Studying in China vs. Portugal
China and Portugal 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 €948 in Portugal.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Portugal
Cheaper monthly living
China
Lower visa proof of funds
Portugal
Side-by-side comparison
China
Portugal
Currency
CNY (¥)
EUR (€)
Public tuition (annual)
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
€1,500
Private tuition (annual)
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
€5,000
Monthly living (city avg)
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
€948 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
€9,120
Proof of funds (annual)
Cities tracked
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.