USA

Australia has a much better quality of life. Sydney is considered the most beautiful and one of the most livable cities in the world. 4 of the States capital cities: Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide are all in the top 10 most livable cities in the world. Whilst no cities in America are on that list.

Both countries are the safest countries to study abroad. The crime rate in Australia is much lower than in the United States of America. Australia ranks 47th while the USA ranks 30th according to their crime rates. It is so rare for police officers to carry guns due to the low crime rate. All they have are batons.

Yes, it is more expensive to live in Australia than in the US. According to numbers, Australia is around 23.5% costlier than the US. There are some places in Australia where students can live on a budget and study their popular programs. Plus there are good number of scholarships available for international students in Australia for covering tuition and living costs in comparison to USA.

Australia and the USA have many things in common, some obvious and some subtle. Both are large landmasses, predominantly English speaking, with an ancient native population, and relatively recently settled by European cultures. Both are democracies and both are meritocracies. Yes, both USA and Australia can be compared in terms of higher education for their courses, ROI, post-study work options, post-study staying rules and applying for higher degree level studies as well. Degrees from both the countries are valid abroad and renowned for good job opportunities.

The USA and Australia are popular study-abroad destinations for Indian students. If we compare them in terms of living costs, the average cost in Australia is 15.71 percent higher than in the United States. The USA is higher in terms of cost of studying and living in comparison to Australia. USA and Australia are among the top five countries abroad preferred among international students for higher education. Students who can afford to study and bear the living costs in USA can apply there and those who want a lower cost of studying and living can apply to Australia for study.

The minimum TOEFL score is not same for every university or program. It change depending on where you apply. In general, many top US universities ask for a TOEFL score between 80 to 110 for undergraduate and graduate programs.

For example:

• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology): 100+ for Bachelor's, 90+ for Master's
• Harvard University: 80+
• Stanford University: 101+
• Caltech (California Institute of Technology): 110+

While TOEFL is an important requirement for studying in the USA, it is not the only criterion. Universities typically consider other factors such as academic performance, letters of recommendation, and application essays. TOEFL scores are just one component of the overall application process.

Yes, TOEFL is widely accepted in the USA. 100% of universities in the United States accept TOEFL scores, and it is more commonly used for academic admissions compared to other English language tests. 

IELTS is not compulsory for all universities in the USA. Many institutions have alternative requirements or allow students to demonstrate their English proficiency through different means. Always verify with the specific university regarding their language requirements.