Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Ireland
57
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,744
Salary/mo
$3,815
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
Ireland wins for students (GoScore 57 vs 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 76% less than Ireland, saving $48,576.
Ireland wins for working professionals (GoScore 63 vs 35). Professionals in Ireland retain $926/month after expenses — $1,083/month more than in Vietnam.
Ireland is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 67 vs 48).
Total cost of attendance in Ireland — tuition ($21,800) plus living ($41,856) — is $63,656. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 76% cheaper, saving $48,576 over the degree.
In Ireland, 20 hrs/week at $15/hr earns $1,178/month — covering 77% 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 Ireland retains $926/month from $3,815. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $64,980. Tech salaries: $5,995/mo (Ireland) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Ireland: PR pathway ~5 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 24 months (Ireland) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $327 vs $25.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Ireland) 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 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 57 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 63 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 67 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $10,900 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,744 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,815 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $2,180/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 24 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 65 / 100 | 61 / 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
🇻🇳 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.