Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Israel
50
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,600
Salary/mo
$3,200
Ecuador
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$620
Salary/mo
$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
Israel wins for students (GoScore 50 vs 48). A 2-year master's costs $17,880 in Ecuador — 71% less than Israel, saving $44,520.
Israel wins for working professionals (GoScore 51 vs 40). Professionals in Israel retain $1,220/month after expenses — $1,280/month more than in Ecuador.
Israel is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 57 vs 57). PR takes ~3 years in Ecuador vs ~10 years in Israel.
Total cost of attendance in Ecuador — tuition ($3,000) plus living ($14,880) — is $17,880. In Israel: $62,400 ($24,000 tuition + $38,400 living).Ecuador is 71% cheaper, saving $44,520 over the degree.
In Ecuador, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $240/month — covering 100% of outside-city rent. In Israel, the same hours earn $960/month — covering 96% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Ecuador retains $0/month from $600. In Israel: $1,220/month from $3,200. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $76,800. Tech salaries: $1,400/mo (Ecuador) vs $6,000/mo (Israel).
Ecuador: PR pathway ~3 years. Israel: ~10 years. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Ecuador) and 12 months (Israel). Student visa fee: $50 vs $110.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Ecuador) and 6.0 (Israel). Ecuador 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 | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇮🇱 Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 50 |
| Work GoScore | 40 | 51 |
| Settle GoScore | 57 | 57 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $1,500 | $12,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $620 | $1,600 |
| Avg net salary / month | $600 | $3,200 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $380/mo | $1,500/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 3 years | 10 years |
| Safety index | 33 / 100 | 64 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Ecuador is one of only 2 countries in the world where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere simultaneously (at the Mitad del Mundo monument).
Ecuador uses the US Dollar as its official currency — meaning zero currency exchange risk for international professionals or remote workers.
The Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) are the inspiration for Darwin's theory of evolution — marine biology and conservation research careers are globally unique here.
Ecuador's Jubilee Visa (2024) offers low-cost residency to retirees and remote workers earning $800+/month — Latin America's most accessible immigration programme.
Source: Cancillería Ecuador 2024
🇮🇱 Israel
Israel has the world's 3rd largest number of Nasdaq-listed companies after the US and China — earning it the nickname 'Startup Nation'.
Source: Start-Up Nation Central 2024
Israel spends 5.44% of GDP on R&D — the highest ratio in the world — making it a global centre for cybersecurity, medtech, and agritech.
Source: OECD 2023
Tel Aviv ranks among the top 5 global startup ecosystems, generating over $25 billion in venture funding annually.
Source: Startup Genome 2024
Israel's universal military service creates a unique professional culture — Unit 8200 alumni have founded over 1,000 tech companies.
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.