Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Lithuania
58
GoScore
Budget/mo
$750
Salary/mo
$1,400
South Africa
49
GoScore
Budget/mo
$560
Salary/mo
$1,000
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
Lithuania wins for students (GoScore 58 vs 49). A 2-year master's costs $22,440 in South Africa — 14% less than Lithuania, saving $3,560.
Lithuania wins for working professionals (GoScore 52 vs 39). Professionals in Lithuania retain $458/month after expenses — $173/month more than in South Africa.
Lithuania is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 65 vs 53). PR takes ~5 years in South Africa vs ~5 years in Lithuania.
Total cost of attendance in Lithuania — tuition ($8,000) plus living ($18,000) — is $26,000. In South Africa: $22,440 ($9,000 tuition + $13,440 living).South Africa is 14% cheaper, saving $3,560 over the degree.
In Lithuania, 20 hrs/week at $5/hr earns $400/month — covering 105% of outside-city rent. In South Africa, the same hours earn $240/month — covering 86% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Lithuania retains $458/month from $1,400. In South Africa: $285/month from $1,000. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $10,380. Tech salaries: $2,500/mo (Lithuania) vs $1,800/mo (South Africa).
Lithuania: PR pathway ~5 years. South Africa: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Lithuania) and 12 months (South Africa). Student visa fee: $80 vs $100.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Lithuania) and 5.5 (South Africa). South Africa 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 | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 58 | 49 |
| Work GoScore | 52 | 39 |
| Settle GoScore | 65 | 53 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $4,000 | $4,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $750 | $560 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,400 | $1,000 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $600/mo | $420/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 65 / 100 | 26 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇱🇹 Lithuania
Lithuania attracted over €1 billion in fintech investment in 2023 — Vilnius is now Europe's 3rd largest fintech hub after London and Stockholm.
Source: Invest Lithuania 2024
Lithuania was the first Soviet republic to declare independence (1990) — a political fact that reflects the country's notably strong democratic institutions.
Vilnius' old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the world's highest concentration of Baroque architecture per square kilometre.
Source: UNESCO
Lithuanian universities charge €2,000–5,500/year for English-taught programmes — among the best value EU degrees available.
🇿🇦 South Africa
South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum and 2nd largest of palladium — mining and materials engineering are among the highest-paid professions.
Source: USGS 2024
Cape Town has been ranked Africa's best city for remote work and digital nomads for 3 consecutive years.
Source: Nomad List 2024
South Africa has the continent's most sophisticated financial system — the Johannesburg Stock Exchange is the 16th largest in the world.
Source: JSE 2024
The country has 11 official languages — multilingualism is professionally valued and culturally embedded.
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.