AustraliavsChina
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Australia
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,503
Salary/mo
$3,268
China
47
GoScore
Budget/mo
$750
Salary/mo
$1,200
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
Australia wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 47). A 2-year master's costs $27,000 in China — 67% less than Australia, saving $54,824.
Australia wins for working professionals (GoScore 65 vs 42). Professionals in Australia retain $1,320/month after expenses — $918/month more than in China.
Australia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 72 vs 55). PR takes ~4 years in Australia vs ~10 years in China.
Australia vs China: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Australia — tuition ($45,752) plus living ($36,072) — is $81,824. In China: $27,000 ($9,000 tuition + $18,000 living).China is 67% cheaper, saving $54,824 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Australia, 20 hrs/week at $15/hr earns $1,214/month — covering 109% of outside-city rent. In China, the same hours earn $320/month — covering 97% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Australia retains $1,320/month from $3,268. In China: $402/month from $1,200. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $55,080. Tech salaries: $5,556/mo (Australia) vs $2,500/mo (China).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Australia: PR pathway ~4 years. China: ~10 years. Post-study work visas: 24 months (Australia) and 0 months (China). Student visa fee: $464 vs $140.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Australia) and 6.0 (China).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇨🇳 China |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 58 | 47 |
| Work GoScore | 65 | 42 |
| Settle GoScore | 72 | 55 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $22,876 | $4,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,503 | $750 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,268 | $1,200 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,438/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 24 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 4 years | 10 years |
| Safety index | 63 / 100 | 70 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Australia & China
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇦🇺 Australia
- 1.
Australia's national minimum wage of AUD $23.23/hour is the highest in the world for a major economy.
Source: Fair Work Commission 2024
- 2.
International students can work unlimited hours in Australia — a rule made permanent in 2023 after a post-COVID pilot.
Source: Department of Home Affairs 2023
- 3.
8 Australian universities rank in the global top 100, including ANU (#30), Melbourne (#33), and Sydney (#42).
Source: QS World Rankings 2025
- 4.
The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) allows graduates to stay 2–5 years to gain skilled work experience before applying for PR.
Source: Department of Home Affairs 2024
- 5.
Over 800,000 Indians live in Australia — the fastest-growing migrant community, doubling in size between 2011 and 2021.
Source: ABS Census 2021
🇨🇳 China
- 1.
China files more international patents than any country in the world — surpassing the US in 2019 and growing every year since.
Source: WIPO 2024
- 2.
Shanghai has the world's largest metro network by route length at 831 km — larger than London, New York, and Tokyo combined.
Source: UITP 2024
- 3.
China's Belt and Road Initiative spans 149 countries — creating infrastructure and finance careers with genuinely global reach.
Source: AEI 2023
- 4.
Mandarin Chinese is the world's most spoken native language — learning it to HSK 5 unlocks business opportunities in East Asia's $26 trillion combined economy.
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.