Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Qatar
55
GoScore
Budget/mo
$1,096
Salary/mo
$4,110
Serbia
54
GoScore
Budget/mo
$650
Salary/mo
$950
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
Qatar wins for students (GoScore 55 vs 54). A 2-year master's costs $20,600 in Serbia — 52% less than Qatar, saving $22,144.
Qatar wins for working professionals (GoScore 60 vs 49). Professionals in Qatar retain $2,219/month after expenses — $2,267/month more than in Serbia.
Serbia is stronger for permanent residence (GoScore 63 vs 63).
Total cost of attendance in Qatar — tuition ($16,440) plus living ($26,304) — is $42,744. In Serbia: $20,600 ($5,000 tuition + $15,600 living).Serbia is 52% cheaper, saving $22,144 over the degree.
In Serbia, the same hours earn $320/month — covering 80% of rent.
After rent, groceries, transport, and utilities, a professional in Qatar retains $2,219/month from $4,110. In Serbia: $0/month from $950. Over 5 years the gap compounds to $136,020. Tech salaries: $6,028/mo (Qatar) vs $2,800/mo (Serbia).
Qatar: no clearly defined PR pathway. Serbia: ~5 years. Post-study work visas: 12 months (Qatar) and 0 months (Serbia). Student visa fee: $69 vs $80.
Minimum IELTS band: 6.0 (Qatar) and 6.0 (Serbia).Take a free IELTS mock test on mockDe to benchmark your exact skill-level gaps before applying.
| Metric | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 🇷🇸 Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Study GoScore | 55 | 54 |
| Work GoScore | 60 | 49 |
| Settle GoScore | 63 | 63 |
| Public university tuition / yr | $8,220 | $2,500 |
| Monthly student budget | $1,096 | $650 |
| Avg net salary / month | $4,110 | $950 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $1,370/mo | $620/mo |
| Post-study work visa | 12 months | 0 months |
| PR pathway | 0 years | 5 years |
| Safety index | 84 / 100 | 63 / 100 |
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇶🇦 Qatar
Qatar has the world's 3rd largest natural gas reserves and the highest per-capita income of any country at $88,000 GDP per capita.
Source: World Bank 2024
Qatar levies 0% personal income tax across all income levels.
Qatar's Education City hosts branch campuses of 9 top US universities including Cornell, Georgetown, and Carnegie Mellon — offering Ivy League education at Gulf prices.
Source: QF 2024
The 2022 FIFA World Cup required $220 billion in infrastructure investment — creating one of history's largest concentrations of engineering and project management work.
🇷🇸 Serbia
Belgrade's tech scene grew 25% in 2023 — Serbia now has the highest concentration of STEM graduates per capita in Southeast Europe.
Source: ICT Hub Serbia 2024
Serbia allows digital nomad residency with low income requirements — popular for EU-adjacent living at Central Asian costs.
Nikola Tesla was born in Serbia (then part of the Austrian Empire) — reflecting a long national tradition of engineering excellence.
Serbia's flat 10% income tax rate is one of the lowest in Europe.
Source: Tax Administration Serbia 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.