Studying in Spain vs. United Kingdom
Spain and United Kingdom 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 €1,398 in Spain and €1,836 in United Kingdom.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Spain
Cheaper monthly living
Spain
Lower visa proof of funds
Spain
Side-by-side comparison
Spain
United Kingdom
Currency
EUR (€)
GBP (£)
Public tuition (annual)
€2,500
£22,000
≈ €25,740 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
€12,000
£38,000
≈ €44,460 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
€1,398 / mo
£1,569 / mo
≈ €1,836 / mo
Visa proof of funds
€7,560
Student visa proof of means (€630/month)
£12,006
UKVI maintenance (outside London)
Cities tracked
Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia
London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.