usually extra at about €50 per person per month (based on three people sharing in a house/apartment).

Click Here for some useful tips for students renting accommodation in cork.

Food Costs

Source: www.tesco.ie . Tesco is a supermarket chain. Tesco’s own brand may be cheaper than other brands.

Item	Price
Apples	€0.43 each
Bananas	€1.25/kg
Big Mac Meal (medium)	€6.40 approx
Butter  250g	€1.84
Cereal – Kellogg’s Cornflakes 500g	€2.29
Chicken fillets – Tesco	€4.29 / kg
Coca Cola 6 x 330ml	€3.75
Coffee 100g instant Tesco	€3.49
Eggs 6 pack Tesco	€1.59
Loaf of Bread 800g	€1.87
Milk (1 litre)	€1.28
Onions	€1.39/ kg
Oranges	€0.39 each
Pasta 220g Tesco	€1.74
Potatoes 5kg  Tesco organic	€6.99
Rice 1 kg Tesco	€2.00 (Basmati €3.00)
Sugar 1kg Tesco	€0.68
Tea  bags 250g	€1.99
Toilet Tissue 4 Roll	€2.00
Toothpaste 100ml	€2.99
Tuna – John West (brine) 185g	€1.65
Washing Powder 2.4kg Tesco	€5.85
Water 1 liter Ballygowan	€1.25
Yoghurt 6 x 125g	€3.00

Miscellaneous Costs

Item	Price
Cinema Ticket	€5 – €9
Hair Cut	€10 – €40
Newspaper	€1.90
Second hand bike	€60 – €100
Sports Event	€6 – €25

Top Shops for Groceries and Homeware

• Groceries:
  • Tesco, Aldi & Lidl: Supermarkets offering budget-friendly prices.
  • English Market: An iconic indoor market in Cork City offering fresh produce, meat, and artisanal goods.
• Homeware:
  • Penneys (Primark): Great for affordable clothing and homeware.
  • Michael Guineys: Affordable homeware
  • Dealz: For budget-friendly household essentials.

How to prepare for the weather in Cork.

Everybody talks about the weather in Cork… a great way to practice your English! You’ll often hear people talk about ‘four seasons in one day’. Here’s what to expect :

The Basics

• Cork has a maritime climate, meaning mild winters and cool summers.
• Winter temperatures rarely drop below freezing (typically 3°C – 8°C), while summer hovers between 15°C – 20°C.

Rain Gear

• Top- Tip: Carry a light packable rain jacket. Even on sunny days, it’s common for a quick shower to pass through.
• Waterproof shoes are also useful, especially in the winter months when streets can get wet.

Seasonal Tips

• Spring (March to May): A mix of sunshine and showers, temperatures ranging from 8°C to 14°C. Perfect for layering lighter clothing.
• Summer (June to August): Milder than what many international students might expect. A light jacket will still come in handy, especially for the evenings.
• Autumn (September to November): Cooler, with the beautiful changing colors of the leaves. A waterproof coat is a must.
• Winter (December to February): Rarely snows, but damp, cold winds mean you’ll want a warm coat, scarf, and gloves.

Consider a Digital Account

• Both Revolut or Money Jar now have Irish IBANs starting with IE (for some employers in Ireland this is important).
• You can use this digital account to show proof of having €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) if you like. You can make an electronic transfer from one account to this new digital account.
• You cannot lodge cash to these accounts. You can only make online transfers.
• You can open a digital account within minutes!

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Open a Regular (traditional) Irish Bank Account

Students can now open accounts using the AIB App. Search for the AIB Banking App on your phone.

If you get into difficulty with registering your details on the App you are welcome to visit the AIB Branch on South Mall, Cork city centre (2 minutes walk from the school). 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to opening an account on the AIB Mobile Banking App:

Step 1: Download AIB App

Download the AIB Mobile Banking App from the App Store or Play Store. Select the option to “Become an AIB customer”.

Step 2: Verify email address

Enter your e-mail address. We’ll send a unique code to your inbox that is required to continue

Step 3: Provide some personal details

We’ll ask you to enter your personal details and present you with the account suitable for you, then…

Step 4: Complete a video call

We will connect with you to a video call with an agent, so you’ll need your photo ID and stable internet connection. Our agent will guide you, for example getting you to hold up your passport so we can check your identity. 

Step 5: Provide some more details

 After the video call, we need a few more details from you in order open your account so don’t go anywhere. Follow the steps on screen all the way to picking a branch and register for our internet banking service.

Step 6: Almost there… 

Your account will then be opened, but before you can begin to use your account you will need to prove your address. 

Step 7: Wait for letter

To prove your address, we will send you a letter to the provided postal address that you’ve given us. This letter will contain a unique identifier code which you will then need to enter into the app. Your account wont be active until you do this! 

Step 8: Enter code from letter

Once you have entered the code, you’re good to go and you can lodge money to your new current account and transact online(this may take 24hours after code entry). We will send a debit card in the post and a PIN separately.

Acceptable types of photographic ID includes:

Language school students should choose a basic account. This may cause an issue for students if they select a student account in error, as the app will not allow them to continue. They should instead start again and choose a basic account, they will be able to complete the account opening.

Any students who find themselves unable to open an account via the mobile app can visit the AIB South Mall Branch.

To open an account in branch they will need to make an appointment and provide the following:

Documents AIB might request:

• Original School Letter (signed and stamped)
• Original Bank Letter (signed and stamped)
• This letter is different to your school letter. It must include your address in Cork, your address abroad and the school AIB bank account number)
• Medical insurance document with address in Cork
• Passport
• Irish mobile number

If you follow all the steps without issue you could have a bank account open within 2 weeks.