AustriavsFrance
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Austria
56
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,250
Salary/mo
$2,800
France
54
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,308
Salary/mo
$2,616
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
Austria wins for students (GoScore 56 vs 54). A 2-year master's costs $37,432 in France — 21% less than Austria, saving $9,968.
Austria wins for working professionals (GoScore 56 vs 55). Professionals in Austria retain $1,192/month after expenses — $719/month more than in France.
Austria is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 64 vs 62). PR takes ~5 years in France vs ~6 years in Austria.
Austria vs France: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Austria — tuition ($17,400) plus living ($30,000) — is $47,400. In France: $37,432 ($6,040 tuition + $31,392 living).France is 21% cheaper, saving $9,968 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Austria, 20 hrs/week at $11/hr earns $880/month — covering 107% of outside-city rent. In France, the same hours earn $1,036/month — covering 100% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Austria retains $1,192/month from $2,800. In France: $473/month from $2,616. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $43,140. Tech salaries: $4,200/mo (Austria) vs $4,905/mo (France).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Austria: PR pathway ~6 years. France: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Austria) and 12 months (France). Student visa fee: $160 vs $108.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Austria) and 6.0 (France).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇦🇹 Austria | 🇫🇷 France |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 56 | 54 |
| Work GoScore | 56 | 55 |
| Settle GoScore | 64 | 62 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $8,700 | $3,020 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,250 | $1,308 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,800 | $2,616 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,100/mo | $1,526/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 6 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 72 / 100 | 55 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Austria & France
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇦🇹 Austria
- 1.
Austrian public universities charge just €726.72/semester (~€1,450/year) for non-EU students — some of the lowest fees in German-speaking Europe.
Source: BMBWF Austria 2024
- 2.
Vienna has been ranked the world's most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit for 5 consecutive years.
Source: EIU 2024
- 3.
Austria's Red-White-Red Card fast-tracks skilled professionals to permanent residency — processing takes just 6–8 weeks.
Source: AMS Austria 2024
- 4.
Austria ranks 3rd globally for classical music institutions — Vienna's Musikverein and Vienna Philharmonic are considered the world's finest.
- 5.
The Austrian startup ecosystem produced 3 unicorns between 2021 and 2024 — BitPanda, Jentis, and Prewave — signaling a growing tech economy.
🇫🇷 France
- 1.
French public universities charge just €2,770/year for non-EU international students — one of the lowest tuition rates for a G7 country.
Source: Campus France 2024
- 2.
France is the 4th most popular study destination in the world with over 430,000 international students.
Source: Campus France 2023
- 3.
The Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) visa grants skilled workers and graduates earning above €35,000/year a 4-year work and residence permit.
Source: Service-Public.fr 2024
- 4.
Paris was ranked the world's #1 city for arts, humanities, and social science students (QS Best Student Cities 2024).
Source: QS 2024
- 5.
France has the most Michelin-starred restaurants (622) of any country — uniquely advantageous for hospitality, culinary arts, and tourism management students.
Source: Michelin Guide 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.