Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Saudi Arabia
49
GoScore
Budget/mo
$800
Salary/mo
$2,500
Indonesia
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$400
Salary/mo
$450
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
Saudi Arabia wins for students (GoScore 49 vs 48). A 2-year master's costs $15,600 in Indonesia - 56% less than Saudi Arabia, saving $19,600.
Saudi Arabia wins for working professionals (GoScore 52 vs 38). Professionals in Saudi Arabia retain $1,320/month after expenses - $1,410/month more than in Indonesia.
Saudi Arabia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 59 vs 52). PR takes ~5 years in Indonesia vs ~10 years in Saudi Arabia.
Total cost of attendance in Indonesia - tuition ($6,000) plus living ($9,600) - is $15,600. In Saudi Arabia: $35,200 ($16,000 tuition + $19,200 living).Indonesia is 56% cheaper, saving $19,600 over the degree.
In Indonesia, 20 hrs/week at $2/hr earns $160/month - covering 80% of outside-city rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Indonesia retains $0/month from $450. In Saudi Arabia: $1,320/month from $2,500. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $84,600. Tech salaries: $800/mo (Indonesia) vs $4,500/mo (Saudi Arabia).
Indonesia: PR pathway ~5 years. Saudi Arabia: ~10 years. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Indonesia) and 0 months (Saudi Arabia). Student visa fee: $50 vs $500.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Indonesia) and 6.0 (Saudi Arabia). Indonesia 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 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 49 |
| Work GoScore | 38 | 52 |
| Settle GoScore | 52 | 59 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Monthly student budget | $400 | $800 |
| Avg net salary / month | $450 | $2,500 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $350/mo | $900/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 10 years |
| Safety index | 49 / 100 | 77 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets - unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
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.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is committing $1 trillion to diversification - creating the world's largest single programme of economic transformation jobs.
Source: Vision 2030 2024
NEOM, the planned $500 billion mega-city project, is hiring engineers, urban planners, and tech professionals at salaries 30–40% above Gulf market rates.
Source: NEOM 2024
Saudi Arabia levies 0% personal income tax - and introduced a Privileged Iqama programme offering permanent-style residency to high earners.
Source: MISA Saudi Arabia 2024
Riyadh was the world's fastest-growing city by FDI inflow in 2023, overtaking Dubai and Singapore.
Source: Financial Times fDi Intelligence 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.