Below you will find examples of monthly budgets with approximate figures for six Finnish cities. The data was 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)
