Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Saudi Arabia
49
GoScore
Budget/mo
$800
Salary/mo
$2,500
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
Saudi Arabia wins for students (GoScore 49 vs 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam - 57% less than Saudi Arabia, saving $20,120.
Saudi Arabia wins for working professionals (GoScore 52 vs 35). Professionals in Saudi Arabia retain $1,320/month after expenses - $1,477/month more than in Vietnam.
Saudi Arabia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 59 vs 48).
Total cost of attendance in Saudi Arabia - tuition ($16,000) plus living ($19,200) - is $35,200. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 57% cheaper, saving $20,120 over the degree.
In Vietnam, the same hours earn $224/month - covering 70% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Saudi Arabia retains $1,320/month from $2,500. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $88,620. Tech salaries: $4,500/mo (Saudi Arabia) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Saudi Arabia: PR pathway ~10 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Saudi Arabia) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $500 vs $25.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Saudi Arabia) 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 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 49 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 52 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 59 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $8,000 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $800 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,500 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $900/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 10 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 77 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets - unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is committing $1 trillion to diversification - creating the world's largest single programme of economic transformation jobs.
Source: Vision 2030 2024
NEOM, the planned $500 billion mega-city project, is hiring engineers, urban planners, and tech professionals at salaries 30–40% above Gulf market rates.
Source: NEOM 2024
Saudi Arabia levies 0% personal income tax - and introduced a Privileged Iqama programme offering permanent-style residency to high earners.
Source: MISA Saudi Arabia 2024
Riyadh was the world's fastest-growing city by FDI inflow in 2023, overtaking Dubai and Singapore.
Source: Financial Times fDi Intelligence 2024
🇻🇳 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
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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.