Does the living cost also affect the total cost of studying abroad?

Yes, your living costs will shape your total study abroad budget just as heavily as your tuition fees, sometimes even more so. Rent alone is usually your largest recurring monthly expense, and it varies wildly depending on whether you choose a dorm, a shared apartment, or a major city center. Even if you pick a country with cheap or free tuition, a high cost of living can still make it an expensive destination overall.

What Makes Up Your Living Cost Abroad

How To Keep Living Costs From Overwhelming Your Budget

• Compare living costs across cities before you finalize your university, not just tuition fees.
• Choose university dorms or shared housing over solo apartments to control your largest monthly expense.
• Budget separately for mandatory health insurance and visa fees rather than folding them into tuition estimates.
• Track your first two months of actual spending to catch surprises before they compound over the year.

My Advice

Build your total budget around living costs first and tuition second, since tuition is usually fixed and known upfront while living costs are where students most often run short; research real local prices, not assumptions.