Studying in China vs. Italy
China and Italy 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 €1,391 in Italy.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Italy
Cheaper monthly living
China
Lower visa proof of funds
Italy
Side-by-side comparison
China
Italy
Currency
CNY (¥)
EUR (€)
Public tuition (annual)
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
€2,200
Private tuition (annual)
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
€14,000
Monthly living (city avg)
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
€1,391 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
€7,460
Student visa annual means proof
Cities tracked
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
Milan, Rome, Bologna
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.