Studying in Hungary vs. South Africa
Hungary 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 €582 in Hungary and €588 in South Africa.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
South Africa
Cheaper monthly living
Hungary
Lower visa proof of funds
Tie
Side-by-side comparison
Hungary
South Africa
Currency
HUF (Ft)
ZAR (R)
Public tuition (annual)
Ft1,200,000
≈ €3,000 / yr
R50,000
≈ €2,500 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
Ft5,000,000
≈ €12,500 / yr
R100,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
Ft232,750 / mo
≈ €582 / mo
R11,750 / mo
≈ €588 / mo
Visa proof of funds
Ft2,400,000
Proof of means (≈ HUF 200,000/month) for the study residence permit
R120,000
Proof of funds for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa (varies by case)
Cities tracked
Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged, Pecs
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.