Studying in Japan vs. United States
Japan and United States 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 €2,706 in United States.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Japan
Cheaper monthly living
Japan
Lower visa proof of funds
Japan
Side-by-side comparison
Japan
United States
Currency
JPY (¥)
USD ($)
Public tuition (annual)
¥535,800
≈ €3,268 / yr
$32,000
≈ €29,440 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
¥1,000,000
≈ €6,100 / yr
$58,000
≈ €53,360 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
¥103,625 / mo
≈ €632 / mo
$2,941 / mo
≈ €2,706 / mo
Visa proof of funds
¥2,000,000
Bank balance proof (COE)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Cities tracked
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.