IrelandvsRomania
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Ireland
57
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,744
Salary/mo
$3,815
Romania
57
GoScore
Budget/mo
$550
Salary/mo
$1,000
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
Romania wins for students (GoScore 57 vs 57). A 2-year master's costs $19,200 in Romania — 70% less than Ireland, saving $44,456.
Ireland wins for working professionals (GoScore 63 vs 49). Professionals in Ireland retain $926/month after expenses — $624/month more than in Romania.
Ireland is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 67 vs 63). PR takes ~5 years in Romania vs ~5 years in Ireland.
Ireland vs Romania: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Ireland — tuition ($21,800) plus living ($41,856) — is $63,656. In Romania: $19,200 ($6,000 tuition + $13,200 living).Romania is 70% cheaper, saving $44,456 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Ireland, 20 hrs/week at $15/hr earns $1,178/month — covering 77% of outside-city rent. In Romania, the same hours earn $320/month — covering 119% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Ireland retains $926/month from $3,815. In Romania: $302/month from $1,000. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $37,440. Tech salaries: $5,995/mo (Ireland) vs $2,200/mo (Romania).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Ireland: PR pathway ~5 years. Romania: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 24 months (Ireland) and 9 months (Romania). Student visa fee: $327 vs $120.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Ireland) and 5.5 (Romania). Romania 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 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 🇷🇴 Romania |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 57 | 57 |
| Work GoScore | 63 | 49 |
| Settle GoScore | 67 | 63 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $10,900 | $3,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,744 | $550 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,815 | $1,000 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $2,180/mo | $420/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 24 months | 9 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 65 / 100 | 63 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Ireland & Romania
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇪 Ireland
- 1.
Ireland hosts European headquarters for Google, Meta, Apple, LinkedIn, and Twitter — all drawn by its 12.5% corporate tax rate, creating immense demand for tech talent.
Source: IDA Ireland 2024
- 2.
The Stay Back visa allows international graduates to remain in Ireland for 1–2 years after graduation to find employment.
Source: ISD Ireland 2023
- 3.
Irish universities charge €9,000–25,000/year in tuition for non-EU students — significantly cheaper than the UK for English-medium education in the Eurozone.
Source: HEA Ireland 2024
- 4.
Ireland is the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone — giving graduates access to EU free movement while working in English.
- 5.
Dublin's tech salary average of €65,000/year for software engineers rivals London and exceeds most continental European cities.
Source: Glassdoor IE 2024
🇷🇴 Romania
- 1.
Romania produces more software engineers per capita than any other EU country — Bucharest is now a major Eastern European tech hub.
Source: Invest Romania 2024
- 2.
Cluj-Napoca (Romania) hosts the UNTOLD festival — one of Europe's top 5 music festivals — reflecting a surprisingly vibrant cultural and creative economy.
- 3.
Romania's flat 10% income tax rate and growing startup ecosystem attracted over $500 million in tech investment in 2023.
Source: Romanian Startups 2024
- 4.
Romania has more castles per square kilometre than any country in Europe — Transylvania's heritage creates unique tourism and hospitality opportunities.
Popular Comparisons
Ready to take the next step?
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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.