Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Austria
56
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,250
Salary/mo
$2,800
Vietnam
46
GoScore
Budget/mo
$420
Salary/mo
$520
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 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 68% less than Austria, saving $32,320.
Austria wins for working professionals (GoScore 56 vs 35). Professionals in Austria retain $1,192/month after expenses — $1,349/month more than in Vietnam.
Austria is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 64 vs 48).
Total cost of attendance in Austria — tuition ($17,400) plus living ($30,000) — is $47,400. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 68% cheaper, saving $32,320 over the degree.
In Austria, 20 hrs/week at $11/hr earns $880/month — covering 107% of outside-city rent. In Vietnam, the same hours earn $224/month — covering 70% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Austria retains $1,192/month from $2,800. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $80,940. Tech salaries: $4,200/mo (Austria) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Austria: PR pathway ~6 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Austria) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $160 vs $25.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Austria) and 5.5 (Vietnam). Vietnam has a lower threshold — beneficial for applicants close to their target band. Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇦🇹 Austria | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 56 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 56 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 64 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $8,700 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,250 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,800 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,100/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 6 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 72 / 100 | 61 / 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.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Vietnam's economy grew at 7.1% in 2023 — the fastest in Southeast Asia — driven by electronics manufacturing (Samsung, Intel, LG all produce here).
Source: World Bank 2024
Ho Chi Minh City ranks in Asia's top 10 startup ecosystems, with particular strength in fintech and e-commerce.
Source: Startup Genome 2024
Vietnam produced 1.2 million university graduates per year in STEM fields as of 2023 — the fastest-growing STEM talent pipeline in Southeast Asia.
Source: MOET Vietnam 2023
Vietnam's coast stretches 3,260 km — making tourism, hospitality management, and marine engineering uniquely important industries.
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.