Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Ecuador
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$620
Salary/mo
$600
Vietnam
46
GoScore
Budget/mo
$420
Salary/mo
$520
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
Ecuador wins for students (GoScore 48 vs 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 16% less than Ecuador, saving $2,800.
Ecuador wins for working professionals (GoScore 40 vs 35). Professionals in Ecuador retain $-60/month after expenses — $97/month more than in Vietnam.
Ecuador is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 57 vs 48).
Total cost of attendance in Ecuador — tuition ($3,000) plus living ($14,880) — is $17,880. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 16% cheaper, saving $2,800 over the degree.
In Ecuador, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $240/month — covering 100% of outside-city rent. In Vietnam, the same hours earn $224/month — covering 70% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Ecuador retains $0/month from $600. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $5,820. Tech salaries: $1,400/mo (Ecuador) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Ecuador: PR pathway ~3 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Ecuador) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $50 vs $25.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Ecuador) and 5.5 (Vietnam).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 40 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 57 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $620 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $600 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $380/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 3 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 33 / 100 | 61 / 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
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Vietnam's economy grew at 7.1% in 2023 — the fastest in Southeast Asia — driven by electronics manufacturing (Samsung, Intel, LG all produce here).
Source: World Bank 2024
Ho Chi Minh City ranks in Asia's top 10 startup ecosystems, with particular strength in fintech and e-commerce.
Source: Startup Genome 2024
Vietnam produced 1.2 million university graduates per year in STEM fields as of 2023 — the fastest-growing STEM talent pipeline in Southeast Asia.
Source: MOET Vietnam 2023
Vietnam's coast stretches 3,260 km — making tourism, hospitality management, and marine engineering uniquely important industries.
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.