Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Greece
55
GoScore
Budget/mo
$850
Salary/mo
$1,200
Ecuador
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$620
Salary/mo
$600
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
Greece wins for students (GoScore 55 vs 48). A 2-year master's costs $17,880 in Ecuador — 32% less than Greece, saving $8,520.
Greece wins for working professionals (GoScore 48 vs 40). Professionals in Greece retain $150/month after expenses — $210/month more than in Ecuador.
Greece is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 61 vs 57). PR takes ~3 years in Ecuador vs ~5 years in Greece.
Total cost of attendance in Ecuador — tuition ($3,000) plus living ($14,880) — is $17,880. In Greece: $26,400 ($6,000 tuition + $20,400 living).Ecuador is 32% cheaper, saving $8,520 over the degree.
In Ecuador, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $240/month — covering 100% of outside-city rent. In Greece, the same hours earn $400/month — covering 95% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Ecuador retains $0/month from $600. In Greece: $150/month from $1,200. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $12,600. Tech salaries: $1,400/mo (Ecuador) vs $2,000/mo (Greece).
Ecuador: PR pathway ~3 years. Greece: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Ecuador) and 12 months (Greece). Student visa fee: $50 vs $180.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Ecuador) and 5.5 (Greece).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇬🇷 Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 55 |
| Work GoScore | 40 | 48 |
| Settle GoScore | 57 | 61 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $620 | $850 |
| Avg net salary / month | $600 | $1,200 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $380/mo | $650/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 3 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 33 / 100 | 63 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Ecuador is one of only 2 countries in the world where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere simultaneously (at the Mitad del Mundo monument).
Ecuador uses the US Dollar as its official currency — meaning zero currency exchange risk for international professionals or remote workers.
The Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) are the inspiration for Darwin's theory of evolution — marine biology and conservation research careers are globally unique here.
Ecuador's Jubilee Visa (2024) offers low-cost residency to retirees and remote workers earning $800+/month — Latin America's most accessible immigration programme.
Source: Cancillería Ecuador 2024
🇬🇷 Greece
Greece is the world's 10th most visited country (82 million tourists in 2023), creating permanent demand in tourism, hospitality, and tech sectors.
Source: UNWTO 2024
Athens' startup ecosystem doubled in size between 2020 and 2024, with Workable, Viva Wallet, and Persefoni all reaching unicorn valuations.
The Golden Visa programme (€250,000 property investment) grants 5-year renewable residency — one of Europe's most affordable investor visas.
Source: Enterprise Greece 2024
Greece has the world's largest merchant fleet by tonnage — shipping remains a multi-billion-dollar industry creating finance, logistics, and engineering careers.
Source: UNCTAD 2023
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.