Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Japan
56
GoScore
Budget/mo
$733
Salary/mo
$2,000
Oman
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$900
Salary/mo
$1,400
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
Japan wins for students (GoScore 56 vs 51). A 2-year master's costs $24,736 in Japan — 22% less than Oman, saving $6,864.
Japan wins for working professionals (GoScore 52 vs 48). Professionals in Japan retain $800/month after expenses — $490/month more than in Oman.
Oman is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 64 vs 61).
Total cost of attendance in Japan — tuition ($7,144) plus living ($17,592) — is $24,736. In Oman: $31,600 ($10,000 tuition + $21,600 living).Japan is 22% cheaper, saving $6,864 over the degree.
In Japan, 20 hrs/week at $7/hr earns $586/month — covering 110% of outside-city rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Japan retains $800/month from $2,000. In Oman: $310/month from $1,400. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $29,400. Tech salaries: $3,000/mo (Japan) vs $2,500/mo (Oman).
Japan: PR pathway ~5 years. Oman: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Japan) and 0 months (Oman). Student visa fee: $20 vs $130.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Japan) and 6.0 (Oman).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇴🇲 Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 56 | 51 |
| Work GoScore | 52 | 48 |
| Settle GoScore | 61 | 64 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,572 | $5,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $733 | $900 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,000 | $1,400 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $800/mo | $700/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 81 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇯🇵 Japan
Japan has the world's 3rd lowest crime rate — Tokyo is consistently ranked the world's safest megacity.
Source: Numbeo 2024
Japan's 'Specified Skilled Worker' visa covers 14 industries in shortage and offers a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years.
Source: Ministry of Justice Japan 2023
Japan is the world's 2nd largest spender on R&D as a percentage of GDP — making it a global hub for engineering, robotics, and materials science.
Source: OECD 2023
Japan's JLPT N2 Japanese language certification opens doors to 85% of professional roles and significantly increases earning potential.
Tokyo was ranked the world's best city for street food, public transport, and urban safety simultaneously (Time Out City Index 2024).
Source: Time Out 2024
🇴🇲 Oman
Oman is consistently ranked the Arab world's most stable country (Global Peace Index 2023) — a key draw for risk-averse professionals.
Source: IEP 2023
Oman Vision 2040 is investing $100 billion in diversifying away from oil — creating massive demand for tech, tourism, and renewable energy professionals.
Source: NCSI Oman 2024
Oman levies 0% personal income tax — salaries are entirely take-home.
Muscat's cost of living is 30% below Dubai while offering comparable tax-free salaries — making it one of the Gulf's best-kept secrets for professionals.
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.