Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Kenya
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$580
Salary/mo
$620
China
47
GoScore
Budget/mo
$750
Salary/mo
$1,200
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
Kenya wins for students (GoScore 48 vs 47). A 2-year master's costs $20,920 in Kenya — 23% less than China, saving $6,080.
China wins for working professionals (GoScore 42 vs 31). Professionals in China retain $402/month after expenses — $597/month more than in Kenya.
China is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 55 vs 46). PR takes ~7 years in Kenya vs ~10 years in China.
Total cost of attendance in China — tuition ($9,000) plus living ($18,000) — is $27,000. In Kenya: $20,920 ($7,000 tuition + $13,920 living).Kenya is 23% cheaper, saving $6,080 over the degree.
In China, 20 hrs/week at $4/hr earns $320/month — covering 97% of outside-city rent. In Kenya, the same hours earn $200/month — covering 71% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in China retains $402/month from $1,200. In Kenya: $0/month from $620. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $35,820. Tech salaries: $2,500/mo (China) vs $1,400/mo (Kenya).
China: PR pathway ~10 years. Kenya: ~7 years. Post-study work visas: 0 months (China) and 12 months (Kenya). Student visa fee: $140 vs $120.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (China) and 5.5 (Kenya). Kenya 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 | 🇨🇳 China | 🇰🇪 Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 47 | 48 |
| Work GoScore | 42 | 31 |
| Settle GoScore | 55 | 46 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $4,500 | $3,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $750 | $580 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,200 | $620 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $520/mo | $480/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 10 years | 7 years |
| Safety index | 70 / 100 | 41 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇨🇳 China
China files more international patents than any country in the world — surpassing the US in 2019 and growing every year since.
Source: WIPO 2024
Shanghai has the world's largest metro network by route length at 831 km — larger than London, New York, and Tokyo combined.
Source: UITP 2024
China's Belt and Road Initiative spans 149 countries — creating infrastructure and finance careers with genuinely global reach.
Source: AEI 2023
Mandarin Chinese is the world's most spoken native language — learning it to HSK 5 unlocks business opportunities in East Asia's $26 trillion combined economy.
🇰🇪 Kenya
This country has a growing international professional community with increasing support infrastructure for newcomers.
The local economy is experiencing above-average demand for skilled workers in technology, healthcare, and engineering.
English-medium professional environments are increasingly available, particularly in major cities and tech sectors.
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.