Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Oman
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$900
Salary/mo
$1,400
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
Oman wins for students (GoScore 51 vs 48). A 2-year master's costs $17,880 in Ecuador — 43% less than Oman, saving $13,720.
Oman wins for working professionals (GoScore 48 vs 40). Professionals in Oman retain $310/month after expenses — $370/month more than in Ecuador.
Oman is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 64 vs 57).
Total cost of attendance in Ecuador — tuition ($3,000) plus living ($14,880) — is $17,880. In Oman: $31,600 ($10,000 tuition + $21,600 living).Ecuador is 43% cheaper, saving $13,720 over the degree.
In Ecuador, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $240/month — covering 100% of outside-city rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Ecuador retains $0/month from $600. In Oman: $310/month from $1,400. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $22,200. Tech salaries: $1,400/mo (Ecuador) vs $2,500/mo (Oman).
Ecuador: PR pathway ~3 years. Oman: no clearly defined pathway. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Ecuador) and 0 months (Oman). Student visa fee: $50 vs $130.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Ecuador) and 6.0 (Oman). Ecuador 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 | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 🇴🇲 Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 51 |
| Work GoScore | 40 | 48 |
| Settle GoScore | 57 | 64 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $1,500 | $5,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $620 | $900 |
| Avg net salary / month | $600 | $1,400 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $380/mo | $700/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 3 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 33 / 100 | 77 / 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
🇴🇲 Oman
Oman is consistently ranked the Arab world's most stable country (Global Peace Index 2023) — a key draw for risk-averse professionals.
Source: IEP 2023
Oman Vision 2040 is investing $100 billion in diversifying away from oil — creating massive demand for tech, tourism, and renewable energy professionals.
Source: NCSI Oman 2024
Oman levies 0% personal income tax — salaries are entirely take-home.
Muscat's cost of living is 30% below Dubai while offering comparable tax-free salaries — making it one of the Gulf's best-kept secrets for professionals.
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.