Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Australia
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,503
Salary/mo
$3,268
Taiwan
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$800
Salary/mo
$1,600
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
Taiwan wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 58). A 2-year master's costs $31,200 in Taiwan — 62% less than Australia, saving $50,624.
Australia wins for working professionals (GoScore 65 vs 55). Professionals in Australia retain $1,320/month after expenses — $685/month more than in Taiwan.
Australia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 72 vs 67). PR takes ~4 years in Australia vs ~5 years in Taiwan.
Total cost of attendance in Australia — tuition ($45,752) plus living ($36,072) — is $81,824. In Taiwan: $31,200 ($12,000 tuition + $19,200 living).Taiwan is 62% cheaper, saving $50,624 over the degree.
In Australia, 20 hrs/week at $15/hr earns $1,214/month — covering 109% of outside-city rent. In Taiwan, the same hours earn $424/month — covering 112% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Australia retains $1,320/month from $3,268. In Taiwan: $635/month from $1,600. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $41,100. Tech salaries: $5,556/mo (Australia) vs $3,000/mo (Taiwan).
Australia: PR pathway ~4 years. Taiwan: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 24 months (Australia) and 12 months (Taiwan). Student visa fee: $464 vs $110.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Australia) and 6.0 (Taiwan).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇹🇼 Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 58 | 58 |
| Work GoScore | 65 | 55 |
| Settle GoScore | 72 | 67 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $22,876 | $6,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,503 | $800 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,268 | $1,600 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,438/mo | $650/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 24 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 4 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 63 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇦🇺 Australia
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
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
8 Australian universities rank in the global top 100, including ANU (#30), Melbourne (#33), and Sydney (#42).
Source: QS World Rankings 2025
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
Over 800,000 Indians live in Australia — the fastest-growing migrant community, doubling in size between 2011 and 2021.
Source: ABS Census 2021
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Taiwan produces 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductor chips (below 7nm) — TSMC's fab engineers are among the highest-paid in Asia.
Source: Semiconductor Industry Association 2024
Taiwan ranked #1 globally for ease of doing business in manufacturing for the 8th consecutive year.
Source: World Bank 2024
Taiwan's National Health Insurance covers all residents including foreign workers from day one — comprehensive healthcare with no private insurance needed.
Source: NHI Taiwan 2024
Taiwan's Gold Card programme offers a 3-year open work permit to skilled professionals earning $60,000+/year — processed in 30 days.
Source: NDC Taiwan 2024
Popular Comparisons
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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.