Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Taiwan
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$800
Salary/mo
$1,600
Ireland
57
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,744
Salary/mo
$3,815
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
Taiwan wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 57). A 2-year master's costs $31,200 in Taiwan — 51% less than Ireland, saving $32,456.
Ireland wins for working professionals (GoScore 63 vs 55). Professionals in Ireland retain $926/month after expenses — $291/month more than in Taiwan.
Taiwan is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 67 vs 67). PR takes ~5 years in Taiwan vs ~5 years in Ireland.
Total cost of attendance in Ireland — tuition ($21,800) plus living ($41,856) — is $63,656. In Taiwan: $31,200 ($12,000 tuition + $19,200 living).Taiwan is 51% cheaper, saving $32,456 over the degree.
In Ireland, 20 hrs/week at $15/hr earns $1,178/month — covering 77% of outside-city rent. In Taiwan, the same hours earn $424/month — covering 112% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Ireland retains $926/month from $3,815. In Taiwan: $635/month from $1,600. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $17,460. Tech salaries: $5,995/mo (Ireland) vs $3,000/mo (Taiwan).
Ireland: PR pathway ~5 years. Taiwan: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 24 months (Ireland) and 12 months (Taiwan). Student visa fee: $327 vs $110.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Ireland) and 6.0 (Taiwan).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 🇹🇼 Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 57 | 58 |
| Work GoScore | 63 | 55 |
| Settle GoScore | 67 | 67 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $10,900 | $6,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,744 | $800 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,815 | $1,600 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $2,180/mo | $650/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 24 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 65 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇪 Ireland
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
The Stay Back visa allows international graduates to remain in Ireland for 1–2 years after graduation to find employment.
Source: ISD Ireland 2023
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
Ireland is the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone — giving graduates access to EU free movement while working in English.
Dublin's tech salary average of €65,000/year for software engineers rivals London and exceeds most continental European cities.
Source: Glassdoor IE 2024
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Taiwan produces 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductor chips (below 7nm) — TSMC's fab engineers are among the highest-paid in Asia.
Source: Semiconductor Industry Association 2024
Taiwan ranked #1 globally for ease of doing business in manufacturing for the 8th consecutive year.
Source: World Bank 2024
Taiwan's National Health Insurance covers all residents including foreign workers from day one — comprehensive healthcare with no private insurance needed.
Source: NHI Taiwan 2024
Taiwan's Gold Card programme offers a 3-year open work permit to skilled professionals earning $60,000+/year — processed in 30 days.
Source: NDC Taiwan 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.