The appeal of Finland is difficult to pin down. The country ranks highly on all the typical metrics that attract visitors, such as natural beauty and cleanliness. But it also has a strong sense of community, which extends from the welcoming locals to the fact that so much of Finland is preserved as national parks, forest reserves, and other protected areas.
A big part of why people love Finland is its national government, which has built up a strong international reputation for being progressive and transparent in its actions. It’s pro-environment and focused on sustainability. In place of strict penalties for minor infractions in traffic or other laws, Finland applies a philosophy based on trust. One that encourages people to make good decisions because they’re expected to do so by society.
Finland has a population of just over 5.5 million people and Helsinki is its capital. Helsinki is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Finland. It has been voted as the World Design Capital for 2012. It has also been ranked continuously in the top 30 most liveable cities in the world for seven years in a row by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
Finland has a very high standard of living and excellent education opportunities, as well as good benefits for those who are unemployed or not able to work. It has the lowest poverty rate in the European Union. All of this makes it an attractive place to move to, but what about the cost?
The cost of living, in general, is higher than that of most other EU countries. Some basic products and services like telecommunications, transport and health care are quite expensive for tourists also.
However, Finland offers plenty of great public amenities and services (such as free public transportation within cities) that help ease the strain on your wallet. This makes it a great place to live if you’re looking for high standards without excessive spending requirements.
Despite this, Finland remains one of the most popular countries for skilled migrants from outside of the European Union thanks to its excellent education system and employment opportunities.
Finland is known for its high quality of life and standard of living, with housing prices being lower than most European countries. Finland’s quality of life has also ranked among the highest in the world. As so, ex-pats may find that Finland is a good country to live in. The cost of living in Finland is much lower than in some other Nordic countries but higher than in others. Expats should consider these costs before moving to Finland.
City
Cost of Living Index
Local Purchasing Power Index
Espoo
74.96
86.79
Turku
67.80
92.11
Helsinki
67.42
86.74
Oulu
66.04
92.79
Tampere
61.16
95.18
Cost Of Living: What Are the Living Expenses Like In Finland?
Living in Finland is a lot like living in any other country. You have your bills and expenses which affect you financially. But there is some consistency that people have to live with. These include the basic need of shelter, food, and clothing. Even if you’re living in Finland temporarily, there will be slight extra costs that you have to face. This article illustrates those costs so that you can estimate the expenses before coming to the country.
Living costs in the country vary from one city to another depending on the standard of living and the availability of services in that particular city. The major factors that determine the cost of living are rent; household utilities, gas, and electricity; health care; public transportation; and commuting. In addition to these factors, the choice you make in food, entertainment, and clothing will have an impact on your spending. For example, a person living alone may spend less money than a family with two children.
Cost Of A Meal & Restaurants Food Prices In Finland
The cost of restaurant food in Finland is as high as in other European countries, if not higher. The average price for a meal for one person at a mid-range restaurant is approximately €12.40. If you want to indulge, you can expect to spend roughly €35.60 (or $56) per meal alone at an upscale restaurant.
In addition to the costs associated with eating out, several factors might influence the prices of your meals, the most notable being the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar.
Eating Out
Price in Euro (€)
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
12.00 €
Three-course Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant
75.00 €
McMeal at McDonald’s (or Equivalent Combo in a Food Chain Restaurant)
8.00 €
Domestic Beer (0.5L)
6.00 €
Imported Beer (0.33L)
6.50 €
Regular Cappuccino
3.73 €
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)
2.40 €
Water (0.33L)
1.52 €
Cost Of Groceries & Consumer Goods In Finland
After carefully surveying the market and current trends, I have concluded that cost of goods is on the rise. The basic market goods are extremely cheap and it is easy to find things that are actually worth selling at a decent price. The locals are both friendly and eager to barter. Your work will be well-received in this area, but keep your eyes open for the growing threats of inflation and counterfeiting.
