Is Poland or Hungary Cheaper for Pakistani Students? (2026)

Living costs compared

This is the cleanest comparison available because both figures come from the same official source. The European Commission’s Study in Poland country profile states that a student needs about €330 to €430 a month for rent, food, transport and other expenses. The equivalent Study in Hungary profile, updated in May 2026, puts the figure at approximately €500 to €600 a month.

Over a nine month academic year that works out at roughly €2,970 to €3,870 in Poland and €4,500 to €5,400 in Hungary. In rupee terms the difference is substantial for a family funding a degree from Pakistan.

City choice moves the number more than country choice in some cases. Warsaw is the most expensive place in Poland, while Lublin, Rzeszów, Białystok and Katowice sit comfortably at the bottom of the range. In Hungary, Budapest absorbs most of the higher figure, and Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs and Miskolc are noticeably cheaper. A student in Debrecen may well spend less than a student in central Warsaw.

What does tuition actually cost?

Poland publishes clearer numbers. The Commission profile records a range of €2,000 to €12,000 per year depending on programme and institution, and notes specific statutory levels of €2,000 a year for first, second and long cycle studies at public universities, €3,000 a year for postgraduate and specialist programmes, and €2,000 a year for the annual Polish language preparatory course. English-taught programmes at private universities sit higher, and medicine, dentistry and architecture climb well above the general range.

Hungary does not publish a single official range in the same way. The Commission profile says only that fees are generally affordable by European standards, vary by university and programme, and are higher for medicine. In practice English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes at Hungarian public universities tend to sit in the low to mid thousands of euros a year, while medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary science are in a different bracket entirely and can run into the mid five figures. Because there is no official published range, treat any specific Hungarian tuition number you read online as unverified until you see it on the university’s own fees page.

That is the practical rule for both countries. Check the fee on the institution’s website, in writing, for your exact intake year. Our Poland study guide and Hungary study guide go deeper on programme types.

Hungary’s scholarship advantage

This is where the arithmetic flips. Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian Government’s flagship scholarship programme, founded in 2013, supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and managed by the Tempus Public Foundation. It operates in over 100 countries through bilateral education agreements and offers around 900 full degree programmes.

According to the official Stipendium Hungaricum programme page, an award at bachelor’s, master’s or one-tier master’s level covers:

• Full exemption from tuition fees.
• A monthly stipend of HUF 43,700, roughly €110, paid for 12 months a year until studies finish.
• A free dormitory place, or a contribution of HUF 40,000 a month, roughly €100, toward accommodation.
• Health care under Hungarian legislation plus supplementary medical insurance up to HUF 65,000, roughly €165, a year.

Doctoral awards pay considerably more, at HUF 140,000 a month for the first four semesters and HUF 180,000 for the second four. The programme states plainly that these amounts are a contribution rather than full coverage, so a scholarship holder in Budapest will still need family support on top.

Poland’s funding landscape is more fragmented. Scholarships run through NAWA, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, and through individual universities, and awards are typically narrower in scope than a full Stipendium package. If a fully funded seat is the goal, Hungary has the stronger single programme. Compare it against the options in our guide to tuition-free study in Europe.

Visa route and proof of funds

Both are EU member states and both sit inside the Schengen area, but the entry mechanism differs. For Poland you apply for a national type D student visa at the Polish embassy or consulate covering Pakistan, then register your stay after arrival if you are staying beyond three months. For Hungary you apply for a residence permit for studies, usually submitted at a Hungarian embassy or consulate before you travel, which then covers the duration of your course and is renewable.

Both require proof that you can support yourself for the year, and in both cases the consulate benchmarks that against national living cost guidance plus your tuition. Since Hungary’s official living cost figure is higher, the funds you must demonstrate for Hungary are generally higher too. Visa fees and administrative charges change from year to year, so confirm the current amount directly with the relevant embassy rather than relying on figures republished on aggregator sites.

Appointment availability out of Pakistan is the practical bottleneck for both countries, and slots for the September intake fill months in advance. Our post on Schengen student visa timelines from Pakistan sets out realistic planning windows.

Can you work part time in either country?

Poland is explicit and generous. The Commission profile confirms that non-EU students enrolled in full-time studies who hold a student visa or temporary residence permit may work without needing a separate work permit. That removes a large administrative hurdle and makes part-time earnings a realistic part of the budget.

Hungary permits student work as well, though hours are capped and conditions attach to the residence permit, so check the terms on your specific permit rather than assuming. In both countries, wages for a student job will cover food and transport rather than tuition, and neither should be treated as a funding plan on its own.

Side by side verdict

• Cheaper to live: Poland, by roughly €150 to €170 a month on official figures.
• Cheaper tuition floor: Poland, with a published €2,000 a year statutory level at public universities.
• Best fully funded option: Hungary, through Stipendium Hungaricum.
• Simplest part-time work rules: Poland, with no separate work permit required.
• English-taught choice: Both are strong. Hungary advertises over 700 foreign-language programmes and Poland offers a wide English-taught catalogue through its official study finder.
• Lower proof of funds: Poland, as a direct consequence of the lower living cost benchmark.

Which one suits which student?

Choose Poland if you are self-funding, want the lowest total cost over three or four years, value straightforward part-time work rights, and are willing to study outside the capital. A student in Lublin or Katowice on a €2,000 tuition programme is running one of the cheapest legitimate European degrees available to a Pakistani passport holder.

Choose Hungary if your academic record is strong enough to compete for Stipendium Hungaricum, or if you are targeting medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, where Hungarian universities have long-established English-taught programmes and a recognised reputation. A funded Hungarian seat beats an unfunded Polish one on cost by a wide margin.

Border and Bridges is a study abroad and immigration consultancy based in Johar Town, Lahore, verified by SECP and FBR and accredited by ICEF and the British Council. We work with universities in both countries and will tell you frankly if your profile is not competitive for a scholarship rather than taking a fee to find out. You can compare every country we handle on the destinations hub or reach us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions