Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
South Africa
49
GoScore
Budget/mo
$560
Salary/mo
$1,000
Kenya
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$580
Salary/mo
$620
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 Africa wins for students (GoScore 49 vs 48). A 2-year master's costs $20,920 in Kenya - 7% less than South Africa, saving $1,520.
South Africa wins for working professionals (GoScore 39 vs 31). Professionals in South Africa retain $285/month after expenses - $480/month more than in Kenya.
South Africa is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 53 vs 46). PR takes ~5 years in South Africa vs ~7 years in Kenya.
Total cost of attendance in Kenya - tuition ($7,000) plus living ($13,920) - is $20,920. In South Africa: $22,440 ($9,000 tuition + $13,440 living).Kenya is 7% cheaper, saving $1,520 over the degree.
In Kenya, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $200/month - covering 71% of outside-city rent. In South Africa, the same hours earn $240/month - covering 86% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Kenya retains $0/month from $620. In South Africa: $285/month from $1,000. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $28,800. Tech salaries: $1,400/mo (Kenya) vs $1,800/mo (South Africa).
Kenya: PR pathway ~7 years. South Africa: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Kenya) and 12 months (South Africa). Student visa fee: $120 vs $100.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Kenya) and 5.5 (South Africa).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 49 |
| Work GoScore | 31 | 39 |
| Settle GoScore | 46 | 53 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,500 | $4,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $580 | $560 |
| Avg net salary / month | $620 | $1,000 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $480/mo | $420/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 7 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 41 / 100 | 26 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets - unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇰🇪 Kenya
This country has a growing international professional community with increasing support infrastructure for newcomers.
The local economy is experiencing above-average demand for skilled workers in technology, healthcare, and engineering.
English-medium professional environments are increasingly available, particularly in major cities and tech sectors.
🇿🇦 South Africa
South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum and 2nd largest of palladium - mining and materials engineering are among the highest-paid professions.
Source: USGS 2024
Cape Town has been ranked Africa's best city for remote work and digital nomads for 3 consecutive years.
Source: Nomad List 2024
South Africa has the continent's most sophisticated financial system - the Johannesburg Stock Exchange is the 16th largest in the world.
Source: JSE 2024
The country has 11 official languages - multilingualism is professionally valued and culturally embedded.
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.