Food Items
Price in Euro (€)
Regular Milk, (1L)
0.99 €
Loaf of Fresh Bread (500g)
3.10 €
White Rice, (1Kg)
2.60 €
Regular Eggs (12)
3.32 €
Local Cheese (1Kg)
7.66 €
Chicken Fillets (1Kg)
10.30 €
Beef Round (1Kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
14.52 €
Apples (1Kg)
2.25 €
Banana (1Kg)
1.68 €
Oranges (1Kg)
2.17 €
Tomato (1Kg)
3.34 €
Potato (1Kg)
1.05 €
Onion (1Kg)
1.47 €
Lettuce (1 head)
1.73 €
Water (1.5L)
1.47 €
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
12.00 €
Domestic Beer (0.5l)
2.69 €
Imported Beer (0.33L)
3.17 €
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)
9.00 €
Cost Of Transportation and Commuting In Finland
In Finland, the transportation system is a mixture of public and private services, but it’s considered one of the best in the world. They’ve got a high-speed train that connects major cities like Helsinki and Saint Petersburg, a commuter rail system that’s operated by the state, and even an innovative bus service that’s supported by private companies. The nation’s buses are equipped with free wi-fi, power outlets at all seats, and a dedicated hotline for passengers to call for assistance.
As a country, Finland has a lot of things going for it. It’s cold. It’s remote. It’s near Russia. And it’s got some of the most highly-rated education in the world. Plus, their musicians are pretty great.
But there’s one area where Finland is not so great, the cost of transportation. The sheer cost of getting around the country leaves many people wondering whether they should even bother visiting at all: a bus ride from Helsinki to Tampere (two of Finland’s busiest cities) can cost anywhere from $10 to $35 depending on the day and time. A train ride between those cities costs about $20 more, and if you want to fly, be prepared to spend even more.
And it doesn’t stop there, transportation is expensive just about everywhere in Finland! If you’re going to visit Helsinki, you’ll have to pay for the train or bus fare into the city center; and if you want to see anything else besides Helsinki, you’ll have to pay for transportation again.
With an average cost of $20-$50 per round-trip transportation ticket, Finland isn’t exactly an affordable destination especially since tourists will usually need two or three such tickets just to get around
Transportation
Price in Euro (€)
One-way Ticket
3.00 €
Monthly Pass (Local Transport)
58.00 €
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
6.00 €
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
1.55 €
Taxi 1 hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
47.00 €
Gasoline (1 liter)
2.23 €
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
26,269.69 €
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
26,964.44 €
Cost Of Basic Utilities In Finland
Finland’s energy costs are among the lowest in the European Union, according to Eurostat. The average cost of its electricity is €0.08 per kilowatt hour, which is significantly below the EU average of €0.23.
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Finland’s energy costs are mostly due to the country’s high consumption of energy, which is largely dependent on its cold climate and lack of natural resources to produce energy. The Finns use some of the most energy in Europe, averaging 2000-2500 kilowatt-hours per household per year.
Utilities
Price in Euro (€)
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 45m2 Apartment
70.46 €
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
120.04 €
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)
0.09 €
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
23.96 €
Cost Of Entertainment In Finland
The cost of entertainment in Finland is fairly standardized across the country. Most activities, such as attending a concert or going to the movies, will cost somewhere between $10-$60 on average. That being said, there are a couple of exceptions to this rule. The first is alcohol. In Finland, drinking is very common, and as a result, alcohol can be quite expensive.
Alcohol prices vary by restaurant and bar; it is not uncommon for some establishments to charge upwards of $12 for a single beer. The second exception is movies in English. While most movie theaters offer tickets for under $10, those that show films in English usually charge more than twice as much, especially if they are showing popular American titles.
Leisure
Price in Euro (€)
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult
38.38 €
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)
24.15 €
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
14.00 €
iPad, Wi-Fi, 128gb
497.94 €
Cost Of Childcare and Education In Finland
Finland is one of the top countries in the world for quality child care. The country has a high rate of women’s workforce participation and the government subsidizes child care for all low-income families, which means that most parents pay about $60 per month for their pre-schooler spot at a daycare center. In addition, many employers provide some form of childcare assistance.
For upper- and middle-class families, there are several other options for childcare. Private daycare centers are usually subsidized by the government, but they have higher rates than public centers ($330 per month). These centers offer extended hours, however, which often gives them an advantage over public centers.
