Studying in France vs. Japan
France and Japan 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 €1,424 in France and €632 in Japan.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
France
Cheaper monthly living
Japan
Lower visa proof of funds
France
Side-by-side comparison
France
Japan
Currency
EUR (€)
JPY (¥)
Public tuition (annual)
€3,000
¥535,800
≈ €3,268 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
€12,000
¥1,000,000
≈ €6,100 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
€1,424 / mo
¥103,625 / mo
≈ €632 / mo
Visa proof of funds
€7,380
Long-stay visa: €615/month proof
¥2,000,000
Bank balance proof (COE)
Cities tracked
Paris, Lyon, Toulouse
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.