Studying in Spain vs. United States
Spain 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 €1,398 in Spain and €2,706 in United States.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Spain
Cheaper monthly living
Spain
Lower visa proof of funds
Spain
Side-by-side comparison
Spain
United States
Currency
EUR (€)
USD ($)
Public tuition (annual)
€2,500
$32,000
≈ €29,440 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
€12,000
$58,000
≈ €53,360 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
€1,398 / mo
$2,941 / mo
≈ €2,706 / mo
Visa proof of funds
€7,560
Student visa proof of means (€630/month)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Cities tracked
Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.