The cost of living in Finland

The cost of living in Finland

Voted the “World’s Happiest Country” for the seventh year in a row among 140 countries, Finland offers an exceptionally high quality of life. Economic stability, a welcoming society, the quality of the education system, the lifestyle… it attracts many expats under its spell. If you have succumbed to Nordic charm, Foyer Global Health tells you everything about the cost of living in Finland to make your stay abroad in Finland a success.

Overview of the average cost of living in Finland

The average monthly cost of living in Finland is €1,600 per person. This budget includes rent, shopping, transportation, a cell phone plan, an internet contract and some leisure activities.

ServicesAverage price
Average net monthly salary€3,480
Rental price for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center€790
Price of a one-bedroom apartment per m2 in the city center€5,300
Petrol (1L)€1.90
Monthly flat rate for internet (60 Mbps or more and unlimited data)€21
Taxi rideStarting at €5.50
Meal for 2 people in a mid-range restaurant€80

The above figures are intended as a guide. Sources: Numbeo, Indeed 2024

Currency and payment methods in Finland

The official currency in Finland is the euro (EUR), which was introduced in 1999 when the country joined the eurozone.

In Finland, most payments are made by card. Whether Visa, MasterCard or local debit cards, a wide range of different payment methods are accepted in the vast majority of stores. The largest Finnish banks are OP Group and Nordea. They offer, among other things:

  • OP Debit Card: €2.50 per month processing fee.
  • Nordea Credit Mastercard: €4.50 per month administration fee.

Living in Finland

The housing market in Finland is very divided: prices vary between the major cities and the other regions, sometimes quite substantially. If you are unsure about where to go, here is a comparison of prices for accommodation in Finland’s three largest cities, namely Helsinki, Espoo and Tampere.

AccompdationPrices in HelsinkiPrices in EspooPrices in Tampere
Rent of an apartment (1 bedroom) in the city center€1,050€€1,025€800
Rent of an apartment (1 bedroom) outside the city center€810€890€600
Average purchase price per m2 in the city center€7,500€7,300€4,900
Average purchase price per m2 outside the city center€4,600€5,000€3,260
The above figures are provided for indicative purposes only. Sources :  Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere

Additional housing costs in Finland

In addition to the budget for renting or buying a property, there are also monthly additional costs, in particular for energy. For an 85 m2 apartment, the monthly basic costs in Finland (electricity, water, heating, air conditioning,…) amount to around €125. Calculate with:

  • The price of electricity per kWh at €0.2465.
  • The price of gas per liter at €1.73.

Food budget in Finland

In Finland, the budget for shopping is the largest expenditure item. Here is a list of the average prices of some basic foodstuffs:

FoodAverage price in Finland
Bread (500g)€2.39
Eggs (12 pieces)€2.91
Chicken breasts (1 kg)€8
Local cheese (1 kg)€7.68
Red meat (1 kg)€19.42
Tomatoes (1 kg)€3.77
Onions (1 kg)€1.65
Potatoes (1 kg)€1.23
Bananas (1 kg)€2.76
Apples (1 kg)€2.32
Milk (1 L)€1.11
Water (1,5 L)€1.68
Local beer (500ml bottle)€2.90
Imported beer (330ml bottle)€3.25
The above figures are provided for indicative purposes only

Transportation in Finland

If you are thinking of moving to Finland , you should know that the country has a well-developed road network and public transportation system.
In Helsinki, residents can get around using the HSL public transport network, which offers free use of the metro, buses, trains and ferries for €2.95 per 80-minute ticket.
It is also possible to take a taxi, with the following rates:

1 to 4 passengersPrice per tripPrice per kilomètrePrice per minute
Monday to Saturday (6:00 am – 6:00 pm)€5.50€1.10€1.10
Sunday and holidays (6am-6am)€7.70€1.25€1.10
Daily from 6pm to 6am€7.70€1.25€1.10
Source : taksihelsinki

And, of course, you can also drive if you want to fill up for an average of €1.90 per liter.

Prices of health services in Finland

Here are the prices of certain medical services in Finland:

Medical servicesAverage price
Consultation with a general practitionerFrom €80 to €180
Consultation with a specialistFrom €120 to €240
Consultation with a dentist€70
ScalingFrom €100 to €160
Tooth extractionFrom €100 to €300
Blood test€115
X-ray€140
The above figures are provided for indicative purposes only. Source : Shipit

According to the Euro Health Consumer Index 2024, the Finnish healthcare system is the sixth best in Europe.

However, waiting times can be quite long in the public sector. Therefore, it is recommended to turn to the private sector and take out private health insurance.

For expats, international health insurance policies are preferable because they cover not only health costs in Finland but also in the home country and anywhere abroad.

Education in Finland

In Finland, both public and private educational institutions are subsidized by the state, so education is free. Finnish schooling begins at the age of 7, and before that age a child can attend:

  • a public kindergarten, with an average budget of €300 per month.
  • a private international kindergarten, with an average of €8,700 per year.

Telecommunication services in Finland

According to the latest figures from Numbeo, in Finland:

  • A mobile phone service (calls and more than 10 GB of data) costs on average €26
  • An internet subscription (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data) costs around €21.

In 2024, the operator Telia, which operates in Finland and Sweden, offers the following packages:

  • Call plan: mobile plan for €5.99/month, with unlimited calls and 0.5 GB of data.
  • 3 GB flat rate: 3 GB of data, unlimited calls and SMS for €12.99/month.
  • 8 GB package: 8 GB of data, unlimited calls and SMS for €18.99/month.

Telia also offers internet subscriptions:

  • 100 Mbps for €27.45/month
  • 300 Mbps for €35.58/month

Leisure and activities in Finland

With its traditions, history and approximately 76,000 islands, Finland offers a wide range of leisure activities.

  • Go to the typical sauna in Loyly: group experience, €500 for 10 people (2h).
  • Discover the island of Lonna: 35 minutes from Helsinki by water bus, €8.50 return / adult.
  • Visit Olavinlinna Castle: €14 per adult and €7 per child.
  • Spend a day at the Korkeasaari Zoo: €22 per adult and €15 per child.
  • Visit the Finnish Museum of Natural History: €18 per adult and €8 per child.
  • Get a gym membership: €40 on average.
  • Go to the movies: €15 per ticket..

Cost of Living Finland vs. France

The cost of living in Finland is broadly similar to that in France. The average cost of living in Finland for a person without rent is approximately €945, while in France it is €950. However, local purchasing power in Finland is almost 13% higher than in France.

Cost of Living Finland: Comparison with neighbouring countries

The Numbeo cost of living index 2024 ranks European countries according to their cost of living, from highest to lowest. Here are the results for the three Scandinavian countries:

  • Norway : 79,2
  • Finland : 65,5
  • Sweden: 62,2

Thus, the cost of living in Sweden is among the lowest in Northern Europe, while Norway is among the highest. For a single person, excluding rent, the monthly cost of living is as follows:

  • €900 in Sweden
  • €945 in Finland
  • €1,120 in Norway