Studying in China vs. India
China and India 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 €552 in China and €358 in India.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
India
Cheaper monthly living
India
Lower visa proof of funds
India
Side-by-side comparison
China
India
Currency
CNY (¥)
INR (₹)
Public tuition (annual)
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
₹200,000
≈ €2,200 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
₹800,000
≈ €8,800 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
₹32,550 / mo
≈ €358 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
₹450,000
Proof of funds for the student visa (≈ ₹37,500/month)
Cities tracked
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.