ItalyvsSouth Korea
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
South Korea
59
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,100
Salary/mo
$2,400
Italy
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,090
Salary/mo
$1,962
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
South Korea wins for students (GoScore 59 vs 51). A 2-year master's costs $32,700 in Italy - 20% less than South Korea, saving $8,100.
South Korea wins for working professionals (GoScore 54 vs 51). Professionals in South Korea retain $1,025/month after expenses - $774/month more than in Italy.
South Korea is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 60 vs 57). PR takes ~5 years in South Korea vs ~5 years in Italy.
Italy vs South Korea: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Italy - tuition ($6,540) plus living ($26,160) - is $32,700. In South Korea: $40,800 ($14,400 tuition + $26,400 living).Italy is 20% cheaper, saving $8,100 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Italy, 20 hrs/week at $8/hr earns $654/month - covering 75% of outside-city rent. In South Korea, the same hours earn $632/month - covering 113% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Italy retains $251/month from $1,962. In South Korea: $1,025/month from $2,400. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $46,440. Tech salaries: $3,815/mo (Italy) vs $3,850/mo (South Korea).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Italy: PR pathway ~5 years. South Korea: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Italy) and 24 months (South Korea). Student visa fee: $55 vs $60.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Italy) and 6.0 (South Korea).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇮🇹 Italy | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 51 | 59 |
| Work GoScore | 51 | 54 |
| Settle GoScore | 57 | 60 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,270 | $7,200 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,090 | $1,100 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,962 | $2,400 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,199/mo | $920/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 24 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 55 / 100 | 80 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Italy & South Korea
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets - unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇹 Italy
- 1.
Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites (58) than any country in the world - uniquely valuable for students in architecture, art history, and design.
Source: UNESCO 2024
- 2.
The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the world's oldest continuously operating university.
- 3.
Italy's fashion, luxury, and automotive industries (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Gucci, Prada, Armani) collectively employ over 1.5 million people, creating unique career paths unavailable elsewhere.
- 4.
Italy introduced the Digital Nomad Visa in 2024, targeting remote workers earning €28,000+/year with a straightforward application process.
Source: Italian Ministry of Interior 2024
- 5.
Italian public universities charge €0–4,000/year for non-EU students - with some of the world's cheapest engineering and medical degrees.
Source: MIUR Italy 2024
🇰🇷 South Korea
- 1.
South Korea has the world's fastest average internet speed at 245 Mbps - 3× faster than the global average.
Source: Speedtest Global Index 2024
- 2.
Korean companies Samsung, LG, Hyundai, SK, and POSCO collectively employ more engineers globally than the total tech workforce of France.
- 3.
South Korea's K-chip Act (2023) offers tax credits up to 25% for semiconductor R&D - creating Asia's second-largest semiconductor talent demand after Taiwan.
Source: MOTIE Korea 2023
- 4.
Seoul's Gangnam district has the world's highest concentration of plastic surgery clinics per square kilometre - a unique driver of medical tourism and healthcare careers.
- 5.
The TOPIK Korean language certification (N2 or above) significantly increases work permit eligibility and salary levels for foreign professionals.
Source: NIIED 2023
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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.