HungaryvsPoland
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Poland
55
GoScore
Budget/mo
$633
Salary/mo
$1,645
Hungary
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$605
Salary/mo
$1,100
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
Poland wins for students (GoScore 55 vs 48). A 2-year master's costs $21,120 in Hungary — 7% less than Poland, saving $1,662.
Poland wins for working professionals (GoScore 51 vs 43). Professionals in Poland retain $430/month after expenses — $319/month more than in Hungary.
Poland is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 58 vs 54). PR takes ~5 years in Poland vs ~8 years in Hungary.
Hungary vs Poland: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
Total cost of attendance in Hungary — tuition ($6,600) plus living ($14,520) — is $21,120. In Poland: $22,782 ($7,590 tuition + $15,192 living).Hungary is 7% cheaper, saving $1,662 over the degree.
Can Students Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In Hungary, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $253/month — covering 57% of outside-city rent. In Poland, the same hours earn $607/month — covering 96% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Hungary retains $111/month from $1,100. In Poland: $430/month from $1,645. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $19,140. Tech salaries: $2,200/mo (Hungary) vs $3,795/mo (Poland).
Permanent Residency Timeline
Hungary: PR pathway ~8 years. Poland: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 6 months (Hungary) and 12 months (Poland). Student visa fee: $110 vs $127.
IELTS Score Required
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Hungary) and 6.0 (Poland).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 🇵🇱 Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 55 |
| Work GoScore | 43 | 51 |
| Settle GoScore | 54 | 58 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,300 | $3,795 |
| Monthly student budget | $605 | $633 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,100 | $1,645 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $605/mo | $886/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 6 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 8 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 65 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: Hungary & Poland
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇭🇺 Hungary
- 1.
Hungary has the EU's most competitive R&D tax credit — companies get 200% deduction on qualifying research expenditure — driving strong demand for engineers and scientists.
Source: HIPA 2024
- 2.
Budapest's thermal bath culture and UNESCO World Heritage city centre make it Europe's most affordable capital city with Western infrastructure.
- 3.
Hungary's White Card Digital Nomad Visa (2024) allows remote workers to live in Hungary for 1 year, renewable, with minimal income requirements.
Source: OIF Hungary 2024
- 4.
Hungarian and Transylvanian mathematicians have disproportionately shaped modern computer science — John von Neumann, born in Budapest, invented the computer architecture used in all modern computers.
🇵🇱 Poland
- 1.
Warsaw's tech sector grew 40% between 2019 and 2023 — Poland is now home to the EU's 5th largest startup ecosystem.
Source: Startup Poland 2024
- 2.
Poland issued more work visas to non-EU nationals than any other EU country in 2023 — reflecting one of Europe's most open labour markets.
Source: Eurostat 2023
- 3.
Polish university fees for international students are €2,000–4,000/year — up to 10× cheaper than UK fees for comparable engineering and IT degrees.
- 4.
Poland's GDP grew at an average of 4.5% per year from 2000 to 2023 — the fastest sustained growth of any EU member state.
Source: World Bank 2024
- 5.
Copernicus, Marie Curie (born Maria Skłodowska), and John Paul II were all Polish — reflecting a deep culture of scientific and intellectual achievement.
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.