Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
India
50
GoScore
Budget/mo
$280
Salary/mo
$620
Nigeria
45
GoScore
Budget/mo
$420
Salary/mo
$380
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
India wins for students (GoScore 50 vs 45). A 2-year master's costs $10,320 in India — 21% less than Nigeria, saving $2,760.
India wins for working professionals (GoScore 35 vs 33). Professionals in India retain $104/month after expenses — $444/month more than in Nigeria.
India is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 51 vs 47).
Total cost of attendance in India — tuition ($3,600) plus living ($6,720) — is $10,320. In Nigeria: $13,080 ($3,000 tuition + $10,080 living).India is 21% cheaper, saving $2,760 over the degree.
In India, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $200/month — covering 95% of outside-city rent. In Nigeria, the same hours earn $160/month — covering 73% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in India retains $104/month from $620. In Nigeria: $0/month from $380. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $26,640. Tech salaries: $1,550/mo (India) vs $900/mo (Nigeria).
India: no clearly defined PR pathway. Nigeria: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 0 months (India) and 0 months (Nigeria). Student visa fee: $0 vs $100.
Minimum IELTS band: 0.0 (India) and 5.5 (Nigeria). India 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 | 🇮🇳 India | 🇳🇬 Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 50 | 45 |
| Work GoScore | 35 | 33 |
| Settle GoScore | 51 | 47 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $1,800 | $1,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $280 | $420 |
| Avg net salary / month | $620 | $380 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $380/mo | $420/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 0 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 45 / 100 | 31 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇳 India
India is the world's 3rd largest startup ecosystem with over 110 unicorns — more than the UK, Germany, and France combined.
Source: NASSCOM 2024
India's IIT graduates earn salaries competitive with MIT and Cambridge graduates globally — with placements at Google, Meta, and Goldman Sachs.
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
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
🇳🇬 Nigeria
This country has a growing international professional community with increasing support infrastructure for newcomers.
The local economy is experiencing above-average demand for skilled workers in technology, healthcare, and engineering.
English-medium professional environments are increasingly available, particularly in major cities and tech sectors.
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.