Living in Finland

Finland is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe between Sweden and Russia. Known for its pristine nature, high quality of life, and innovative economy, Finland has become an attractive choice for expatriates. This article will explore the various aspects of living in Finland, including the reasons to move there, pros and cons, costs, quality of life, culture, and best places to live.

Why Move to Finland?

There are many good reasons why someone may consider moving to Finland, such as:

• High Quality of Life – Finland routinely ranks near the top on quality of life indices, including education, healthcare, economic prosperity, political stability, and more.
• Natural Beauty – Finland is covered in forests and lakes, providing easy access to nature for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, hunting, and skiing.
• Excellent Education – Finnish schools place at the top globally for quality education and skills development. Education is free through university.
• Innovation – Finland has become a hub for technology and innovation. Nokia is a global leader in telecom. Other sectors excel too.
• Low Crime – Finland has exceptionally low crime rates, making it one of the safest places to live in the world. Violent crime is rare.
• Four Distinct Seasons – Finland enjoys all four seasons with regular snow in winter for winter sports. But summer offers long sunny days as well.
• Strong Social Welfare – An advanced social welfare system provides citizens with universal healthcare, unemployment benefits, paid leave, and more.
• English Proficiency – Finns have high English language proficiency rates, making life easier for expats.
• For nature-lovers, families, and technophiles, Finland has much to offer. The high marks in education, safety, healthcare, and other quality of life metrics make it appealing.

Living in Finland: Pros and Cons

While Finland has many advantages, there are some challenges to consider as well:

Pros :

1. Safe, stable society
2. Excellent free education system
3. Abundant pristine nature
4. Seasonal weather ideal for winter sports
5. Politically progressive values
6. Strong social welfare benefits
7. High-tech, innovation economy
8. World-class healthcare
9. High rankings in happiness surveys
10. Good work-life balance

Cons :

1. High cost of living, especially housing
2. Long, severe winters with little sunlight
3. Rigid, some claim depressing, social norms
4. Insular culture, challenging to integrate
5. Language barrier – Finnish is difficult
6. Bureaucracy and red tape
7. High taxes to support the welfare state
8. Access barriers without local language proficiency
9. Housing shortages in growth regions

Overall, Finland offers a very high standard of living. But the cold climate, high costs, and reserved culture may make assimilation challenging. Still, most expats are drawn by the nature and prosperity.

The Cost of Living in Finland: A Comprehensive Guide

To understand if Finland fits your budget, it helps to have an overview of typical costs:

Housing

• Rental prices in Helsinki average about €20 per sq. meter monthly.
• Apartment prices average €4,600 per sq. meter.
• House prices average €180,000 for 80 sq. meters.

Food and Groceries

• Groceries average 22% higher than the EU average, at about €260 per month for two adults.
• Eating out is pricey with a dinner main dish from €20-30 in nice restaurants.

Transportation

• Public transport in cities costs €60-100 per month.
• Gas is expensive at €1.50 per liter ($6 per gallon).
• Taxis start at €5-10 and cost €1-2 per km.

Healthcare

• With universal healthcare, most services only have small copays of €20-30.
• Private insurance costs €120-200 per month.

Childcare and Education

• Childcare costs up to €300 per month.
• College is free for Finnish and EU students, with small fees for international students.

Utilities and Internet

• Electricity is around €100 per month.
• Heating oil is €1 per liter in winter.
• High-speed internet starts around €20 per month.

Taxes

• Income taxes average 30-35% depending on income.
• VAT (sales tax) is 24%.
• Social security contributions are around 10%.

Overall, Finland is comparable to other Scandinavian countries in having high costs offset by generous social benefits. Housing is the real budget-buster.

Quality of Life in Finland

The quality of life in Finland is exceptional, often ranking near the top of various global surveys and indices:

1. Work-Life Balance – Employees in Finland enjoy generous paid vacation time, parental leave policies, and limited overtime contributing to leisure and family time.
2. Education – Finnish schools are touted as the best education system in the world, focused on creativity over rote learning. Education is free through university.
3. Healthcare – Universal healthcare provides quality medical care for residents at minimal out-of-pocket costs for services, prescriptions, and more.
4. Safety & Security – Violent crime is extremely rare in Finland. Government services are free of corruption. Finland is politically stable with great infrastructure resiliency.
5. Environmental Quality – Finns have close access to pristine nature with strict protections. Cities offer urban green spaces. Air and water quality is excellent.
6. Income Equality – The tax structure and social benefits provide economic equality and poverty prevention. Homelessness is rare.
7. Personal Freedom – Finland has high levels of personal freedom rooted in transparency and human rights. Women enjoy strong equality.
8. Happiness Levels – Finland routinely ranks among the top three countries in the UN World Happiness Report metrics.

While the climate and high costs present challenges, the exceptional quality of life brings peace and prosperity.

A Beginner’s Guide to Finland Culture

To help understand daily life and etiquette, here is a quick primer on Finnish culture:

• Language – Finnish is the official language. Learning some phrases shows goodwill, but many Finns speak English.
• Values – Equality, human rights, education, and nature are important values. Rules and punctuality are respected.
• Society – Finns prefer modesty over status symbols and tend to shun ostentatious displays of wealth or ego.
• Saunas – Sauna bathing is integral to Finnish life. Bare skin and a lack of small talk are normal inside.
• Arts – Design, architecture, music, literature and crafts are integral to Finnish cultural expression.
• Holidays – Christmas, Easter, Midsummer and Vappu (May Day) are major holiday celebrations rich in traditions.
• Food – Simple, hearty cuisine features berries, fish, meats, root vegetables, and dark rye bread. Coffee is ubiquitous.
• Nature – Hiking, cycling, boating, hunting, and foraging for berries or mushrooms are favorite outdoor pastimes.
• Style – Minimalism and functionality reign in design, fashion, and decor. Nature motifs are common.

Making an effort to embrace Finnish customs shows respect and helps build connections in your new home.

Best Places to Live in Finland

Finland offers diverse options when selecting the ideal place to settle down:

1. Helsinki – The coastal capital city offers vibrant urban living with excellent public services, diverse culture, and business opportunities.
2. Tampere – Finland’s second largest city provides a mix of urban amenities and access to nature along lakes and forests.
3. Oulu – This youthful technology hub in northern Finland has a major university and close ties to nature.
4. Turku – Located on the southwest coast, Turku offers medieval charm along the Aura River plus cultural events.
5. Jyväskylä – With a lakeside setting in central Finland, this university city offers lively cafes and outdoor activities.
6. Rovaniemi – The capital of Lapland gives you a front row view of the northern lights along with winter wonderlands.

The ideal home comes down to lifestyle preferences. But anywhere in Finland offers the pristine nature, cutting-edge style, and exceptional quality of life that draw so many newcomers.