Studying in Portugal vs. South Africa
Portugal 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 €948 in Portugal and €588 in South Africa.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Portugal
Cheaper monthly living
South Africa
Lower visa proof of funds
South Africa
Side-by-side comparison
Portugal
South Africa
Currency
EUR (€)
ZAR (R)
Public tuition (annual)
€1,500
R50,000
≈ €2,500 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
€5,000
R100,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
€948 / mo
R11,750 / mo
≈ €588 / mo
Visa proof of funds
€9,120
Proof of funds (annual)
R120,000
Proof of funds for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa (varies by case)
Cities tracked
Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.