CanadavsAustralia
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Canada
64
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,618
Salary/mo
$2,941
Australia
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,503
Salary/mo
$3,268
"Canada: Your Faster Track to Permanent Residency, Australia: Higher Earning Potential"
Canada wins
Canada offers a significantly faster PR pathway of 2 years compared to Australia's 4 years, coupled with a longer post-study work visa of 36 months versus Australia's 24 months, making it more appealing for long-term settlement goals.
Canada provides a clear advantage for long-term settlement with a 36-month post-study work visa and a 2-year PR pathway, half the time of Australia's 4-year path.
Australia offers superior earning opportunities, with average net salaries of $3268/mo and student part-time wages of $15.18/hr, both higher than Canada's $2941/mo and $12.17/hr respectively.
Tuition costs are very similar, with Canada being marginally cheaper at $22059/yr versus Australia's $22876/yr.
Despite Canada's lower overall Cost of Living Index, its rent for a 1-bed city apartment is higher than Australia's, potentially impacting student budgets more directly.
Choose Canada if your primary goal is a faster and more direct path to permanent residency and long-term settlement, leveraging its 36-month post-study visa and 2-year PR pathway. Opt for Australia if maximizing immediate earning potential, especially through student part-time work and higher average salaries, is your priority, despite a longer PR timeline.
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
Canada wins for students on GoScore (64 vs 58). A 2-year master's degree costs $81,824 in Australia — 1% cheaper than Canada.
Canada wins for working professionals with a higher GoScore for careers (68 vs 65). After rent and basic expenses, professionals in Australia retain $1,320/month — $534/month more than in Canada.
Canada is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 73 vs 72). PR takes ~2 years in Canada vs ~4 years in Australia.
Canada vs Australia: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
For a 2-year master's programme, the total cost of attendance (tuition + living) in Canada is approximately $82,950 — comprising $44,118 in public university tuition and $38,832 in living costs over 24 months. In Australia, the equivalent is $81,824 ($45,752 tuition + $36,072 living). Australia is 1% cheaper on total cost of attendance, saving $1,126 over the degree.
Can You Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Canada, the minimum part-time wage is $12/hour. Working 20 hours/week, a student earns $974/month — enough to cover 78% of rent outside the city centre. In Australia, the same 20 hours/week at $15/hour earns $1,214/month — covering 109% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After deducting rent (1-bed outside city), groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Canada retains approximately $786/month from an average net salary of $2,941. In Australia, the figure is $1,320/month from $3,268. Over 5 years, this gap compounds to $32,040 in additional savings. For tech professionals, the gap is even wider: $5,515/month in Canada vs $5,556/month in Australia.
Permanent Residency Timeline
Canada has a PR pathway of approximately 2 years. Australia's pathway takes approximately 4 years. Canada grants a 36-month post-study work visa, giving graduates time to find skilled employment before applying for PR. Australia offers 24 months. The student visa fee is $110 in Canada and $464 in Australia.
IELTS Score Required
To study or work in Canada, most visa categories require a minimum IELTS band of 6.0. Australia requires 6.0. Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to see exactly where you stand before applying.
| Metric | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇦🇺 Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 64 | 58 |
| Work GoScore | 68 | 65 |
| Settle GoScore | 73 | 72 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $22,059 | $22,876 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,618 | $1,503 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,941 | $3,268 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,618/mo | $1,438/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 36 months | 24 months |
| PR pathway | 2 years | 4 years |
| Safety index | 62 / 100 | 63 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Canada & Australia
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇨🇦 Canada
- 1.
Canada accepts over 500,000 permanent residents per year — the highest per-capita immigration rate in the G7.
Source: IRCC 2023
- 2.
The Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) can last up to 3 years for 2-year programme graduates — among the world's most generous post-study work rights.
Source: IRCC
- 3.
Over 1.8 million people of Indian origin call Canada home, making it the largest South Asian diaspora hub after the UK.
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
- 4.
Express Entry CRS draws regularly invite candidates scoring under 480 points — a 1-year Canadian work experience can make PR achievable in under 3 years.
Source: IRCC 2024
- 5.
Canada has 26 universities in the global top 500, including Toronto, McGill, and UBC — all ranked in the world's top 50.
Source: QS 2025
🇦🇺 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
Popular Comparisons
Ready to take the next step?
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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.