Living in Finland

Living conditions of people in Finland

Finland is a very suitable country for living. People who choose to migrate to Finland are usually well aware of the conditions in this country. Finland has a very good education system that is very popular all over the world. There are also international schools for immigrant children. The best way to find a place to live or a home is doing it online, and renting a place / home is possible with very reasonable prices. Finland’s transportation system is also in an ideal condition, with high-class / good buses, trains and airplanes, as well as high-quality roads. Despite public transportation in cities, only Helsinki offers metro and tram systems.

Education in Finland

If you intend to live in Finland with young children, you must enroll them as soon as possible. This is because in some cities and neighborhoods there may be a queue of students for school enrollment (there are other students). All residents have the right to enroll their children in a public (government) kindergarten to get ready for the school. In addition to public kindergartens, there are private centers (although they cost more.) Generally, it is worth mentioning that children in Finland attend school for less hours than in any other developed country. They have more time to play and do not have to take any exams at the end of their school year. This educational approach brings the best results worldwide. The education system in Finland believes that life in Finland should be fun and entertaining for children.

Higher education system in Finland

Living in Finland has many opportunities for higher education that are offered by universities and polytechnic colleges. Universities have a more scientific and research approach, while polytechnics are more based on profession and work. Except for Master’s degree programs in specific fields of study, students are not charged tuition fees for studying in Finland. International students living in Finland can also take university programs in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Helsinki has six universities and eight polytechnic colleges. Many universities have specialization fields of study, including the Hanken School of Economics, the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and the Theater Academy. The University of Helsinki is ranked 96th in the world according to the QS 2015/16 World University Rankings.

Accommodation in Finland

When it comes to finding a home and accommodation (a place of residence) in Finland, most foreigners can find a place / home online. Some of the recommended websites for finding an accommodation in Finland include Etuovi, Jokakoti, Oikotie Vuokraovi

Another way for finding a home is a local newspaper in Finland that requires you to be fluent in Finnish. Buying a home is more common in Finland than renting one. Most of the citizens of Finland (Finns) have their own homes and there are no restrictions on foreigners buying a property in Finland. Generally, the price of homes/houses is expensive in Finland and they are even more expensive in Helsinki. Every Finnish household spends 22% of their income on housing.

In the Comments section, you can also ask your questions and answer them in a short time.

Topics reviewed in this article:

• Important cities in Finland
• Cost of living in Finland
• Income in Finland
• Disadvantages of living in Finland
• Advantages of living in Finland

Important cities in Finland

The largest and most important cities in Finland, where most foreigners and immigrants live, are:

Helsinki

Espoo

Temper

Vantaa

Oulu

Turku

Lahti

Kuopio

Porvoo

These cities are the most populous cities in Finland respectively. And most immigrants live in the cities of Helsinki, Tampere and Espoo. Helsinki is the capital of Finland and is located in the south of the country. Helsinki has a population of about 1.2 million and is the busiest city in Finland. It is the third largest city in Nordic countries (after Stockholm and Oslo). Espoo is the second largest city in Finland with a population of 270,416. Espoo is a bilingual city. While the majority of this city’s population (83.6%) speaks Finnish, 8.3% speak their native language, which is Swedish. There are also many large science and technology companies in this city, which has made this city an important economic center of the country. The southern city of Tampere is the third largest city in Finland with a population of 230,537 and is located between two lakes, Sijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. Tampere is also considered a major economic and cultural hub for central Finland.

Cost of living in Finland

In Finland, wages/salaries, taxes and the cost of living are slightly higher than the average costs in the EU. However, many services are provided by taxes that are paid by people, and this makes them cheaper for residents of this country compared to many other countries.

education

Pre-university education (education in different Educational levels before university) in Finland is free. Studying at the higher education institutions in Finland is also usually free. But if you are from outside of the EU and you want to study in Finland in English, you have to pay tuition fees.

