Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Poland
55
GoScore
Budget/mo
$633
Salary/mo
$1,645
Cyprus
52
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,000
Salary/mo
$1,600
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
Poland wins for students (GoScore 55 vs 52). A 2-year master's costs $22,782 in Poland — 33% less than Cyprus, saving $11,218.
Poland wins for working professionals (GoScore 51 vs 48). Professionals in Poland retain $430/month after expenses — $20/month more than in Cyprus.
Cyprus is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 62 vs 58). PR takes ~5 years in Poland vs ~5 years in Cyprus.
Total cost of attendance in Cyprus — tuition ($10,000) plus living ($24,000) — is $34,000. In Poland: $22,782 ($7,590 tuition + $15,192 living).Poland is 33% cheaper, saving $11,218 over the degree.
In Cyprus, 20 hrs/week at $6/hr earns $480/month — covering 92% of outside-city rent. In Poland, the same hours earn $607/month — covering 96% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Cyprus retains $410/month from $1,600. In Poland: $430/month from $1,645. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $1,200. Tech salaries: $2,500/mo (Cyprus) vs $3,795/mo (Poland).
Cyprus: PR pathway ~5 years. Poland: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Cyprus) and 12 months (Poland). Student visa fee: $300 vs $127.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Cyprus) and 6.0 (Poland).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇵🇱 Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 52 | 55 |
| Work GoScore | 48 | 51 |
| Settle GoScore | 62 | 58 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $5,000 | $3,795 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,000 | $633 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,600 | $1,645 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $750/mo | $886/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 68 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇨🇾 Cyprus
Cyprus has the EU's 3rd lowest corporate tax rate at 12.5% — making it a favoured European base for international business and financial services.
Source: Tax Department Cyprus 2024
Cyprus' fast-track business facilitation scheme processes company registrations in 3 business days.
Source: CIPA Cyprus 2024
The island enjoys 320 days of sunshine per year — the most of any EU country — making it the preferred base for Mediterranean-lifestyle professionals.
Cyprus was the first EU country to allow foreigners to work remotely for non-Cypriot employers on a dedicated visa — the Digital Nomad Visa (2022).
Source: DLS Cyprus 2022
🇵🇱 Poland
Warsaw's tech sector grew 40% between 2019 and 2023 — Poland is now home to the EU's 5th largest startup ecosystem.
Source: Startup Poland 2024
Poland issued more work visas to non-EU nationals than any other EU country in 2023 — reflecting one of Europe's most open labour markets.
Source: Eurostat 2023
Polish university fees for international students are €2,000–4,000/year — up to 10× cheaper than UK fees for comparable engineering and IT degrees.
Poland's GDP grew at an average of 4.5% per year from 2000 to 2023 — the fastest sustained growth of any EU member state.
Source: World Bank 2024
Copernicus, Marie Curie (born Maria Skłodowska), and John Paul II were all Polish — reflecting a deep culture of scientific and intellectual achievement.
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.