Studying in Australia vs. China
Australia and China are both popular study destinations — but the price tag, visa rules, and currency differ. We pulled the numbers from our cost calculator: monthly living averages €1,816 in Australia and €552 in China.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
China
Cheaper monthly living
China
Lower visa proof of funds
China
Side-by-side comparison
Australia
China
Currency
AUD (A$)
CNY (¥)
Public tuition (annual)
A$35,000
≈ €21,350 / yr
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
A$42,000
≈ €25,620 / yr
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
A$2,977 / mo
≈ €1,816 / mo
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
Visa proof of funds
A$29,710
Subclass 500 living-cost requirement
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
Cities tracked
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.