Live 2026 data ยท Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
๐ Top Pick ยท Study Abroad
Singapore leads on study score. Post-study work visa: 12 months.
64
Study Score
Singapore
64
GoScore
Tuition/yr
$18,650
Budget/mo
$1,343
Taiwan
58
GoScore
Tuition/yr
$6,000
Budget/mo
$800
Overall Comparison
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore
๐ WINNER๐ผ Career
๐ฐ Affordability
๐ Quality of Life
๐ก๏ธ Safety
๐ PR Ease
๐ Happiness
๐น๐ผ Taiwan
๐ผ Career
๐ฐ Affordability
๐ Quality of Life
๐ก๏ธ Safety
๐ PR Ease
๐ Happiness
AI Data Verdict
Gemini analyses 14 verified database fields to produce an unbiased verdict.
AI insights unavailable for this pair
Side-by-Side Numbers
Real 2026 data across salary, cost of living, immigration timeline, and quality of life - so you can make an informed decision.
Avg Monthly Salary
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore wins
Monthly Savings
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore wins
Tech Salary
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore wins
Avg Rent (city)
๐น๐ผ Taiwan wins
PR Timeline
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore wins
Purchasing Power
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore wins
Detailed Metrics
Public university tuition / year
Monthly student budget
Part-time wage / hour
Student visa fee
Post-study work visa
IELTS band required
Safety index
Which country is right for you?
Select your life stage. We'll calculate which country fits your real-world priorities.
๐ Best for Fresh Graduate
๐น๐ผ Taiwan
Post-study work visa: 12 months
Student monthly budget: $800
PR pathway: 5 yrs
Runner-up ยท Behind by 17 pts
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore
Post-study work visa: 12 months
Student monthly budget: $1,343
PR pathway: 3 yrs
Personalised Budget Check
Enter your monthly income to see if Singapore fits your real budget - and whether you'd be saving or struggling.
Budget Fit Advisor ยท Free
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Singapore
GoScore 64 ยท Top Pick
Taiwan
GoScore 58
Singapore (top pick, GoScore 64) is within your budget - you'd keep $657/month after expenses.
Full Budget Planner ยท Free
Pre-filled with Singapore - your top-ranked destination. Switch to any of 66 countries to run your numbers.
Your Inputs
Tell us about your monthly lifestyle
= โน2,94,000
Include Rent
$1,641/mo estimated
โฆ AI Decision
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore
Via Employment Pass ยท Tax: 15%
73
/ 100 Match
Estimated Monthly Cost
Your total monthly cost of living
๐ฐ Remaining Monthly Freedom Money
+$993/ month
ComfortableAvg Net Salary
$3,730/mo
PR Pathway
3 yrs
Safety Index
84 / 100
QoL Index
187 / 200
Healthcare
80 / 100
Happiness
6.5 / 10
Countries similar to Singapore
These destinations have comparable GoScores and are worth comparing before deciding.
Canada
GoScore 64
Salary $2,941/mo
CoL index 63
Compare vs Singapore โ
Germany
GoScore 63
Salary $2,725/mo
CoL index 59
Compare vs Singapore โ
New Zealand
GoScore 62
Salary $2,530/mo
CoL index 75
Compare vs Singapore โ
Luxembourg
GoScore 59
Salary $4,200/mo
CoL index 96
Compare vs Singapore โ
Also compare Singapore with
World Bank ยท IMF ยท Latest
Is this economy stable and fair?
GDP per capita (PPP)
GDP growth (%)
Inflation (CPI %)
Gini index (0=equal, 100=unequal)
Tax revenue (% of GDP)
World Bank ยท ILO ยท Latest
Can I find good work here?
Labour force participation (%)
Unemployment rate (%)
FDI inflows (foreign investment)
High-tech exports (% of manufactured)
World Bank ยท Latest
Can I work remotely? Is it green?
Internet users (% of population)
Mobile subscriptions (per 100 people)
Electricity access (% of population)
Renewable energy (% of final consumption)
World Bank ยท UN ยท Latest
What kind of society is this?
Population
Urban population (%)
Net migration
Life expectancy (years)
Tertiary enrolment (%)
Quick Verdict - 2026
Singapore wins for students (GoScore 64 vs 58). A 2-year master's costs $31,200 in Taiwan - 55% less than Singapore, saving $38,332.
Singapore wins for working professionals (GoScore 66 vs 55). Professionals in Taiwan retain $635/month after expenses - $38/month more than in Singapore.
Singapore is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 72 vs 67). PR takes ~3 years in Singapore vs ~5 years in Taiwan.
Total cost of attendance in Singapore - tuition ($37,300) plus living ($32,232) - is $69,532. In Taiwan: $31,200 ($12,000 tuition + $19,200 living).Taiwan is 55% cheaper, saving $38,332 over the degree.
In Singapore, 20 hrs/week at $11/hr earns $895/month - covering 55% of outside-city rent. In Taiwan, the same hours earn $424/month - covering 112% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Singapore retains $597/month from $3,730. In Taiwan: $635/month from $1,600. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $2,280. Tech salaries: $5,222/mo (Singapore) vs $3,000/mo (Taiwan).
Singapore: PR pathway ~3 years. Taiwan: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Singapore) and 12 months (Taiwan). Student visa fee: $67 vs $110.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Singapore) and 6.0 (Taiwan).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | ๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore | ๐น๐ผ Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 64 | 58 |
| Work GoScore | 66 | 55 |
| Settle GoScore | 72 | 67 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $18,650 | $6,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,343 | $800 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,730 | $1,600 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $2,611/mo | $650/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 3 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 84 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets - unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore
Singapore has 4 universities in the global top 25 (QS 2025), including NUS at #8 - the highest concentration of elite universities per capita in the world.
Source: QS 2025
Changi Airport won 'World's Best Airport' for the 12th time in 2024 - a key advantage for professionals who travel regionally.
Source: Skytrax 2024
Singapore's Employment Pass requires a minimum monthly salary of SGD $5,000 ($3,700) - reflecting its position as the highest-wage economy in Southeast Asia.
Source: MOM Singapore 2024
Singapore has zero capital gains tax, zero inheritance tax, and a flat personal income tax rate that peaks at 24% - making it one of the world's most tax-efficient countries for high earners.
Source: IRAS Singapore 2024
The city-state's Indian community of over 360,000 makes it Southeast Asia's most culturally familiar destination for Indian professionals.
Source: Singapore Census 2020
๐น๐ผ Taiwan
Taiwan produces 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductor chips (below 7nm) - TSMC's fab engineers are among the highest-paid in Asia.
Source: Semiconductor Industry Association 2024
Taiwan ranked #1 globally for ease of doing business in manufacturing for the 8th consecutive year.
Source: World Bank 2024
Taiwan's National Health Insurance covers all residents including foreign workers from day one - comprehensive healthcare with no private insurance needed.
Source: NHI Taiwan 2024
Taiwan's Gold Card programme offers a 3-year open work permit to skilled professionals earning $60,000+/year - processed in 30 days.
Source: NDC Taiwan 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.