Other forms of childcare include family day care (private homes caring for two to three children), nannies (for one or two children), and au pairs (for one or two children). Nannies and au pairs tend to be more expensive than other forms of childcare, but they also provide companionship in addition to supervision and education.
Finland’s public education is free for all students, and college tuition is low. The Helsinki University of Technology, the Aalto University, and the University of Helsinki are ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. The country also has a high literacy rate, with 99.99% of Finns aged 15 to 74 able to read and write and an almost equal amount being able to speak English. Finland’s national language is Finnish, but Swedish is one of the official languages and is spoken by 5.4% of the population.
The focus of the public school system is to provide a high-quality education for all children at an affordable price for families. Families are required to pay for books and school supplies, but some programs are provided by the government to help families with these costs.
In addition to the quality of their education system, Finland also has an extremely low dropout rate among students. Something that may be attributed to this is that students who fail a class are given second-chance opportunities and can repeat the classes they failed without penalty. These programs are offered at no additional cost to students or their families.
Tuition
Price in Euro (€)
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
306.22 €
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child
6,776.20 €
International High School, Yearly for 1 Child
10,000.00 €
Colleges and University
13,000.76 €
Monthly expenses (rent, groceries, commuting…) for a Student
1,100.00 €
Cost Of Clothing, Wears & Accessories In Finland
The cost of clothing in Finland is affected by two things: first, since Finland is so cold, it’s common for people to own more than one set of clothes (the most common number being two). Also, because it’s so cold and there are so many layers involved in staying warm, you often have to buy clothes at specialized stores that sell just winter gear or just summer gear (which means buying a new wardrobe twice a year).
Finland has a reputation for being a very fashionable place, and though the Finnish people do not have big budgets to spend on clothing, they are still able to look good. They often look very good. One way they can do this is because many of the trends that come out of Europe first hit Finland before anywhere else. This is true for both high-end and low-end items.
Another reason that Finns look good is that they tend to know how to mix and interestingly match clothes so that what they wear never becomes boring. Finally, Finns are also known for their love of second-hand stores and thrift shops, which means that you can buy some unique and high-quality pieces for less than anywhere else in the world.
Clothing
Price in Euro (€)
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
85.47 €
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …)
37.28 €
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
80.86 €
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
119.54 €
Cost Of Personal and Health Care In Finland
Finland has the most efficient healthcare system in the world. The average cost per person is $3421, which accounts for 10.6% of the GDP. And it has been celebrated by the United Nations.
Significantly, Finland is a small country with 5.3 million people, yet its universal health care system is one of the best in the world. It also attests to how universal health care can be accomplished even in small countries without breaking their budgets.
Two major factors have contributed to the success of Finland’s healthcare system: high taxation and decentralization. In Finland, citizens pay a lot of taxes-about 50% of their income goes to taxes and fees. But they get a lot in return for this tax burden, including free education and free healthcare for all Finns. The total cost for health care comes out to about $3,615 per citizen, which includes all residents regardless of nationality or immigration status.
To achieve its social welfare goals at affordable costs, Finland has combined public and private sectors as much as possible, while maintaining government control over payment-related issues (such as payment methodologies and utilization review).
Unlike the United States, where most healthcare spending goes to administration, Finland spends little on pharmaceuticals and overheads and instead focuses its resources on preventative care. The people of Finland do this by making it mandatory that everyone has a primary care provider (who can refer them to a specialist if necessary), providing free check-ups and occupational health services, as well as subsidizing gym memberships (which are also heavily taxed in Finland).
Finland is known for its cleanliness and high standards of personal hygiene. People of all ages are taught from an early age to keep themselves and their surroundings clean, and this is reflected in a variety of habits and practices. Finns have a very good relationship with their local pharmacy, where they can go for advice about skincare and other issues related to hygiene.
Finnish people take regular showers or baths at least once a day, and many showers twice a day. The national average for the number of times Finns shower per week is seven times. It should also be noted that most Finns do not use deodorants or perfumes, as they do not find these necessary.
