Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Ireland
57
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,744
Salary/mo
$3,815
Philippines
44
GoScore
Budget/mo
$400
Salary/mo
$500
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
Ireland wins for students (GoScore 57 vs 44). A 2-year master's costs $12,600 in Philippines — 80% less than Ireland, saving $51,056.
Ireland wins for working professionals (GoScore 63 vs 33). Professionals in Ireland retain $926/month after expenses — $1,126/month more than in Philippines.
Ireland is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 67 vs 46). PR takes ~5 years in Ireland vs ~10 years in Philippines.
Total cost of attendance in Ireland — tuition ($21,800) plus living ($41,856) — is $63,656. In Philippines: $12,600 ($3,000 tuition + $9,600 living).Philippines is 80% cheaper, saving $51,056 over the degree.
In Ireland, 20 hrs/week at $15/hr earns $1,178/month — covering 77% of outside-city rent. In Philippines, the same hours earn $160/month — covering 59% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Ireland retains $926/month from $3,815. In Philippines: $0/month from $500. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $67,560. Tech salaries: $5,995/mo (Ireland) vs $900/mo (Philippines).
Ireland: PR pathway ~5 years. Philippines: ~10 years. Post-study work visas: 24 months (Ireland) and 0 months (Philippines). Student visa fee: $327 vs $70.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Ireland) and 5.5 (Philippines). Philippines 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 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 57 | 44 |
| Work GoScore | 63 | 33 |
| Settle GoScore | 67 | 46 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $10,900 | $1,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,744 | $400 |
| Avg net salary / month | $3,815 | $500 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $2,180/mo | $450/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 24 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 10 years |
| Safety index | 65 / 100 | 40 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇮🇪 Ireland
Ireland hosts European headquarters for Google, Meta, Apple, LinkedIn, and Twitter — all drawn by its 12.5% corporate tax rate, creating immense demand for tech talent.
Source: IDA Ireland 2024
The Stay Back visa allows international graduates to remain in Ireland for 1–2 years after graduation to find employment.
Source: ISD Ireland 2023
Irish universities charge €9,000–25,000/year in tuition for non-EU students — significantly cheaper than the UK for English-medium education in the Eurozone.
Source: HEA Ireland 2024
Ireland is the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone — giving graduates access to EU free movement while working in English.
Dublin's tech salary average of €65,000/year for software engineers rivals London and exceeds most continental European cities.
Source: Glassdoor IE 2024
🇵🇭 Philippines
The Philippines is the world's 3rd largest source of English-speaking professionals — over 100 million people speak English as a working language.
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) generates $30 billion/year in the Philippines — it's the world's largest offshore service delivery hub.
Source: IBPAP 2024
Filipino nurses and doctors work in over 40 countries — healthcare training here is internationally recognised across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The Philippines became a lower-middle-income country in 2010 and is projected to join the upper-middle-income tier by 2026.
Source: World Bank 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.