IndiavsAustralia
Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Australia
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,503
Salary/mo
$3,268
India
50
GoScore
Budget/mo
$280
Salary/mo
$620
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
Australia wins for students on GoScore (58 vs 50). A 2-year master's degree costs $10,320 in India — 87% cheaper than Australia.
Australia wins for working professionals with a higher GoScore for careers (65 vs 35). After rent and basic expenses, professionals in Australia retain $1,320/month — $1,216/month more than in India.
Australia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 72 vs 51).
India vs Australia: Complete Cost & Immigration Analysis 2026
Total Cost of a 2-Year Master's Degree
For a 2-year master's programme, the total cost of attendance (tuition + living) in India is approximately $10,320 — comprising $3,600 in public university tuition and $6,720 in living costs over 24 months. In Australia, the equivalent is $81,824 ($45,752 tuition + $36,072 living). India is 87% cheaper on total cost of attendance, saving $71,504 over the degree.
Can You Cover Rent With Part-Time Work?
In India, the minimum part-time wage is $3/hour. Working 20 hours/week, a student earns $200/month — enough to cover 95% of rent outside the city centre. In Australia, the same 20 hours/week at $15/hour earns $1,214/month — covering 109% of rent.
Real Monthly Savings After Living Expenses
After deducting rent (1-bed outside city), groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in India retains approximately $104/month from an average net salary of $620. In Australia, the figure is $1,320/month from $3,268. Over 5 years, this gap compounds to $72,960 in additional savings. For tech professionals, the gap is even wider: $1,550/month in India vs $5,556/month in Australia.
Permanent Residency Timeline
India does not have a clearly defined PR pathway for international graduates. Australia's pathway takes approximately 4 years. Australia offers 24 months. The student visa fee is $0 in India and $464 in Australia.
IELTS Score Required
To study or work in India, most visa categories require a minimum IELTS band of 0.0. Australia requires 6.0. India has a lower IELTS threshold, which benefits test-takers who are close to their target band. Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to see exactly where you stand before applying.
| Metric | 🇮🇳 India | 🇦🇺 Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 50 | 58 |
| Work GoScore | 35 | 65 |
| Settle GoScore | 51 | 72 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $1,800 | $22,876 |
| Monthly student budget | $280 | $1,503 |
| Avg net salary / month | $620 | $3,268 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $380/mo | $1,438/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 24 months |
| PR pathway | 0 years | 4 years |
| Safety index | 45 / 100 | 63 / 100 |
Fascinating Facts: India & Australia
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇳 India
- 1.
India is the world's 3rd largest startup ecosystem with over 110 unicorns — more than the UK, Germany, and France combined.
Source: NASSCOM 2024
- 2.
India's IIT graduates earn salaries competitive with MIT and Cambridge graduates globally — with placements at Google, Meta, and Goldman Sachs.
- 3.
India will become the world's most populous country by 2023 (UN), with a median age of 28 — the youngest major economy in the world.
Source: UN Population Division 2023
- 4.
India produces 1.5 million engineers per year — more than any other country — creating both domestic opportunity and the world's largest pool of export talent.
Source: AICTE 2024
🇦🇺 Australia
- 1.
Australia's national minimum wage of AUD $23.23/hour is the highest in the world for a major economy.
Source: Fair Work Commission 2024
- 2.
International students can work unlimited hours in Australia — a rule made permanent in 2023 after a post-COVID pilot.
Source: Department of Home Affairs 2023
- 3.
8 Australian universities rank in the global top 100, including ANU (#30), Melbourne (#33), and Sydney (#42).
Source: QS World Rankings 2025
- 4.
The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) allows graduates to stay 2–5 years to gain skilled work experience before applying for PR.
Source: Department of Home Affairs 2024
- 5.
Over 800,000 Indians live in Australia — the fastest-growing migrant community, doubling in size between 2011 and 2021.
Source: ABS Census 2021
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.