ThailandvsVietnam
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Vietnam
46
GoScore
Budget/mo
$420
Salary/mo
$520
Thailand
45
GoScore
Budget/mo
$600
Salary/mo
$800
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
Vietnam wins for students (GoScore 46 vs 45). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 33% less than Thailand, saving $7,320.
Thailand wins for working professionals (GoScore 36 vs 35). Professionals in Thailand retain $-80/month after expenses — $77/month more than in Vietnam.
Thailand is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 52 vs 48).
Thailand vs Vietnam: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Thailand — tuition ($8,000) plus living ($14,400) — is $22,400. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 33% cheaper, saving $7,320 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Thailand, 20 hrs/week at $4/hr earns $344/month — covering 98% 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 Thailand retains $0/month from $800. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $4,620. Tech salaries: $1,500/mo (Thailand) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Thailand: PR pathway ~10 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Thailand) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $65 vs $25.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Thailand) and 5.5 (Vietnam).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 45 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 36 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 52 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $4,000 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $600 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $800 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $600/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 10 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 44 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Thailand & Vietnam
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇹🇭 Thailand
- 1.
Bangkok ranked #1 in the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index for international visitors 5 years running — creating massive hospitality and tourism careers.
- 2.
Thailand's Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa grants 10-year residency to remote workers earning $80,000+/year, with a fast 30-day processing time.
Source: BOI Thailand 2022
- 3.
Thailand has Asia's second-largest automotive industry — Toyota, Honda, Ford, and BMW all manufacture here, creating strong engineering demand.
- 4.
Chiang Mai consistently ranks in the world's top 5 digital nomad cities due to low costs, fast internet, and a large English-speaking professional community.
🇻🇳 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.