Host family in Ireland for students: prices in Dublin, Cork and Galway

What a homestay in Ireland costs in 2026 according to the schools that publish their prices, what is included, how Dublin, Cork and Galway compare, and how to book a host on Gomfy.

Updated 04/11/2026 · Gomfy

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How a homestay in Ireland works

A homestay, or host family, means living in a furnished room in an Irish home, usually with breakfast and an evening meal, for a few weeks or a whole academic year. There are two ways in: the language school places you with one of its own families and charges you for it, or you choose an independent host yourself. On Gomfy, hosts publish their own rooms, prices and house rules, and you can talk to them before you book.

What a host family costs in Ireland

Published weekly prices, read between 19 October and 4 November 2026
City and provider	Room and meals	Price per week
Dublin: ISI Dublin	Shared / single room, half board	€240–€260 / €260–€290 (low / high season)
Dublin: ILSC (2026/27 list)	Twin / standard room, breakfast and dinner on weekdays, all meals at weekends	€250–€295 / €280–€335
Dublin: Twin English Centres	Single or twin room, shared bathroom	from €265
Cork: UCC Language Centre	Room with breakfast and evening meal (from 23 August 2026)	€310
Cork: Cork English College, executive family	Private bedroom and bathroom, half board on weekdays, full board at weekends	€340 (+€50 in summer)
Galway: GCI	Single room, half board on weekdays, full board at weekends	€360
Dublin 12 on Gomfy: Michelle	Room in her home; meals agreed with the host	€231.30 (or €990 a month), host’s price + Gomfy service fee

As a guide, a school-arranged room with half board costs about €240 to €360 a week in 2026, and Dublin is not the most expensive: the Galway and Cork figures above are for a single room or a private bathroom. Check the extras before comparing: a €75 booking or administration fee (ISI and ILSC) or €70 placement fee (Cork English College), diet supplements (€65 at GCI; €30 to €50 a week at ISI), an en-suite supplement (€65 at GCI, limited) and summer prices. Independent hosts set their own prices; on Gomfy the host’s price is on each listing and Gomfy’s service fee is shown before you book.

Which city: Dublin, Cork or Galway

Dublin has the most schools, the widest choice and the largest transport network. Most families live in residential suburbs, 45 to 70 minutes from the centre according to DBS. See our homestay in Dublin guide for areas, Leap fares and a college-by-college table, or the guides to student accommodation near Trinity, UCD, DCU and DBS.
Cork is smaller; schools place students with families and the UCC Language Centre publishes a fixed weekly price. For degree students, see student accommodation in Cork.
Galway is a compact city; GCI gives an average public transport trip of 20 to 30 minutes from a host family. See student accommodation in Galway.

What is included

Half board is the usual package: breakfast and an evening meal on weekdays, and all meals at the weekend. Full board adds lunch. Twin English Centres lists what its families provide: a single or twin room with a shared bathroom, a weekly change of bed linen, a desk to study, use of the laundry or washing machine, and heating. Cork English College’s executive family adds a private bathroom and airport or city transfers. On Gomfy each host states meals, Wi-Fi and laundry on the listing; ask by message about anything that is missing.

Host families on Gomfy in Ireland

Today the hosts with an active listing on Gomfy in Ireland are in Dublin. We have no active host to recommend in Cork or Galway yet, and we prefer to say so.

Michelle, Dublin 12 (recommended by Gomfy): rooms in her home from €231.30 a week or €990 a month, the price she sets, plus Gomfy’s service fee. Her listing puts the house about 8 km from the centre with public transport a few metres away. See Michelle’s room.
A host family 4.6 km from the centre, with breakfast and dinner included, Wi-Fi and a washing machine. See the listing.
A room in a city-centre apartment in Dublin 1, with Wi-Fi and a washing machine. See the listing.

Current prices and photos are in the cards below. You can also browse the host families in Dublin.

How to book a homestay on Gomfy

Choose a room and check the dates, the minimum stay and what is included.
Talk to the host first, through Gomfy’s messages. We recommend it: ask who lives in the house, which meals are included, how long the trip to your school is and what the house rules are.
Keep the conversation on Gomfy until the booking is confirmed. Asking for or giving phone numbers, emails or WhatsApp, or arranging a visit before booking, is against Gomfy’s terms.
Send your booking request. You see the host’s price and Gomfy’s service fee before you book. Your card is only authorised; the fee is charged when the host accepts. The host’s price you pay to the host, as you agree with them.

Many hosts ask for one or two weeks in advance: pay it only after the booking is confirmed and ask for a receipt. Before paying anything, read our checklist against accommodation scams in Ireland.

Have a spare room in Ireland? Students are looking for host families right now, in Dublin, Cork and Galway above all, and listing your room on Gomfy is free. Become a host on Gomfy

Rooms and host families on Gomfy in Ireland

More rooms in this house: A nice quiet house · Triple Shared Room

Room with Breakfast, Include bill and wifi Host Family from 35 € a night See the listing ›

An impressive well-maintained property Apartment from 30 € a night See the listing ›

See all accommodation in Ireland

Want to take a course too? Language courses in Ireland on LanguageBookings

Frequently asked questions

How much is a host family in Ireland per week?

Schools that publish their prices charge about 240 to 360 euro a week in 2026 for a room with half board: 240 to 335 in Dublin, 310 to 340 in Cork and 360 in Galway for a single room, plus booking or placement fees of 70 to 75 euro. On Gomfy, the host we recommend in Dublin 12 asks 231.30 euro a week or 990 euro a month, plus Gomfy’s service fee shown before you book.

What is included in an Irish homestay?

Usually a furnished single or twin room, bed linen, a desk, heating and use of the washing machine, with breakfast and dinner on weekdays and all meals at weekends (half board). Some families add a private bathroom or airport transfers at a higher price. On Gomfy each host lists what is included.

Which city is best for a host family: Dublin, Cork or Galway?

Dublin has the most schools and choice, with families 45 to 70 minutes from the centre. Cork and Galway are smaller; GCI quotes 20 to 30 minutes by public transport in Galway. Prices are similar or higher in Cork and Galway, so choose by school and course. On Gomfy the active hosts are currently in Dublin.

Are there host families on Gomfy outside Dublin?

Not active ones today. We have no active host in Cork or Galway that we can recommend, so we do not show old listings there. If you have a room in Ireland, you can list it for free.

Can I talk to the host before booking on Gomfy?

Yes, and we recommend it, always through Gomfy’s messages. Exchanging phone numbers, emails or WhatsApp, or arranging a visit before booking, is against Gomfy’s terms. Contact details are shared once the booking is confirmed.

How do I avoid accommodation scams in Ireland?

Never pay a deposit before the booking is confirmed, be wary of hosts who refuse to talk through the platform or to show the room, and read our checklist before you pay. An Garda Síochána reports that scams peak from August to October.

Other guides

Sources

Prices and rules change: check the source before you decide. Information read on 04/11/2026.