The cost of children education, ie daily care for children, depends on the family’s income. For educating in public kindergarten, the cost of your eldest child education is around € 300. If you have several other children in elementary school, you will pay less for siblings.

Public health services

The prices of health services vary in different regions. For example, a doctor appointment is usually around € 20 at a medical center and around € 40 at a clinic. Hospital costs usually around € 50 per day. The total cost can be up to about 700 euros per year. The services of maternal and child health clinics are free of charge for people. Most people have to pay for their own medicines (drug), but many medicines are eligible for a little reimbursement. Reimbursement is paid from tax income. When you have paid around € 600 for medicines in one year, you will pay very little for the rest of the year. This only applies to medicines that are eligible for reimbursement.

How much does food cost in Finland?

In Finland, the costs of food and non-alcoholic beverages are about 20% higher than the average costs in the EU, and goods and services are almost 23% higher than the average costs in the EU. The cost of living in Finland also varies. The costs of alcoholic beverages are approximately 40% higher than the average costs in the EU.

Clothing, goods and services

Clothing in Finland is on average slightly more expensive than in the European Union. Many low-cost chain stores do not have a branch in Finland.

Many goods can be purchased in Finland. Used and stock goods are more affordable. For example, furniture and clothing can be purchased at many second-hand stores and stock markets. There are also websites for selling / buying used goods.

Housing costs in Finland

The housing costs in Finland varies and is not the same. On average, about one-fifth of the net income of people of Finland (Finns) is spent on housing. However, the rent varies from 10 to 30 euros per meter. Houses are much more expensive in big cities. In homes (houses), the heating often costs the most.

Transportation

Most of the large cities usually have convenient public transportation. In smaller cities you may need your own car. If you own a car, you need to get a car insurance (liikennevakuutus). Having winter tires are mandatory in winter. Cars are also taxed.

Income in Finland

Finland is one of the countries in which people have rather good salaries. This section will check the income/salary of individuals in Finland. Salaries in Finland range from € 1,190 per month (minimum wage) to € 20,900 per month (maximum wage). The average salary in Finland is € 4,320 per month. This means that half of the people earn less than € 4,320 and the other half earn more than € 4,320. Level of experience is the most important factor in determining the amount of salaries. Naturally, the more years of work experience a person has, the higher his/her salary will get. Generally, employees with more than two to five years of work experience earn an average of 32% more than other people in all industries and disciplines, and professionals with more than five years of work experience earn an average of 36% than other people.

Disadvantages of living in Finland

Like any other country, Finland has its drawbacks. In this section, we bring you some of the disadvantages encountered by immigrants in Finland.

language / Mother Tongue

Finland has two languages, Swedish and Finnish. Although most people are fluent in English, fluency in Finnish is required to enter the job market and for doing things like renting a property and…

weather/climate

Finland has a very cold climate and long winters. People who are not used to this type of weather cannot cope with this type of climate/weather.

Costs

Generally, Finland is an expensive country. Most of the consumer goods, service costs, food and… are more expensive than other European countries.

Taxes

Taxes are high in Finland. But in return, the services that are provided to citizens in exchange for taxes are also very good.

Advantages of living in Finland

Finland is a good option for immigration in several ways. Membership in the European Union and Schengen, a strong economy, high welfare and security are some of the benefits and positive points of Finland. But there are other positive points in Finland that we will examine in this section.

education system

The educational system in schools and universities is free and has a high scientific level. A strong education system at all educational levels has made Finland a good country for studying.

Unemployment rate

Having an unemployment rate of around 9% have made Finland a good destination for labor migration. The average monthly salary and income of 4,300 euros also shows the high level of income in Finland.

Pollution

The people of Finland care a lot about the environment and Finland has a very clean climate and environment.

Nature

Finland has very beautiful natural areas. Glaciers, aurora borealis, transparent lakes, forests and… have made Finland a beautiful and natural country.

Peaceful and calm

Finland is a very peaceful, secure and crime-free country.