Studying in Japan vs. Malaysia
Japan and Malaysia 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 €571 in Japan and €589 in Malaysia.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Japan
Cheaper monthly living
Japan
Lower visa proof of funds
Malaysia
Side-by-side comparison
Japan
Malaysia
Currency
JPY (¥)
MYR (RM)
Public tuition (annual)
¥535,800
≈ €2,951 / yr
RM25,000
≈ €5,318 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥1,000,000
≈ €5,507 / yr
RM60,000
≈ €12,762 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥103,625 / mo
≈ €571 / mo
RM2,767 / mo
≈ €589 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥2,000,000
Bank balance proof (COE)
RM24,000
EMGS Student Pass — proof of funds (≈ RM 2,000/month)
Cities tracked
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka
Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.