Cost of Living in Finland

Updated: March 01, 2025

If you've ever considered moving to Finland, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Finland?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Finland and whether the reported $2232 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $2365.4.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Finland

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	11.46 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	71.63 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	8.12 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	5.73 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	6.69 $
Cappuccino (regular)	3.59 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.32 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	1.47 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	0.92 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	2.01 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.07 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	2.21 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	6.67 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	9.63 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	14.31 $
Apples (1 lb)	2.15 $
Banana (1 lb)	1.59 $
Oranges (1 lb)	2.09 $
Tomato (1 lb)	3.19 $
Potato (1 lb)	1.0 $
Onion (1 lb)	1.41 $
Lettuce (1 head)	1.66 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	1.4 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	11.46 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	2.53 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.05 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	8.6 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.87 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	55.39 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	5.73 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	1.48 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	44.89 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	2.13 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	25452.73 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	25868.39 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	111.96 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.07 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	21.76 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	37.15 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	23.54 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	14.33 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	287.26 $
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	6471.77 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	82.12 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	35.55 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	77.35 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	114.82 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	779.61 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	630.58 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	1151.15 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	910.62 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	4588.23 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	2773.83 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	2365.4 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	1.39 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 11.46 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 71.63 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 0.92 USD, a loaf of bread 2.01 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 2.21 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 2.87 USD and a monthly pass around 55.39 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 111.96 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 37.15 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 23.54 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 287.26 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 6471.77 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 82.12 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 77.35 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 779.61 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 630.58 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 4588.23 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 2773.83 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 2365.4 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 1.39% annually.

Warnings & Dangers in Finland

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Finland is very safe to visit, and its capital, Helsinki, is ranked 9th on the list of safest and most dangerous cities in the world. Use your common sense and your trip should go smoothly.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Transportation in Finland is very safe and reliable, even though the roads can get a bit dangerous during winter. Also, be careful on public transport, as it's the place where pickpockets operate.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

Helsinki is filled with tourists, and naturally it attracts a bunch of pickpockets and here's the strange part: they are usually foreigners! Be careful when carrying your valuables and never leave them out of your sight.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

As for natural disasters, Finland is threatened by occasional flooding during winter, as well as snow storms: snow can start falling as early as November and continue falling until May and many parts and cities of Finland have a thick layer of blanket of snow. However, generally, Finland doesn't have many natural disasters to worry about.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Do not fear mugging or kidnapping in Finland, since it is a rare occurrence here. Still, do not accept any unsolicited help or drinks from anyone you don't know (even though drink spiking is also not an issue in this country).

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There haven't been recent terrorist attacks in Finland, but they shouldn't be ruled out, so you should remain vigilant and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Finland is not actually known for scams, but where there are tourists - there will always be scams. Bear in mind that Finnish police are one of the least corrupt in the world, and they never take money to let you off the hook. So do not ever give money to a person who presents him/herself as a police officer.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women traveling alone should have no problems in Finland. You should use your common sense, and be careful at night, avoid desert and poorly lit streets, and finding yourself alone with strange people in abandoned areas. Apart from that, you should have no safety problems in Finland.

Cost of Living in Finland

Finland

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing