Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Oman
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$900
Salary/mo
$1,400
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
Oman wins for students (GoScore 51 vs 47). A 2-year master's costs $27,000 in China — 15% less than Oman, saving $4,600.
Oman wins for working professionals (GoScore 48 vs 42). Professionals in China retain $402/month after expenses — $92/month more than in Oman.
Oman is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 64 vs 55).
Total cost of attendance in China — tuition ($9,000) plus living ($18,000) — is $27,000. In Oman: $31,600 ($10,000 tuition + $21,600 living).China is 15% cheaper, saving $4,600 over the degree.
In China, 20 hrs/week at $4/hr earns $320/month — covering 97% of outside-city rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in China retains $402/month from $1,200. In Oman: $310/month from $1,400. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $5,520. Tech salaries: $2,500/mo (China) vs $2,500/mo (Oman).
China: PR pathway ~10 years. Oman: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 0 months (China) and 0 months (Oman). Student visa fee: $140 vs $130.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (China) and 6.0 (Oman).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇨🇳 China | 🇴🇲 Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 47 | 51 |
| Work GoScore | 42 | 48 |
| Settle GoScore | 55 | 64 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $750 | $900 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,200 | $1,400 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $520/mo | $700/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 10 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 70 / 100 | 77 / 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.
🇴🇲 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.