Studying in Egypt vs. South Africa
Egypt and South Africa 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 €173 in Egypt and €588 in South Africa.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Egypt
Cheaper monthly living
Egypt
Lower visa proof of funds
Egypt
Side-by-side comparison
Egypt
South Africa
Currency
EGP (E£)
ZAR (R)
Public tuition (annual)
E£15,000
≈ €270 / yr
R50,000
≈ €2,500 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
E£600,000
≈ €10,800 / yr
R100,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
E£9,595 / mo
≈ €173 / mo
R11,750 / mo
≈ €588 / mo
Visa proof of funds
E£60,000
Proof of financial means (varies by university; ≈ EGP 5,000/month)
R120,000
Proof of funds for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa (varies by case)
Cities tracked
Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, New Cairo
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.