Studying in Australia vs. South Africa
Australia and South Africa 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 €588 in South Africa.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
South Africa
Cheaper monthly living
South Africa
Lower visa proof of funds
South Africa
Side-by-side comparison
Australia
South Africa
Currency
AUD (A$)
ZAR (R)
Public tuition (annual)
A$35,000
≈ €21,350 / yr
R50,000
≈ €2,500 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
A$42,000
≈ €25,620 / yr
R100,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
A$2,977 / mo
≈ €1,816 / mo
R11,750 / mo
≈ €588 / mo
Visa proof of funds
A$29,710
Subclass 500 living-cost requirement
R120,000
Proof of funds for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa (varies by case)
Cities tracked
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.