Studying in South Africa vs. Sweden
South Africa and Sweden 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 €588 in South Africa and €1,241 in Sweden.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
South Africa
Cheaper monthly living
South Africa
Lower visa proof of funds
South Africa
Side-by-side comparison
South Africa
Sweden
Currency
ZAR (R)
SEK (kr)
Public tuition (annual)
R50,000
≈ €2,500 / yr
kr130,000
≈ €11,310 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
R100,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
kr160,000
≈ €13,920 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
R11,750 / mo
≈ €588 / mo
kr14,263 / mo
≈ €1,241 / mo
Visa proof of funds
R120,000
Proof of funds for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa (varies by case)
kr114,480
Migrationsverket proof (SEK 9,540/month)
Cities tracked
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
Stockholm, Gothenburg, Lund
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.