Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Romania
57
GoScore
Budget/mo
$550
Salary/mo
$1,000
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
Romania wins for students (GoScore 57 vs 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 21% less than Romania, saving $4,120.
Romania wins for working professionals (GoScore 49 vs 35). Professionals in Romania retain $302/month after expenses — $459/month more than in Vietnam.
Romania is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 63 vs 48).
Total cost of attendance in Romania — tuition ($6,000) plus living ($13,200) — is $19,200. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 21% cheaper, saving $4,120 over the degree.
In Romania, 20 hrs/week at $4/hr earns $320/month — covering 119% of outside-city rent. In Vietnam, the same hours earn $224/month — covering 70% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Romania retains $302/month from $1,000. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $27,540. Tech salaries: $2,200/mo (Romania) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Romania: PR pathway ~5 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 9 months (Romania) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $120 vs $25.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Romania) and 5.5 (Vietnam).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇷🇴 Romania | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 57 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 49 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 63 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,000 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $550 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,000 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $420/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 9 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 63 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇷🇴 Romania
Romania produces more software engineers per capita than any other EU country — Bucharest is now a major Eastern European tech hub.
Source: Invest Romania 2024
Cluj-Napoca (Romania) hosts the UNTOLD festival — one of Europe's top 5 music festivals — reflecting a surprisingly vibrant cultural and creative economy.
Romania's flat 10% income tax rate and growing startup ecosystem attracted over $500 million in tech investment in 2023.
Source: Romanian Startups 2024
Romania has more castles per square kilometre than any country in Europe — Transylvania's heritage creates unique tourism and hospitality opportunities.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
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
Ho Chi Minh City ranks in Asia's top 10 startup ecosystems, with particular strength in fintech and e-commerce.
Source: Startup Genome 2024
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
Vietnam's coast stretches 3,260 km — making tourism, hospitality management, and marine engineering uniquely important industries.
Popular Comparisons
Ready to take the next step?
You'll need IELTS to study in any of these countries. Take a free full-length mock test to know exactly where you stand.
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.