Studying in China vs. United Kingdom
China and United Kingdom 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 €1,836 in United Kingdom.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
China
Cheaper monthly living
China
Lower visa proof of funds
China
Side-by-side comparison
China
United Kingdom
Currency
CNY (¥)
GBP (£)
Public tuition (annual)
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
£22,000
≈ €25,740 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
£38,000
≈ €44,460 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
£1,569 / mo
≈ €1,836 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
£12,006
UKVI maintenance (outside London)
Cities tracked
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.