Studying in Norway vs. South Africa
Norway 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 €1,222 in Norway and €588 in South Africa.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Norway
Cheaper monthly living
South Africa
Lower visa proof of funds
South Africa
Side-by-side comparison
Norway
South Africa
Currency
NOK (kr)
ZAR (R)
Public tuition (annual)
kr0
≈ €0 / yr
R50,000
≈ €2,500 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
kr180,000
≈ €15,480 / yr
R100,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
kr14,213 / mo
≈ €1,222 / mo
R11,750 / mo
≈ €588 / mo
Visa proof of funds
kr151,690
Proof of funds (annual)
R120,000
Proof of funds for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa (varies by case)
Cities tracked
Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Tromso
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.