Studying in Poland vs. South Africa
Poland 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 €1,052 in Poland and €588 in South Africa.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Poland
Cheaper monthly living
South Africa
Lower visa proof of funds
Poland
Side-by-side comparison
Poland
South Africa
Currency
PLN (zł)
ZAR (R)
Public tuition (annual)
zł9,000
≈ €2,070 / yr
R50,000
≈ €2,500 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
zł16,000
≈ €3,680 / yr
R100,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
zł4,575 / mo
≈ €1,052 / mo
R11,750 / mo
≈ €588 / mo
Visa proof of funds
zł9,800
Student visa: PLN ~820/month proof
R120,000
Proof of funds for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa (varies by case)
Cities tracked
Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.