For internet you could go with the much cheaper broadband options but they have limits and you can't go over. If you like downloading, watching TV online, videos, youtube online frequently then I don't recommend those. Basic cable in Ireland is 2 channels and 1 of these is in Gaelic so if you are a TV watcher you have to get cable. Electric in Europe is expensive, thats probably the only aspect that is cheaper in North America.
There are also a lot of places that is open for student accommodation in Cork but a lot of these places aren't advertised online. In fact I saw quite a few places with those vacancy signs between the City Centre and UCC and they're probably not advertised. Theres also a place called "Brookfield Lodge" which is next to Brookfield Health Sciences where you will have all your classes. For some reason all of the North Americans don't know about this place at all because they contact student accommodation and they're referred to the more expensive places that really aren't that great (maybe because they think we have more money?) so it was mostly only the Irish students out of town or farther in Cork that stayed here because they had a chance to look around whereas the North Americans didn't have that option. The convenient thing about this place is theres a mini store and cafe right beside and you can wake up moments before class and walk to class next door.
Brookfield Lodge sucks though, all my Irish friends hated it and none of them are staying there again.