Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Netherlands
56
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,526
Salary/mo
$3,052
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
Netherlands wins for students (GoScore 56 vs 51). A 2-year master's costs $31,600 in Oman — 46% less than Netherlands, saving $26,824.
Netherlands wins for working professionals (GoScore 63 vs 48). Professionals in Netherlands retain $523/month after expenses — $213/month more than in Oman.
Netherlands is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 68 vs 64).
Total cost of attendance in Netherlands — tuition ($21,800) plus living ($36,624) — is $58,424. In Oman: $31,600 ($10,000 tuition + $21,600 living).Oman is 46% cheaper, saving $26,824 over the degree.
In Netherlands, 20 hrs/week at $14/hr earns $1,124/month — covering 86% of outside-city rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Netherlands retains $523/month from $3,052. In Oman: $310/month from $1,400. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $12,780. Tech salaries: $5,995/mo (Netherlands) vs $2,500/mo (Oman).
Netherlands: PR pathway ~5 years. Oman: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Netherlands) and 0 months (Oman). Student visa fee: $191 vs $130.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Netherlands) and 6.0 (Oman).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇴🇲 Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 56 | 51 |
| Work GoScore | 63 | 48 |
| Settle GoScore | 68 | 64 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $10,900 | $5,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,526 | $900 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,052 | $1,400 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,853/mo | $700/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 70 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇳🇱 Netherlands
The Netherlands ranks 1st in Europe for English proficiency among non-native speakers — every professional under 45 is effectively bilingual.
Source: EF EPI 2023
Over 2,300 English-taught degree programmes are available at Dutch universities — the highest number in continental Europe.
Source: Nuffic 2024
Dutch university fees are capped at €2,209/year for EU students and €6,000–20,000/year for non-EU students — substantially lower than UK equivalents.
Source: DUO Netherlands 2024
The Netherlands has the world's highest bike usage rate — 23 million bicycles for 17 million people — with cycle lanes in every city, making transport near-free for students.
Amsterdam hosts over 1,000 multinational headquarters including ASML, Booking.com, and Heineken — creating a dense professional network for graduates.
🇴🇲 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.