Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Canada
64
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,618
Salary/mo
$2,941
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
Canada wins for students (GoScore 64 vs 46). A 2-year master's costs $15,080 in Vietnam — 82% less than Canada, saving $67,870.
Canada wins for working professionals (GoScore 68 vs 35). Professionals in Canada retain $786/month after expenses — $943/month more than in Vietnam.
Canada is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 73 vs 48).
Total cost of attendance in Canada — tuition ($44,118) plus living ($38,832) — is $82,950. In Vietnam: $15,080 ($5,000 tuition + $10,080 living).Vietnam is 82% cheaper, saving $67,870 over the degree.
In Canada, 20 hrs/week at $12/hr earns $974/month — covering 78% 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 Canada retains $786/month from $2,941. In Vietnam: $0/month from $520. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $56,580. Tech salaries: $5,515/mo (Canada) vs $1,100/mo (Vietnam).
Canada: PR pathway ~2 years. Vietnam: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 36 months (Canada) and 0 months (Vietnam). Student visa fee: $110 vs $25.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Canada) 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 | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 64 | 46 |
| Work GoScore | 68 | 35 |
| Settle GoScore | 73 | 48 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $22,059 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,618 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,941 | $520 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,618/mo | $520/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 36 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 2 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 62 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇨🇦 Canada
Canada accepts over 500,000 permanent residents per year — the highest per-capita immigration rate in the G7.
Source: IRCC 2023
The Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) can last up to 3 years for 2-year programme graduates — among the world's most generous post-study work rights.
Source: IRCC
Over 1.8 million people of Indian origin call Canada home, making it the largest South Asian diaspora hub after the UK.
Source: Statistics Canada 2021
Express Entry CRS draws regularly invite candidates scoring under 480 points — a 1-year Canadian work experience can make PR achievable in under 3 years.
Source: IRCC 2024
Canada has 26 universities in the global top 500, including Toronto, McGill, and UBC — all ranked in the world's top 50.
Source: QS 2025
🇻🇳 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.