Cost of Living and Part-Time Work: 8 Study Destinations Compared

USA: work rules are the strictest

The US sets no national proof-of-funds figure, because each university works out its own cost of attendance. Meanwhile, living costs commonly run from about US$1,200 to US$2,500 a month, depending on the city.

In particular, in your first year the F-1 visa lets you work only on campus, up to 20 hours a week in term and up to 40 in official breaks. In addition, off-campus work needs CPT, OPT or a hardship approval, so there is no general side job to fall back on. For this reason, research and teaching assistantships are where the better pay sits.

 20 hrs/week on campus    No national funds figure    US$12 to US$20 an hour 

Canada: higher funds, a 24-hour cap and strict paperwork

First, from 1 September 2026 a single applicant outside Quebec must show CAD 23,448 for living costs, excluding tuition and travel. By contrast, Quebec asks for CAD 24,617.

Second, off-campus work is capped at 24 hours a week in term, after the temporary unlimited-hours policy ended on 2 March 2026. However, on-campus work has no hour limit.

Above all, money matters here more than anywhere. For example, an analysis of nearly 3,000 permit decisions in June 2026 found that 47% of refusals came down to missing financial documents. Our guide to preventing Canada study permit refusals explains how to avoid that.

 24 hrs/week off campus    CAD 23,448 a year    CAD 17.95 to 18.25 an hour 

UK: a clear cap, and funds that are about to rise

To begin with, the UK asks you to show £1,529 a month for London courses or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months. Also, for applications made from 30 November 2026 the figures become £1,570 and £1,203.

In term, degree-level students can work 20 hours a week in term and full-time in vacations. Moreover, the adult minimum wage rose to £12.71 on 1 April 2026, but if you are under 21 the rate is £10.85, which changes the maths. Finally, budget for the £776 yearly health surcharge as well.

 20 hrs/week in term    £1,529 a month in London    £12.71 an hour (21+) 

Germany: a blocked account and a day-based work limit

To start with, Germany requires €11,904 in a blocked account, which releases about €992 a month. In addition, the work allowance is counted in days, 140 full or 280 half days a year, alongside the usual 20 hours a week in term.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage is €13.90 an hour in 2026 and moves to €14.60 in 2027, and a minijob can pay up to about €603 a month. However, student jobs at universities, often called HiWi roles, sit outside the day count, which is why they are worth chasing early.

 140 full days a year    €11,904 blocked account    €13.90 an hour 

Ireland: a generous holiday allowance

On a Stamp 2 permission you can work 20 hours a week in term. Then, you can work 40 hours a week from 15 December to 15 January and from June to September, at a minimum wage of €14.15 for anyone aged 20 and over.

Still, living costs are the catch. TU Dublin estimates €1,363 to €2,176 a month for students living away from home, and Dublin sits at the top of that range. On the other hand, Stamp 2A short courses carry no work rights at all. After graduation, the Stamp 1G route opens full-time work.

 20 hrs/week, 40 in holidays    €10,000 a year    €14.15 an hour (20+) 

France: low living costs, but higher funds and fewer benefits

To begin with, France allows 964 hours of work a year, about 60% of full-time hours. At the same time, the visa funds threshold moved from €615 to roughly €877.50 a month for applications from 1 August 2026.

Furthermore, reports say non-EU students without a scholarship lost access to French housing benefits from 1 July 2026, which makes rent harder to offset. On the plus side, outside Paris, student costs in cities such as Lyon, Toulouse and Bordeaux are commonly quoted at €700 to €950 a month. Read our full Study in France 2026 guide for the wider picture.

 964 hrs a year    About €877.50 a month    About €12 an hour 

Australia: the best hourly pay, with a fortnightly limit

First, Australia asks for AUD 29,710 a year as financial capacity, the highest figure on this list. On the other hand, the national minimum wage rose to AUD 26.44 an hour on 1 July 2026.

Second, the cap is 48 hours in any fortnight while your course is in session, with unlimited hours in scheduled breaks, and exceeding it is a visa breach. Although a proposal to raise the cap to 60 hours has been discussed, as of late 2026 it has not become law, so plan around 48.

 48 hrs a fortnight    AUD 29,710 a year    AUD 26.44 an hour 

New Zealand: the most hours, and a new work limit

Recently, New Zealand raised the student work limit from 20 to 25 hours a week for visas approved from 3 November 2025. In addition, the adult minimum wage has been NZD 23.95 since 1 April 2026.

However, you must show NZD 20,000 a year for living costs on top of tuition. Typically, monthly costs run from about NZD 1,600 to NZD 2,500, with Auckland at the high end. Most importantly, work rights are written into your visa conditions, so check yours before you assume them.

 25 hrs/week    NZD 20,000 a year    NZD 23.95 an hour