Studying in South Africa vs. United States
South Africa 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 €588 in South Africa and €2,706 in United States.
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
United States
Currency
ZAR (R)
USD ($)
Public tuition (annual)
R50,000
≈ €2,500 / yr
$32,000
≈ €29,440 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
R100,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
$58,000
≈ €53,360 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
R11,750 / mo
≈ €588 / mo
$2,941 / mo
≈ €2,706 / mo
Visa proof of funds
R120,000
Proof of funds for the Section 11(1)(b) study visa (varies by case)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Cities tracked
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.