Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
France
54
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,308
Salary/mo
$2,616
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
France wins for students (GoScore 54 vs 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 60% less than France, saving $22,352.
France wins for working professionals (GoScore 55 vs 35). Professionals in France retain $473/month after expenses — $630/month more than in Vietnam.
France is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 62 vs 48).
Total cost of attendance in France — tuition ($6,040) plus living ($31,392) — is $37,432. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 60% cheaper, saving $22,352 over the degree.
In France, 20 hrs/week at $13/hr earns $1,036/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 France retains $473/month from $2,616. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $37,800. Tech salaries: $4,905/mo (France) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
France: PR pathway ~5 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 12 months (France) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $108 vs $25.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (France) and 5.5 (Vietnam). Vietnam 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 | 🇫🇷 France | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 54 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 55 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 62 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,020 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,308 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,616 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,526/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 55 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇫🇷 France
French public universities charge just €2,770/year for non-EU international students — one of the lowest tuition rates for a G7 country.
Source: Campus France 2024
France is the 4th most popular study destination in the world with over 430,000 international students.
Source: Campus France 2023
The Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) visa grants skilled workers and graduates earning above €35,000/year a 4-year work and residence permit.
Source: Service-Public.fr 2024
Paris was ranked the world's #1 city for arts, humanities, and social science students (QS Best Student Cities 2024).
Source: QS 2024
France has the most Michelin-starred restaurants (622) of any country — uniquely advantageous for hospitality, culinary arts, and tourism management students.
Source: Michelin Guide 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.