The cost of personal care in Finland is fairly high. The average haircut costs $29 and the average manicure costs $24.47. If you are looking to save money on your care routine, consider getting a haircut or a manicure at a private salon. If you go to a bigger chain like Supercuts, the prices for both services will be about the same as in the United States.
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Care Products
Price in Euro (€)
Cold Medicine (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands)
30.00 €
Box of Antibiotics (12 doses)
7.00 €
15 minutes to Private Doctor
113.00 €
Box of 32 Tampons (tampax, ob, …)
5.20 €
Deodorant, Roll-on (50ml – 1.5 oz.)
3.09 €
Hair Shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml – 12 oz.)
3.49 €
4 rolls of Toilet Paper
1.78 €
A Tube of Toothpaste
1.49 €
Standard Men’s Haircut in the City
28.00 €
Standard Men’s Haircut in the Suburb
20.00 €
Cost Of Housing and Accommodation In Canada
Finland offers a range of housing options, with the most affordable housing being apartments that are usually situated in multi-family buildings. These buildings usually have four to six apartments and share one or two saunas.
Apartments with saunas are very popular in Finland, as the sauna is considered a place for relaxation and a way to cleanse your body from stress. Some also use the sauna for cooking, as it is a place that one can keep warm enough to safely boil water for tea or soup.
Finland’s more expensive housing options provide spacious living areas; these are sometimes within small villages but have the feeling of being in the countryside. The most expensive housing options include houses on large plots of land, with private gardens and forests. These houses are generally owned by wealthy people who have summer residences there.
Finland has one of the best and most highly developed housing systems in the world. The rental market is competitive and affordable, and it’s also easy to get a mortgage. Housing issues are generally not a problem in Finland; there’s no significant homelessness problem, nor is there a housing shortage or urban sprawl. Finland has a long history of preserving its natural areas and respecting its heritage; the housing system plays an important part in that tradition.
The government provides most Finns with low-cost or free public housing, while others buy their own homes with government-subsidized loans. The average price for a house in Finland is $188,639 USD. The cost of an apartment in Finland ranges from $28,338 USD to $71,717 USD.
Rents
Price in Euro (€)
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City
815.35 €
Apartment (1 bedroom) in Suburb
659.97 €
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City
1,191.83 €
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in Suburb
944.92 €
Finland, like most places in the world, has a housing market that is based on apartment. These are generally around 60 square meters (645 square feet) and are the most common type of housing for single people and couples.
Apartment
Price in Euro (€)
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre
4,701.46 €
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre
2,879.60 €
Finland was once named the most competitive country in the world, and this is something we can all agree on: living in Finland is expensive. Due to a complex set of circumstances, Finnish people tend to be very materialistic. It is just as difficult for them to go a day without their phones and laptops as it is for someone like me to go a day without my computer.
The cost of living in Finland is high on several fronts: rent, groceries, transportation, and even though the Finns are generally frugal people, the high cost of technology and entertainment is high enough that almost no one goes through life without credit card debt. This makes sense considering that Finns are some of the highest earners in Europe—these debts could easily be paid off if people were more financially responsible than they are.
Since there’s not much you can do about taxes (which are very high in Finland), your best bet for keeping your costs low is to find an apartment or house that’s close to work and cheap (this will give you extra time each day). To get around town cheaply, buy a bike or take the bus or train. You’ll save money by making your food instead of eating out regularly. It’s easy enough to make meals with the abundance of eating out in restaurants.
Finland is a very interesting place to study abroad. It is a country that has many different job opportunities available to international students. Finland is one of the most educated countries in the world with equal employment and education opportunities available to all citizens.
The cost of living in Finland is quite high and there are many different factors that you must take into consideration before deciding whether or not it is right for you. Finland is the best place to find job opportunities. Its high quality of life makes it easy to get a well-paying job or start a business. The government is also very helpful in assisting with finding jobs, and the salary is guaranteed for the first year after employment.
Hi there, I'm Heaven. I'm an entrepreneur, blogger, and digital marketing enthusiast. When I'm not watching anime or learning something new from TikTok, I post and vlog about my incredible life experiences as a digital entrepreneur.
