Studying in China vs. South Korea
China and South Korea 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 €714 in South Korea.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
China
Cheaper monthly living
China
Lower visa proof of funds
South Korea
Side-by-side comparison
China
South Korea
Currency
CNY (¥)
KRW (₩)
Public tuition (annual)
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
₩8,000,000
≈ €5,360 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
₩12,000,000
≈ €8,040 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
₩1,066,250 / mo
≈ €714 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
₩13,000,000
Bank balance proof (D-2 visa)
Cities tracked
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.