GreecevsSpain
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Greece
55
GoScore
Budget/mo
$850
Salary/mo
$1,200
Spain
53
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,036
Salary/mo
$1,962
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 53). A 2-year master's costs $26,400 in Greece — 13% less than Spain, saving $3,914.
Spain wins for working professionals (GoScore 53 vs 48). Professionals in Spain retain $387/month after expenses — $237/month more than in Greece.
Spain is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 63 vs 61). PR takes ~5 years in Spain vs ~5 years in Greece.
Greece vs Spain: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Greece — tuition ($6,000) plus living ($20,400) — is $26,400. In Spain: $30,314 ($5,450 tuition + $24,864 living).Greece is 13% cheaper, saving $3,914 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Greece, 20 hrs/week at $5/hr earns $400/month — covering 95% of outside-city rent. In Spain, the same hours earn $715/month — covering 94% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Greece retains $150/month from $1,200. In Spain: $387/month from $1,962. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $14,220. Tech salaries: $2,000/mo (Greece) vs $3,488/mo (Spain).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Greece: PR pathway ~5 years. Spain: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Greece) and 12 months (Spain). Student visa fee: $180 vs $87.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Greece) and 6.0 (Spain). Greece 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 | 🇬🇷 Greece | 🇪🇸 Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 55 | 53 |
| Work GoScore | 48 | 53 |
| Settle GoScore | 61 | 63 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,000 | $2,725 |
| Monthly student budget | $850 | $1,036 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,200 | $1,962 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $650/mo | $1,090/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 63 / 100 | 62 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Greece & Spain
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇬🇷 Greece
- 1.
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
- 2.
Athens' startup ecosystem doubled in size between 2020 and 2024, with Workable, Viva Wallet, and Persefoni all reaching unicorn valuations.
- 3.
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
- 4.
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
🇪🇸 Spain
- 1.
Spain has the world's 2nd longest healthy life expectancy at 73.8 years, behind only Japan.
Source: WHO 2023
- 2.
Spain's 2023 Startup Law (Ley de Startups) created a special visa and flat 15% tax rate for entrepreneurs and remote workers for 4 years.
Source: ENISA Spain 2023
- 3.
Barcelona and Madrid rank in Europe's top 5 startup ecosystems, hosting European HQs for Uber, Amazon Web Services, and Zoom.
Source: Startup Genome 2024
- 4.
Spanish is the world's 2nd most spoken native language — learning it unlocks career markets across 21 countries and 600 million speakers.
- 5.
Spain's unemployment rate for under-35s with STEM degrees is just 6% — among the lowest in Southern Europe.
Source: Eurostat 2024
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.