Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Italy
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,090
Salary/mo
$1,962
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
Italy wins for students (GoScore 51 vs 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 54% less than Italy, saving $17,620.
Italy wins for working professionals (GoScore 51 vs 35). Professionals in Italy retain $251/month after expenses — $408/month more than in Vietnam.
Italy is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 57 vs 48).
Total cost of attendance in Italy — tuition ($6,540) plus living ($26,160) — is $32,700. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 54% cheaper, saving $17,620 over the degree.
In Italy, 20 hrs/week at $8/hr earns $654/month — covering 75% 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 Italy retains $251/month from $1,962. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $24,480. Tech salaries: $3,815/mo (Italy) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Italy: PR pathway ~5 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Italy) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $55 vs $25.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Italy) 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 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 51 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 51 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 57 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,270 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,090 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,962 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,199/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 55 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇹 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 €28,000+/year with a straightforward application process.
Source: Italian Ministry of Interior 2024
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
🇻🇳 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.