Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Kenya
48
GoScore
Budget/mo
$580
Salary/mo
$620
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
Kenya wins for students (GoScore 48 vs 44). A 2-year master's costs $12,600 in Philippines — 40% less than Kenya, saving $8,320.
Philippines wins for working professionals (GoScore 33 vs 31). Professionals in Kenya retain $-195/month after expenses — $5/month more than in Philippines.
Philippines is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 46 vs 46). PR takes ~7 years in Kenya vs ~10 years in Philippines.
Total cost of attendance in Kenya — tuition ($7,000) plus living ($13,920) — is $20,920. In Philippines: $12,600 ($3,000 tuition + $9,600 living).Philippines is 40% cheaper, saving $8,320 over the degree.
In Kenya, 20 hrs/week at $3/hr earns $200/month — covering 71% 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 Kenya retains $0/month from $620. In Philippines: $0/month from $500. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $300. Tech salaries: $1,400/mo (Kenya) vs $900/mo (Philippines).
Kenya: PR pathway ~7 years. Philippines: ~10 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Kenya) and 0 months (Philippines). Student visa fee: $120 vs $70.
Minimum IELTS band: 5.5 (Kenya) and 5.5 (Philippines).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 48 | 44 |
| Work GoScore | 31 | 33 |
| Settle GoScore | 46 | 46 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $3,500 | $1,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $580 | $400 |
| Avg net salary / month | $620 | $500 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $480/mo | $450/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 7 years | 10 years |
| Safety index | 41 / 100 | 40 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇰🇪 Kenya
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.
🇵🇭 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.