Student Budget Calculator
Plan your monthly finances as a Trinity student. Enter your income and outgoings to see a clear picture of your budget across all areas of student life — including family costs where relevant.
Step 1 of 5
Your monthly income
Enter all regular monthly income sources. If you receive income annually or termly, divide it to get the monthly equivalent.
Income each month
Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) maintenance grant, or any other grant you receive. The non-adjacent SUSI rate is approximately €500/month for 2024/25.
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Any award, prize, or bursary from Trinity. Divide the annual total by 12 for the monthly amount.
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Monthly income from work. Irish minimum wage is €13.50/hr. Student visa holders may work up to 20 hrs/week during term.
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Regular monthly contributions from parents or guardians.
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Savings drawdown, Back to Education Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment, or any other regular monthly income.
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Total monthly income
€0.00
Step 2 of 5
Accommodation & bills
Only include bills that you personally pay
Enter only outgoings that come out of your own pocket each month. If a bill is included in your rent, or paid by a housemate or family member, leave that field at zero.
Accommodation
Dublin private rent typically ranges from €650–1,200/month. Trinity on-campus accommodation fees vary by room type.
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Bills you pay each month
Your share of electricity, gas, and broadband — only what you personally pay. Often included in on-campus accommodation.
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Bill pay or top-up — only what you personally pay. Student SIM-only plans can cost as little as €10–15/month.
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Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, YouTube Premium, Claude AI, ChatGPT Plus, and any other subscriptions you pay for yourself. Consider sharing plans to cut costs.
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Accommodation & bills total per month
€0.00
Step 3 of 5
Everyday essentials
Things you need to get through the month — food, getting around, keeping well, and study costs.
Monthly food shop at Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Dunnes, or M&S. Students typically spend €160–320/month in Dublin.
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Leap card, Dublin Bus, Luas, DART, or InterCity rail. A monthly cap of approx. €80 applies with a Young Adult Leap card.
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Textbooks, printing, lab coats, field trips. Check the TCD Library and Book Exchange before buying new.
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GP visits (typically €50–70 each), prescriptions, dental, pharmacy, haircuts. TCD Student Health Service offers subsidised GP appointments.
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Charity shops and vintage stores in Dublin city centre offer great value.
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Essentials total per month
€0.00
Step 4 of 5
Extras & social spending
University life isn't just lectures. Budget for the social side too — be honest, even if the numbers surprise you.
Lunch on campus, coffee, restaurants. The Buttery, Pav Bar, and campus cafés are more affordable than city centre options.
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Pubs, clubs, cinema, gigs, sports events, Society nights. Dublin nightlife can be expensive — set a realistic monthly limit.
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Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, or the local chipper. Easy to underestimate — check your bank app for a reality check.
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Uber, Free Now, or traditional taxis. Factor in surge pricing at weekends after a night out.
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Societies, sports clubs, travel, concerts, or other interests. Trinity has over 200 societies — many have very low fees.
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Extras total per month
€0.00
Step 5 of 5
Parenting costs
If you have children, this section accounts for the costs of caring for and supporting them while you study. Leave all fields at zero if this does not apply to you.
Childcare
Crèche, childminder, after-school care, or holiday camp. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) may reduce your fees — check gov.ie. Average full-time crèche in Dublin can be €900–1,400/month.
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Sports clubs, music lessons, summer camps, and other structured activities for children.
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Children's education
School books, uniforms, stationery, school trips, and voluntary contributions. These vary significantly by school type and year group.
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Private tutoring or grinds for your children.
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Providing for children
Food, nappies, toiletries, and everyday items specifically for your children.
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Children grow quickly — allow for regular clothing and shoe replacements.
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GP visits, prescriptions, dental, optical costs. Children under 8 have free GP care (GP Visit Card).
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Toys, books, birthday gifts, and other costs for your children not covered above.
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Parenting costs total per month
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Your monthly budget summary
Here's how your budget looks
Monthly income€0
Monthly outgoings€0
Monthly balance€0
Weekly balance€0
Term balance (12 wks)€0
Annual balance€0
Where your money goes each month
Need financial support?
Trinity's Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides short-term financial support to students in genuine difficulty. The Senior Tutor's Office can advise on emergency funds, bursaries, parenting supports, and other welfare assistance. If you are struggling financially, please do not hesitate to get in touch — tcd.ie/Senior_Tutor.