Studying in China vs. United States
China and United States 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 €2,706 in United States.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
China
Cheaper monthly living
China
Lower visa proof of funds
China
Side-by-side comparison
China
United States
Currency
CNY (¥)
USD ($)
Public tuition (annual)
¥26,000
≈ €3,302 / yr
$32,000
≈ €29,440 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥45,000
≈ €5,715 / yr
$58,000
≈ €53,360 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥4,343 / mo
≈ €552 / mo
$2,941 / mo
≈ €2,706 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥100,000
Bank balance proof (annual, X1/X2 visa)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Cities tracked
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.