Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
China
47
GoScore
Budget/mo
$750
Salary/mo
$1,200
Philippines
44
GoScore
Budget/mo
$400
Salary/mo
$500
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
China wins for students (GoScore 47 vs 44). A 2-year master's costs $12,600 in Philippines — 53% less than China, saving $14,400.
China wins for working professionals (GoScore 42 vs 33). Professionals in China retain $402/month after expenses — $602/month more than in Philippines.
China is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 55 vs 46). PR takes ~10 years in Philippines vs ~10 years in China.
Total cost of attendance in China — tuition ($9,000) plus living ($18,000) — is $27,000. In Philippines: $12,600 ($3,000 tuition + $9,600 living).Philippines is 53% cheaper, saving $14,400 over the degree.
In China, 20 hrs/week at $4/hr earns $320/month — covering 97% of outside-city rent. In Philippines, the same hours earn $160/month — covering 59% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in China retains $402/month from $1,200. In Philippines: $0/month from $500. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $36,120. Tech salaries: $2,500/mo (China) vs $900/mo (Philippines).
China: PR pathway ~10 years. Philippines: ~10 years. Post-study work visas: 0 months (China) and 0 months (Philippines). Student visa fee: $140 vs $70.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (China) and 5.5 (Philippines). Philippines 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 | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 47 | 44 |
| Work GoScore | 42 | 33 |
| Settle GoScore | 55 | 46 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $4,500 | $1,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $750 | $400 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,200 | $500 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $520/mo | $450/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 10 years | 10 years |
| Safety index | 70 / 100 | 40 / 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.
🇵🇭 Philippines
The Philippines is the world's 3rd largest source of English-speaking professionals — over 100 million people speak English as a working language.
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) generates $30 billion/year in the Philippines — it's the world's largest offshore service delivery hub.
Source: IBPAP 2024
Filipino nurses and doctors work in over 40 countries — healthcare training here is internationally recognised across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The Philippines became a lower-middle-income country in 2010 and is projected to join the upper-middle-income tier by 2026.
Source: World Bank 2024
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.