Live 2026 data ยท Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
๐ Top Pick ยท Study Abroad
Taiwan leads on study score. Post-study work visa: 12 months.
58
Study Score
Taiwan
58
GoScore
Tuition/yr
$6,000
Budget/mo
$800
Italy
51
GoScore
Tuition/yr
$3,270
Budget/mo
$1,090
Overall Comparison
๐น๐ผ Taiwan
๐ WINNER๐ผ Career
๐ฐ Affordability
๐ Quality of Life
๐ก๏ธ Safety
๐ PR Ease
๐ Happiness
๐ฎ๐น Italy
๐ผ Career
๐ฐ Affordability
๐ Quality of Life
๐ก๏ธ Safety
๐ PR Ease
๐ Happiness
AI Data Verdict
Gemini analyses 14 verified database fields to produce an unbiased verdict.
AI insights unavailable for this pair
Side-by-Side Numbers
Real 2026 data across salary, cost of living, immigration timeline, and quality of life - so you can make an informed decision.
Avg Monthly Salary
๐ฎ๐น Italy wins
Monthly Savings
๐ฎ๐น Italy wins
Tech Salary
๐ฎ๐น Italy wins
Avg Rent (city)
๐น๐ผ Taiwan wins
PR Timeline
Tied
Purchasing Power
๐ฎ๐น Italy wins
Detailed Metrics
Public university tuition / year
Monthly student budget
Part-time wage / hour
Student visa fee
Post-study work visa
IELTS band required
Safety index
Which country is right for you?
Select your life stage. We'll calculate which country fits your real-world priorities.
๐ Best for Fresh Graduate
๐น๐ผ Taiwan
Post-study work visa: 12 months
Student monthly budget: $800
PR pathway: 5 yrs
Runner-up ยท Behind by 40 pts
๐ฎ๐น Italy
Post-study work visa: 12 months
Student monthly budget: $1,090
PR pathway: 5 yrs
Personalised Budget Check
Enter your monthly income to see if Taiwan fits your real budget - and whether you'd be saving or struggling.
Budget Fit Advisor ยท Free
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Taiwan
GoScore 58 ยท Top Pick
Italy
GoScore 51
Taiwan (top pick, GoScore 58) is within your budget - you'd keep $1,200/month after expenses.
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Your Inputs
Tell us about your monthly lifestyle
= โน2,94,000
Include Rent
$380/mo estimated
โฆ AI Decision
๐น๐ผ Taiwan
Via Employment Permit ยท Tax: 20%
100
/ 100 Match
Estimated Monthly Cost
Your total monthly cost of living
๐ฐ Remaining Monthly Freedom Money
+$2,625/ month
Wealth-buildingAvg Net Salary
$1,600/mo
PR Pathway
5 yrs
Safety Index
77 / 100
QoL Index
175 / 200
Healthcare
76 / 100
Happiness
6.6 / 10
Countries similar to Taiwan
These destinations have comparable GoScores and are worth comparing before deciding.
Also compare Taiwan with
World Bank ยท IMF ยท Latest
Is this economy stable and fair?
GDP per capita (PPP)
GDP growth (%)
Inflation (CPI %)
Gini index (0=equal, 100=unequal)
Tax revenue (% of GDP)
World Bank ยท ILO ยท Latest
Can I find good work here?
Labour force participation (%)
Unemployment rate (%)
FDI inflows (foreign investment)
High-tech exports (% of manufactured)
World Bank ยท Latest
Can I work remotely? Is it green?
Internet users (% of population)
Mobile subscriptions (per 100 people)
Electricity access (% of population)
Renewable energy (% of final consumption)
World Bank ยท UN ยท Latest
What kind of society is this?
Population
Urban population (%)
Net migration
Life expectancy (years)
Tertiary enrolment (%)
Quick Verdict - 2026
Taiwan wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 51). A 2-year master's costs $31,200 in Taiwan - 5% less than Italy, saving $1,500.
Taiwan wins for working professionals (GoScore 55 vs 51). Professionals in Taiwan retain $635/month after expenses - $384/month more than in Italy.
Taiwan is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 67 vs 57). PR takes ~5 years in Taiwan vs ~5 years in Italy.
Total cost of attendance in Italy - tuition ($6,540) plus living ($26,160) - is $32,700. In Taiwan: $31,200 ($12,000 tuition + $19,200 living).Taiwan is 5% cheaper, saving $1,500 over the degree.
In Italy, 20 hrs/week at $8/hr earns $654/month - covering 75% 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 Italy retains $251/month from $1,962. In Taiwan: $635/month from $1,600. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $23,040. Tech salaries: $3,815/mo (Italy) vs $3,000/mo (Taiwan).
Italy: PR pathway ~5 years. Taiwan: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Italy) and 12 months (Taiwan). Student visa fee: $55 vs $110.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Italy) and 6.0 (Taiwan).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | ๐ฎ๐น Italy | ๐น๐ผ Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 51 | 58 |
| Work GoScore | 51 | 55 |
| Settle GoScore | 57 | 67 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,270 | $6,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,090 | $800 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,962 | $1,600 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,199/mo | $650/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 55 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets - unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
๐ฎ๐น Italy
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
The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the world's oldest continuously operating university.
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.
Italy introduced the Digital Nomad Visa in 2024, targeting remote workers earning โฌ28,000+/year with a straightforward application process.
Source: Italian Ministry of Interior 2024
Italian public universities charge โฌ0โ4,000/year for non-EU students - with some of the world's cheapest engineering and medical degrees.
Source: MIUR Italy 2024
๐น๐ผ 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.