Studying in China vs. Russia
China and Russia 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 €333 in Russia.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Russia
Cheaper monthly living
Russia
Lower visa proof of funds
China
Side-by-side comparison
China
Russia
Currency
CNY (¥)
RUB (₽)
Public tuition (annual)
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
₽300,000
≈ €2,940 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
₽450,000
≈ €4,410 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
₽33,950 / mo
≈ €333 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
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Cities tracked
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.