The most affordable cities for students

If you are looking for a city abroad to study in that offers prestigious universities, interesting and fulfilling life outside the university, but at the same time is affordable for you, take a look at the following options. The cities below are among the Top 50 cities for students by QA Rankings, and were chosen based on affordability based on a calculation of tuition costs and overall spending levels.

Taipei

Taipei, Taiwan's capital city with elements of urban life, tradition and culture in one, has as many as eight internationally ranked universities on its campus, with average tuition of about $3,800 per year, and fairly low overall living expenses. In an overall ranking of the world's best cities for students, Taipei ranks 25th in 2015.

Mexico

The capital of Mexico ranks 2nd in the world's most affordable cities for students, and 50th in the overall ranking of best student cities. Just like Taipei, Mexico City features 8 top universities with slightly higher tuition costs of about $4,000 per year. However, other costs are significantly lower, especially housing costs.

Berlin

Germany is one of the most popular destinations in terms of overseas education with the largest number of international students besides the US and UK, ranking 16th among the best cities for students. At the same time, Germany's capital city is the most affordable for students. While education in the country is free for all, living costs in Berlin are considered among the lowest in the country.

Vienna

In Austria, unlike neighboring Germany, education is free only for citizens of European Union countries, but fees for international students are quite modest. For example, in the two universities of Vienna, present in the international rankings, the cost of education is only about $ 500 per year. As for other costs, just here Vienna is not considered a cheap city. Although compared to other cities from the rankings of the best for students, prices in the same Paris will be higher. In the overall ranking for students, Vienna is in 20th place.

Munich

Thanks to the absence of tuition fees, another German city made the list of the most affordable in spite of the rather high price level compared to the capital. The heart of Bavaria, Germany's third-largest city, home of Oktoberfest with two internationally ranked universities, Munich remains one of the most attractive cities in Germany and Europe and stands 14th in the ranking of student cities.

Osaka

Combining both city life with some sense of relaxation, Osaka offers a more affordable alternative for those who love Tokyo and Kyoto. The city made the list of top student cities for the first time this year, ranking 48th on the list. And while the city doesn't boast the same natural beauty of Kyoto, it has its own charm in its radical architecture or nightlife. Parks, museums, game parlors, and the Museum of Old Japanese Farms. Osaka remains more affordable in both standard of living and tuition, which averages $5,000 a year, compared to Tokyo $7,700 and Kyoto $9,000.

Madrid

The fourth most affordable student city in Europe is the Spanish capital for art, food and party lovers, number 39 in the overall ranking of best cities for students with the highest score for fairly high standards of living and safety,  and low pollution . In the top four universities in Madrid (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Universidad Complutense), international students pay on average only $2,000 per year, but Madrid is somewhere between Taipei and Berlin in terms of living costs.

Barcelona

The beautiful Barcelona, with its world-famous architecture and crazy nightlife, sunny warm climate, beaches and Catalan cuisine  comes next. The city, which is home to two of the world's top universities, the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, has overtaken Madrid in the overall index of the best student city, coming in 19th place, with the highest scores for its high proportion of international students and for the attractiveness of graduates to employers. In terms of affordability, however, it lags behind because of slightly higher tuition, averaging $2,500.

Prague

And finally, mysterious and mystical, the Czech capital, well known for its medieval UNESCO-listed Old Town, castle and other places of interest, ranks 49th on the student city index, and offers low living expenses. However, at the city's top three universities - Charles University, Prague University of Economics and Czech Technological University - international students have to pay about $7,000 per year. The amount is not small compared to the other cities on the list.