Studying in China vs. Japan
China and Japan 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 €632 in Japan.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Japan
Cheaper monthly living
China
Lower visa proof of funds
Japan
Side-by-side comparison
China
Japan
Currency
CNY (¥)
JPY (¥)
Public tuition (annual)
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
¥535,800
≈ €3,268 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
¥1,000,000
≈ €6,100 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
¥103,625 / mo
≈ €632 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
¥2,000,000
Bank balance proof (COE)
Cities tracked
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.