AustraliavsSouth Korea
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
South Korea
59
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,100
Salary/mo
$2,400
Australia
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,503
Salary/mo
$3,268
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
South Korea wins for students (GoScore 59 vs 58). A 2-year master's costs $40,800 in South Korea - 50% less than Australia, saving $41,024.
Australia wins for working professionals (GoScore 65 vs 54). Professionals in Australia retain $1,320/month after expenses - $295/month more than in South Korea.
Australia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 72 vs 60). PR takes ~4 years in Australia vs ~5 years in South Korea.
Australia vs South Korea: 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 South Korea: $40,800 ($14,400 tuition + $26,400 living).South Korea is 50% cheaper, saving $41,024 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 South Korea, the same hours earn $632/month - covering 113% 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 South Korea: $1,025/month from $2,400. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $17,700. Tech salaries: $5,556/mo (Australia) vs $3,850/mo (South Korea).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Australia: PR pathway ~4 years. South Korea: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 24 months (Australia) and 24 months (South Korea). Student visa fee: $464 vs $60.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Australia) and 6.0 (South Korea).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 58 | 59 |
| Work GoScore | 65 | 54 |
| Settle GoScore | 72 | 60 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $22,876 | $7,200 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,503 | $1,100 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,268 | $2,400 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,438/mo | $920/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 24 months | 24 months |
| PR pathway | 4 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 63 / 100 | 80 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Australia & South Korea
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
🇰🇷 South Korea
- 1.
South Korea has the world's fastest average internet speed at 245 Mbps - 3× faster than the global average.
Source: Speedtest Global Index 2024
- 2.
Korean companies Samsung, LG, Hyundai, SK, and POSCO collectively employ more engineers globally than the total tech workforce of France.
- 3.
South Korea's K-chip Act (2023) offers tax credits up to 25% for semiconductor R&D - creating Asia's second-largest semiconductor talent demand after Taiwan.
Source: MOTIE Korea 2023
- 4.
Seoul's Gangnam district has the world's highest concentration of plastic surgery clinics per square kilometre - a unique driver of medical tourism and healthcare careers.
- 5.
The TOPIK Korean language certification (N2 or above) significantly increases work permit eligibility and salary levels for foreign professionals.
Source: NIIED 2023
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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.