NorwayvsPhilippines
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Norway
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,302
Salary/mo
$4,185
Philippines
44
GoScore
Budget/mo
$400
Salary/mo
$500
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
Norway wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 44). A 2-year master's costs $12,600 in Philippines — 77% less than Norway, saving $42,828.
Norway wins for working professionals (GoScore 65 vs 33). Professionals in Norway retain $2,186/month after expenses — $2,386/month more than in Philippines.
Norway is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 66 vs 46). PR takes ~7 years in Norway vs ~10 years in Philippines.
Norway vs Philippines: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Norway — tuition ($24,180) plus living ($31,248) — is $55,428. In Philippines: $12,600 ($3,000 tuition + $9,600 living).Philippines is 77% cheaper, saving $42,828 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Norway, 20 hrs/week at $17/hr earns $1,339/month — covering 131% of outside-city rent. In Philippines, the same hours earn $160/month — covering 59% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Norway retains $2,186/month from $4,185. In Philippines: $0/month from $500. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $143,160. Tech salaries: $6,510/mo (Norway) vs $900/mo (Philippines).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Norway: PR pathway ~7 years. Philippines: ~10 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Norway) and 0 months (Philippines). Student visa fee: $56 vs $70.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Norway) and 5.5 (Philippines). Philippines 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 | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 58 | 44 |
| Work GoScore | 65 | 33 |
| Settle GoScore | 66 | 46 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $12,090 | $1,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,302 | $400 |
| Avg net salary / month | $4,185 | $500 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,395/mo | $450/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 7 years | 10 years |
| Safety index | 79 / 100 | 40 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Norway & Philippines
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇳🇴 Norway
- 1.
Norway has zero tuition fees at all public universities for ALL nationalities — including non-EU/EEA students.
Source: NOKUT 2024
- 2.
Norway ranks 1st on the UN Human Development Index for the 8th consecutive year.
Source: UNDP HDR 2023
- 3.
Norway's Government Pension Fund is the world's largest sovereign wealth fund at $1.7 trillion — funding exceptional public services including healthcare and education.
Source: Norges Bank 2024
- 4.
The Norwegian skilled worker visa has no quota system and processes applications in as little as 2 weeks.
Source: UDI Norway 2024
- 5.
Norway's oil and gas industry pays engineers NOK 900,000–1,400,000/year ($85,000–$130,000) — some of the world's highest engineering salaries.
🇵🇭 Philippines
- 1.
The Philippines is the world's 3rd largest source of English-speaking professionals — over 100 million people speak English as a working language.
- 2.
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) generates $30 billion/year in the Philippines — it's the world's largest offshore service delivery hub.
Source: IBPAP 2024
- 3.
Filipino nurses and doctors work in over 40 countries — healthcare training here is internationally recognised across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
- 4.
The Philippines became a lower-middle-income country in 2010 and is projected to join the upper-middle-income tier by 2026.
Source: World Bank 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.