Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Austria
56
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,250
Salary/mo
$2,800
Oman
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$900
Salary/mo
$1,400
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 51). A 2-year master's costs $31,600 in Oman — 33% less than Austria, saving $15,800.
Austria wins for working professionals (GoScore 56 vs 48). Professionals in Austria retain $1,192/month after expenses — $882/month more than in Oman.
Oman is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 64 vs 64).
Total cost of attendance in Austria — tuition ($17,400) plus living ($30,000) — is $47,400. In Oman: $31,600 ($10,000 tuition + $21,600 living).Oman is 33% cheaper, saving $15,800 over the degree.
In Austria, 20 hrs/week at $11/hr earns $880/month — covering 107% of outside-city rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Austria retains $1,192/month from $2,800. In Oman: $310/month from $1,400. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $52,920. Tech salaries: $4,200/mo (Austria) vs $2,500/mo (Oman).
Austria: PR pathway ~6 years. Oman: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Austria) and 0 months (Oman). Student visa fee: $160 vs $130.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Austria) and 6.0 (Oman).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇦🇹 Austria | 🇴🇲 Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 56 | 51 |
| Work GoScore | 56 | 48 |
| Settle GoScore | 64 | 64 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $8,700 | $5,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,250 | $900 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,800 | $1,400 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,100/mo | $700/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 6 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 72 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇦🇹 Austria
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
Vienna has been ranked the world's most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit for 5 consecutive years.
Source: EIU 2024
Austria's Red-White-Red Card fast-tracks skilled professionals to permanent residency — processing takes just 6–8 weeks.
Source: AMS Austria 2024
Austria ranks 3rd globally for classical music institutions — Vienna's Musikverein and Vienna Philharmonic are considered the world's finest.
The Austrian startup ecosystem produced 3 unicorns between 2021 and 2024 — BitPanda, Jentis, and Prewave — signaling a growing tech economy.
🇴🇲 Oman
Oman is consistently ranked the Arab world's most stable country (Global Peace Index 2023) — a key draw for risk-averse professionals.
Source: IEP 2023
Oman Vision 2040 is investing $100 billion in diversifying away from oil — creating massive demand for tech, tourism, and renewable energy professionals.
Source: NCSI Oman 2024
Oman levies 0% personal income tax — salaries are entirely take-home.
Muscat's cost of living is 30% below Dubai while offering comparable tax-free salaries — making it one of the Gulf's best-kept secrets for professionals.
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.