Living costs in Finland

Below you will find examples of monthly budgets with approximate figures for six Finnish cities collected in spring 2022.

In the Helsinki metropolitan area and other larger cities costs are typically higher than in smaller cities.

Please note that, naturally, your individual lifestyle and spending habits also affect your living costs.

“If you qualify for student status, look for student discounts everywhere. The trains offer a significant discount, and student meals are only $2.90.” U.S. Student Grantee 2018-2019

 

Helsinki 

Expense type

Cost (per month unless otherwise noted)

Resources

Comments

Student housing (not available for doctoral students)

Shared flat: 268-430 EUR; Studio: 387 – 825 EUR

Frontpage - Hoas

HOAS has appartments especially for exchange students

Housing (non-student housing)

Starting 295 EUR up to 1 000 EUR

Rentals Helsinki: 4026 pcs - Vuokraovi.com

 

Internet in the apartment

Approximately 20-30 EUR

 

Might be included in rent sometimes

Internet/phone

30 EUR

Elisa

Elisa: limitless 4 G (100 Mbit/s) and 156min/messages/day and 5 000 min/message/month

Transportation

Adults 65,3 EUR/30 days;
Students 36 EUR/30 days;

Journey Planner, tickets and fares, customer service | HSL.fi

AB zones counted in the price

Groceries

200-300 EUR

 

Eating at the university not counted in

Student restaurants

Student price: 2-4 EUR; otherwise, 6-10 EUR

 

 

Eating at restaurants (typical main meal)

approx. 17-32 EUR a time

 

 

Other expenses (such as clothing, hobbies, entertainment, pharmacy)

xx-xxx EUR based on your preferences

   

 

Joensuu 

Expense type

Cost (per month unless otherwise noted)

Resources

Comments

Student housing (not available for doctoral students)

Shared flat: 200-300 EUR; Studio: 325 – 450 EUR

Home | Joensuun Elli

The furniture fee is 19 €/month

Housing (non-student housing)

Starting 350 EUR up to 700 EUR

Rentals Joensuu: 101 pcs - Vuokraovi.com; Properties for rent - OVV Asuntopalvelut; Vuokrattavat Asunnot Joensuu: 64 kpl - Oikotie Asunnot

 

Internet in the apartment

Approximately 20-30 EUR

 

Might be included in rent sometimes

Internet/phone

30 EUR

Elisa

Elisa: limitless 4 G (100 Mbit/s) and 156min/messages/day and 5 000 min/message/month

Bike rent/purchase

17 EUR /
approximately 50-100 EUR when used

Bike rental – Citizens' house (kansalaistalo.fi)

 

Transportation

Adults 66 EUR/30 days;
Students 49,5 EUR/30 days;

Liput ja hinnat - jojo.joensuu.fi

 

Groceries

200-300 EUR

 

Eating at the university not counted in

Student restaurants

Student discount: 2-4 EUR; otherwise, 6-10 EUR

 

 

Eating at restaurants (typical main meal)

approx.17-32 EUR

 

 

Other expenses (such as clothing, hobbies, entertainment, pharmacy)

xx-xxx EUR based on your preferences

   

 

Jyväskylä 

Expense type

Cost (per month unless otherwise noted)

Resources

Comments

Student housing (not available for doctoral students)

Shared flat: 247-417 EUR; Studio: 356 – 458 EUR

Soihtu - The business unit of JYY

Soihtu has some furnished apartments

Housing (non-student housing)

Starting 237 EUR up to 700 EUR

Properties for rent - OVV Asuntopalvelut; Rentals Jyväskylä: 1155 pcs - Vuokraovi.com

 

Internet in the apartment

Approximately 20-30 EUR

 

Might be included in rent sometimes

Internet/phone

30 EUR

Elisa

Elisa: limitless 4 G (100 Mbit/s) and 156min/messages/day and 5 000 min/message/month

Transportation

1 zone Adults 54 EUR/30 days; Students 38 EUR/30 days;
2 zones Adults 69 EUR/30 days; Students 48 EUR/30 days;

Linkki - Jyväskylä Region Public Transport | Linkki - Jyväskylä Region Public Transport (jyvaskyla.fi)

 

