AustraliavsItaly
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Australia
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,503
Salary/mo
$3,268
Italy
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,090
Salary/mo
$1,962
AI insights unavailable
Study Abroad GoScore Ranking
GoScore 0-100 · Weights: affordability, PR pathway, safety, career & quality of life
Key Comparison Metrics
Public university tuition / year
Monthly student budget
Part-time wage / hour
Student visa fee
Post-study work visa
IELTS band required
Safety index
Quick Verdict — 2026
Australia wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 51). A 2-year master's costs $32,700 in Italy — 60% less than Australia, saving $49,124.
Australia wins for working professionals (GoScore 65 vs 51). Professionals in Australia retain $1,320/month after expenses — $1,069/month more than in Italy.
Australia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 72 vs 57). PR takes ~4 years in Australia vs ~5 years in Italy.
Australia vs Italy: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Australia — tuition ($45,752) plus living ($36,072) — is $81,824. In Italy: $32,700 ($6,540 tuition + $26,160 living).Italy is 60% cheaper, saving $49,124 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Australia, 20 hrs/week at $15/hr earns $1,214/month — covering 109% of outside-city rent. In Italy, the same hours earn $654/month — covering 75% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Australia retains $1,320/month from $3,268. In Italy: $251/month from $1,962. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $64,140. Tech salaries: $5,556/mo (Australia) vs $3,815/mo (Italy).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Australia: PR pathway ~4 years. Italy: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 24 months (Australia) and 12 months (Italy). Student visa fee: $464 vs $55.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Australia) and 6.0 (Italy).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇮🇹 Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 58 | 51 |
| Work GoScore | 65 | 51 |
| Settle GoScore | 72 | 57 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $22,876 | $3,270 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,503 | $1,090 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,268 | $1,962 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,438/mo | $1,199/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 24 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 4 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 63 / 100 | 55 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Australia & Italy
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇦🇺 Australia
- 1.
Australia's national minimum wage of AUD $23.23/hour is the highest in the world for a major economy.
Source: Fair Work Commission 2024
- 2.
International students can work unlimited hours in Australia — a rule made permanent in 2023 after a post-COVID pilot.
Source: Department of Home Affairs 2023
- 3.
8 Australian universities rank in the global top 100, including ANU (#30), Melbourne (#33), and Sydney (#42).
Source: QS World Rankings 2025
- 4.
The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) allows graduates to stay 2–5 years to gain skilled work experience before applying for PR.
Source: Department of Home Affairs 2024
- 5.
Over 800,000 Indians live in Australia — the fastest-growing migrant community, doubling in size between 2011 and 2021.
Source: ABS Census 2021
🇮🇹 Italy
- 1.
Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites (58) than any country in the world — uniquely valuable for students in architecture, art history, and design.
Source: UNESCO 2024
- 2.
The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the world's oldest continuously operating university.
- 3.
Italy's fashion, luxury, and automotive industries (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Gucci, Prada, Armani) collectively employ over 1.5 million people, creating unique career paths unavailable elsewhere.
- 4.
Italy introduced the Digital Nomad Visa in 2024, targeting remote workers earning €28,000+/year with a straightforward application process.
Source: Italian Ministry of Interior 2024
- 5.
Italian public universities charge €0–4,000/year for non-EU students — with some of the world's cheapest engineering and medical degrees.
Source: MIUR Italy 2024
Popular Comparisons
Ready to take the next step?
You'll need IELTS to study in any of these countries. Take a free full-length mock test to know exactly where you stand.
Data Sources
Editorial
Compiled by mockDe Editorial Team
Verified by IELTS-certified advisors with study-abroad counselling experience.
Freshness
Data reflects 2026 benchmarks.
Last reviewed June 2026.
AI verdict cached permanently; regenerated on data change.
All figures in USD. AI insights by Gemini Pro. Values are indicative — verify official sources before making relocation decisions.