Studying in Japan vs. United Kingdom
Japan and United Kingdom 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 €632 in Japan and €1,836 in United Kingdom.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Japan
Cheaper monthly living
Japan
Lower visa proof of funds
Japan
Side-by-side comparison
Japan
United Kingdom
Currency
JPY (¥)
GBP (£)
Public tuition (annual)
¥535,800
≈ €3,268 / yr
£22,000
≈ €25,740 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥1,000,000
≈ €6,100 / yr
£38,000
≈ €44,460 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥103,625 / mo
≈ €632 / mo
£1,569 / mo
≈ €1,836 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥2,000,000
Bank balance proof (COE)
£12,006
UKVI maintenance (outside London)
Cities tracked
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka
London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.