NorwayvsVietnam
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Norway
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,302
Salary/mo
$4,185
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
Norway wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 73% less than Norway, saving $40,348.
Norway wins for working professionals (GoScore 65 vs 35). Professionals in Norway retain $2,186/month after expenses — $2,343/month more than in Vietnam.
Norway is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 66 vs 48).
Norway vs Vietnam: 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 Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 73% cheaper, saving $40,348 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 Vietnam, the same hours earn $224/month — covering 70% 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 Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $140,580. Tech salaries: $6,510/mo (Norway) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Norway: PR pathway ~7 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Norway) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $56 vs $25.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Norway) 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 | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 58 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 65 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 66 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $12,090 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,302 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $4,185 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,395/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 7 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 79 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Norway & Vietnam
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.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
- 1.
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
- 2.
Ho Chi Minh City ranks in Asia's top 10 startup ecosystems, with particular strength in fintech and e-commerce.
Source: Startup Genome 2024
- 3.
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
- 4.
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.