This study aimed to assess and compare the cultural competences of Korean and Chinese nursing students. A total of 180 third- and fourth-year nursing students (82 Korean and 98 Chinese) participated in the survey. Data were collected in September 2021. Korean students had high cultural awareness and sensitivity, while Chinese students had high cultural knowledge and experience. The Korean nursing students' cultural sensitivity was associated with foreign language conversation ability and multicultural education experience, and cultural skills were associated with female nursing students and foreign language conversation ability. The Chinese nursing students' cultural knowledge was associated with female nursing students and fourth-year nursing students. To enhance nursing students' cultural competence, a curriculum encompassing multicultural nursing theories and clinical training is needed.