Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Indonesia
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$400
Salary/mo
$450
Philippines
44
GoScore
Budget/mo
$400
Salary/mo
$500
For Students
This guide compares Indonesia vs Philippines on tuition fees, student visa requirements, part-time work allowances, post-study work visas, and cost of living for students — using 2026 data.
AI insights unavailable
Students GoScore Ranking
GoScore 0-100 · Weights: affordability, PR pathway, safety, career & quality of life
Student Cost Comparison
Public university tuition / year
Monthly student budget
Part-time wage / hour
Student visa fee
Post-study work visa
IELTS band required
Safety index
Student visa fee
Work permit fee
Post-study work visa (months)
PR pathway (years)
IELTS band required
Quick Verdict for Students — 2026
Indonesia wins for international students with a study GoScore of 48 vs 44 for Philippines — a narrow margin where personal priorities matter. A complete 2-year master's (tuition + living) costs $12,600 in Philippines — 19% less than Indonesia, saving $3,000 over the degree.
Part-time work offsets more costs in Philippines: 20 hrs/week covers 80% of outside-city rent there, vs 59% in Indonesia. IELTS minimum band: 5.5 for Indonesia, 5.5 for Philippines.
The full cost of a 2-year master's in Indonesia — public university tuition ($6,000) plus living costs ($9,600) — totals $15,600. In Philippines, the same calculation yields $12,600 ($3,000 tuition + $9,600 living).Philippines is 19% cheaper, saving $3,000 — enough to cover 8 months of living costs or reduce education loan size substantially.
In Indonesia, working 20 hours/week at $2/hour generates $160/month, covering 80% of outside-city rent and 40% of the average monthly student budget. In Philippines, 20 hours/week at $2/hour yields $160/month — covering 59% of rent and 40% of the student budget. Philippines's higher hourly wage reduces net annual study costs by $1,920 per year.
After graduating and finding work, how long before your savings cover the cost of the degree? In Indonesia, a graduate earning the average net salary ($450/mo) and saving $0/month after expenses recovers the full degree cost in N/A. In Philippines, the break-even point is N/A.
Indonesia requires a minimum IELTS band of 5.5 across most student visa categories. Philippines requires 5.5. Top universities routinely require 6.5 or 7.0 — so the visa minimum is the floor, not the target. Use mockDe's free mock test to identify your exact gap per skill (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) before applying.
| Metric | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,000 | $1,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $400 | $400 |
| Part-time wage / hr | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Student visa fee | $50 | $70 |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 10 years |
| IELTS band required | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Indian community | Small | Small |
| Safety index | 49 / 100 | 40 / 100 |
| Student hall / month | $250 | $250 |
International students in Indonesia pay an average of $3,000/year at public universities, compared to $1,500/year in Philippines. Philippines's lower public university tuition reduces the total financial burden considerably over a 2-year programme. Private institutions cost $7,000/yr in Indonesia and $5,000/yr in Philippines. On-campus student accommodation runs $250/month in Indonesia and $250/month in Philippines — budget for this before calculating loan amounts.
Part-time work is a critical lever for Indian students managing living costs without full family support. In Indonesia, the student part-time wage is $2/hour. At 20 hours/week, that is $160/month — covering 40% of the average monthly student budget. In Philippines, the rate is $2/hour, or $160/month — covering 40% of the student budget. Philippines's higher hourly rate gives students a stronger monthly buffer against living expenses.
The study-to-PR pipeline is a primary driver for Indian students choosing between these countries. After graduating, Indonesia offers a 0-month post-study work visa, giving graduates time to find skilled employment and accumulate points or employer sponsorship for PR. PR typically takes 5 years from arrival. In Philippines, the post-study work visa runs 0 months with a 10-year PR pathway. Both countries offer equal post-study work visa duration.
Community and cultural familiarity directly affect academic performance and mental well-being.Indonesia has a small Indian diaspora — meaning established student support networks, Indian grocery stores, temples, and social groups.Philippines has a small Indian community. English proficiency among the general public is moderate in Indonesia and very high in Philippines, affecting how easily you can communicate outside academic settings, find housing, and navigate daily life. The climate in Indonesia is tropical equatorial — hot and humid year-round, monsoon oct–apr, while Philippines is tropical — hot and humid year-round, typhoon season jun–nov — a practical consideration for students from tropical or semi-arid Indian regions.
Indonesia requires a minimum IELTS overall band of 5.5 for most student visa categories.Philippines requires 5.5.Individual universities often require higher bands (6.5 or 7.0 for competitive programmes) — check admission requirements for your specific course. Use mockDe's free full-length IELTS mock test to benchmark your current score across all four skills before applying.
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
This country has a growing international professional community with increasing support infrastructure for newcomers.
The local economy is experiencing above-average demand for skilled workers in technology, healthcare, and engineering.
English-medium professional environments are increasingly available, particularly in major cities and tech sectors.
🇵🇭 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.