Groceries

200-300 EUR

 

Eating at the university not counted in

Student restaurants

Student price: 2,70-4 EUR; otherwise, 6-10 EUR

 

 

Eating at restaurants (typical main meal)

approx. 17-32 EUR a time

 

 

Other expenses (such as clothing, hobbies, entertainment, pharmacy)

xx-xxx EUR based on your preferences

   

 

Lappeenranta

Expense type

Cost (per month unless otherwise noted)

Resources

Comments

Student housing (not available for doctoral students)

Shared flat: 217-340 EUR; Studio: 246 – 500 EUR

Affordable apartments for students | Loas.fi

LOAS has some furnished apartments

Housing (non-student housing)

Starting 350 EUR up to 700 EUR

 

 

Internet in the apartment

Approximately 20-30 EUR

 

Might be included in rent sometimes

Internet/phone

30 EUR

Elisa

Elisa: limitless 4 G (100 Mbit/s) and 156min/messages/day and 5 000 min/message/month

Transportation

Adults 56 EUR/30 days;
Students 44 EUR/30 days;

Public Transport - Lappeenrannan kaupunki (lappeenranta.fi)

2 zones counted in the price

Groceries

200-300 EUR

 

Eating at the university not counted in

Student restaurants

Student price: 2-4 EUR; otherwise, 6-10 EUR

 

 

Eating at restaurants (typical main meal)

approx. 17-32 EUR a time

 

 

Other expenses (such as clothing, hobbies, entertainment, pharmacy)

xx-xxx EUR based on your preferences

   

 

Tampere

Expense type

Cost (per month unless otherwise noted)

Resources

Comments

Student housing (not available for doctoral students)

Shared flat: 201-410 EUR; Studio: 373 – 694 EUR

Home - TOAS

TOAS has some furnished apartments

Housing (non-student housing)

Starting 350 EUR up to 800 EUR

Rentals Tampere: 1471 pcs - Vuokraovi.com; Vuokra-asunnot Tampere: 1157 kpl - Oikotie Asunnot; Properties for rent - OVV Asuntopalvelut

 

Internet in the apartment

Approximately 20-30 EUR

 

Might be included in rent sometimes

Internet/phone

30 EUR

Elisa

Elisa: limitless 4 G (100 Mbit/s) and 156min/messages/day and 5 000 min/message/month

Transportation

Adults 56 EUR/30 days;
Students 42 EUR/30 days;

Front Page - Nysse, Tampere regional transport

2 zones counted in the price

Groceries

200-300 EUR

 

Eating at the university not counted in

Student restaurants

Student price: 2-4 EUR; otherwise, 6-10 EUR

 

 

Eating at restaurants (typical main meal)

approx. 17-32 EUR a time

 

 

Other expenses (such as clothing, hobbies, entertainment, pharmacy)

xx-xxx EUR based on your preferences

   

 

Turku

Expense type

Cost (per month unless otherwise noted)

Resources

Comments

Student housing (not available for doctoral students)

Shared flat: 222-310 EUR; Studio: 300 – 650 EUR

Front Page | TYS | Turun Ylioppilaskyläsäätiö

TYS has some furnished apartments

Housing (non-student housing)

Starting 300 EUR up to 1 000 EUR

Rentals Turku: 1094 pcs - Vuokraovi.com; Properties for rent - OVV Asuntopalvelut

 

Internet in the apartment

Approximately 20-30 EUR

 

Might be included in rent sometimes

Internet/phone

30 EUR

Elisa

Elisa: limitless 4 G (100 Mbit/s) and 156min/messages/day and 5 000 min/message/month

Transportation

Adults 55 EUR/30 days;
Students 38 EUR/30 days;

Home page | Föli (foli.fi)

 

Groceries

200-300 EUR

 

Eating at the university not counted in

Student restaurants

Student price: 2,70-5,30 EUR; otherwise, 6-10 EUR

 

 

Eating at restaurants (typical main meal)

approx. 17-32 EUR a time

 

 

Other expenses (such as clothing, hobbies, entertainment, pharmacy)

xx-xxx EUR based on your preferences

   

Please also see information gathered by the University of Turku: Financial Matters | University of Turku (utu.fi)