Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Taiwan
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$800
Salary/mo
$1,600
France
54
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,308
Salary/mo
$2,616
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
Taiwan wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 54). A 2-year master's costs $31,200 in Taiwan — 17% less than France, saving $6,232.
Taiwan wins for working professionals (GoScore 55 vs 55). Professionals in Taiwan retain $635/month after expenses — $162/month more than in France.
Taiwan is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 67 vs 62). PR takes ~5 years in Taiwan vs ~5 years in France.
Total cost of attendance in France — tuition ($6,040) plus living ($31,392) — is $37,432. In Taiwan: $31,200 ($12,000 tuition + $19,200 living).Taiwan is 17% cheaper, saving $6,232 over the degree.
In France, 20 hrs/week at $13/hr earns $1,036/month — covering 100% of outside-city rent. In Taiwan, the same hours earn $424/month — covering 112% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in France retains $473/month from $2,616. In Taiwan: $635/month from $1,600. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $9,720. Tech salaries: $4,905/mo (France) vs $3,000/mo (Taiwan).
France: PR pathway ~5 years. Taiwan: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (France) and 12 months (Taiwan). Student visa fee: $108 vs $110.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (France) and 6.0 (Taiwan).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇫🇷 France | 🇹🇼 Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 54 | 58 |
| Work GoScore | 55 | 55 |
| Settle GoScore | 62 | 67 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,020 | $6,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,308 | $800 |
| Avg net salary / month | $2,616 | $1,600 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,526/mo | $650/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 55 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇫🇷 France
French public universities charge just €2,770/year for non-EU international students — one of the lowest tuition rates for a G7 country.
Source: Campus France 2024
France is the 4th most popular study destination in the world with over 430,000 international students.
Source: Campus France 2023
The Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) visa grants skilled workers and graduates earning above €35,000/year a 4-year work and residence permit.
Source: Service-Public.fr 2024
Paris was ranked the world's #1 city for arts, humanities, and social science students (QS Best Student Cities 2024).
Source: QS 2024
France has the most Michelin-starred restaurants (622) of any country — uniquely advantageous for hospitality, culinary arts, and tourism management students.
Source: Michelin Guide 2024
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Taiwan produces 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductor chips (below 7nm) — TSMC's fab engineers are among the highest-paid in Asia.
Source: Semiconductor Industry Association 2024
Taiwan ranked #1 globally for ease of doing business in manufacturing for the 8th consecutive year.
Source: World Bank 2024
Taiwan's National Health Insurance covers all residents including foreign workers from day one — comprehensive healthcare with no private insurance needed.
Source: NHI Taiwan 2024
Taiwan's Gold Card programme offers a 3-year open work permit to skilled professionals earning $60,000+/year — processed in 30 days.
Source: NDC Taiwan 2024
Popular Comparisons
Ready to take the next step?
You'll need IELTS to study in any of these countries. Take a free full-length mock test to know exactly where you stand.
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.