Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Portugal
54
GoScore
Budget/mo
$927
Salary/mo
$1,526
Oman
51
GoScore
Budget/mo
$900
Salary/mo
$1,400
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
Portugal wins for students (GoScore 54 vs 51). A 2-year master's costs $27,698 in Portugal — 12% less than Oman, saving $3,902.
Portugal wins for working professionals (GoScore 52 vs 48). Professionals in Oman retain $310/month after expenses — $518/month more than in Portugal.
Oman is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 64 vs 63).
Total cost of attendance in Oman — tuition ($10,000) plus living ($21,600) — is $31,600. In Portugal: $27,698 ($5,450 tuition + $22,248 living).Portugal is 12% cheaper, saving $3,902 over the degree.
In Portugal, the same hours earn $610/month — covering 70% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Oman retains $310/month from $1,400. In Portugal: $0/month from $1,526. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $31,080. Tech salaries: $2,500/mo (Oman) vs $2,725/mo (Portugal).
Oman: no clearly defined PR pathway. Portugal: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 0 months (Oman) and 12 months (Portugal). Student visa fee: $130 vs $90.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Oman) and 6.0 (Portugal).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇴🇲 Oman | 🇵🇹 Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 51 | 54 |
| Work GoScore | 48 | 52 |
| Settle GoScore | 64 | 63 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $5,000 | $2,725 |
| Monthly student budget | $900 | $927 |
| Avg net salary / month | $1,400 | $1,526 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $700/mo | $1,308/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 0 months | 12 months |
| PR pathway | 0 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 77 / 100 | 72 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇴🇲 Oman
Oman is consistently ranked the Arab world's most stable country (Global Peace Index 2023) — a key draw for risk-averse professionals.
Source: IEP 2023
Oman Vision 2040 is investing $100 billion in diversifying away from oil — creating massive demand for tech, tourism, and renewable energy professionals.
Source: NCSI Oman 2024
Oman levies 0% personal income tax — salaries are entirely take-home.
Muscat's cost of living is 30% below Dubai while offering comparable tax-free salaries — making it one of the Gulf's best-kept secrets for professionals.
🇵🇹 Portugal
Portugal's D8 Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers earning €3,040+/month to live in Portugal, with a direct path to permanent residency after 5 years.
Source: AIMA Portugal 2024
Lisbon was ranked Europe's #1 city for quality of life for international professionals (InterNations Expat Insider 2023).
Source: InterNations 2023
Porto's rent is 60% cheaper than London for equivalent quality — making Portugal the best value destination in Western Europe for English-speakers.
Portugal ranks in the top 5 globally for safety, healthcare, and passport strength (160 visa-free destinations).
Source: Global Peace Index 2023
Portugal's Golden Visa has attracted €7 billion in foreign investment since 2012 — one of Europe's most established residency-by-investment programmes.
Source: SEF Portugal 2023
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.