How Much Does It Cost to Live In Helsinki?
The first thing about Helsinki that you can think of is the home for the mobile phone company Nokia.
Apart from “connecting people”, Helsinki invites everyone to enjoy its picturesque landscapes, clear water, fresh air, and great architectural variety.
You can get there by plane, ferry, car or train since the infrastructure is super well-developed here.
Also, Helsinki is the only Finnish city offering trams and metro.
Travelers often choose Helsinki as the starting point to travel to Sweden, Estonia or Russia.
Despite being an expensive capital city, Helsinki is worth living in and here is why.
Finland : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Nearly all the restaurants and cafes in Helsinki have their menus translated to Russian so if you speak Finnish, Russian or English, you will not be left hungry in this city.
First of all, you should try the seafood and traditional cuisine.
Prices in the budget restaurants are $73 per three-course meal for two, $2.62 for Pepsi, $4.22 for cappuccino.
MARKETS
Helsinki has a large market square where natives and travelers choose to buy fish, strawberry, raspberry, peaches, beans and other fresh fruits and vegetables.
There are about four or five markets in the area, including a flea market, second-hand stores, and souvenir shops.
All of them are located not far from the center and are easy to reach.
TRANSPORTATION
As far as Helsinki is a large port city on the shores of the Finnish bay, it has a variety of boats, ferries, and liners to choose from.
Besides, you can take a ride on the metro, buses, and trams.
The tickets are available through special machines, mobile phones, booths at the stations or they can be acquired directly from the driver.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
In Helsinki, the clearest water is supplied to all the houses and apartments in the city through the longest tunnel in the mountains.
Helsinki supplies bottled water to a number of world countries.
This and other comforts like heating, garbage, and cleaning the territory cost $184.18 in Helsinki.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Among some traditional means of sports, you will find the possibility of being involved in such kinds of sports like bowling, swimming, canoeing, golf, and tennis.
Nearly all the existing winter sports are available here too.
To compare, an hour at the tennis court will cost you $28.85 while a monthly subscription to a fitness club is only $42.40 on average.
CLOTHING & SHOES
You will not feel the shortage of shopping malls, markets, small stores, and chain stores that you love.
Helsinki has it all open for you six days a week except Sundays.
The malls are traditionally crowded at the time of winter and summer sales.
RENT PER MONTH
As well as any other country in the world, Helsinki has some peculiarities for renting apartments and houses.
Accommodation can be rented faster and easier with the help of a realtor.
The tenant has to pay for a couple months beforehand, but in case the landlords want to repair the apartment, you will not pay anything for this.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Helsinki
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $13.60 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $7.94 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.08 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.06 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.97 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.18 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $3.29 |
| Monthly Pass | $62.01 |
| Gasoline | $1.73 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $184.18 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.08 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $27.25 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $42.40 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $28.85 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $15.87 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $94.44 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $36.42 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $95.33 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1025.32 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $827.10 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1881.48 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Helsinki?
The equal sums of money are spent on monthly rent and shopping in the markets.
The Finns are a very sportive nation loving to spend their leisure time outside the house.
This makes them use public transport and pay 12.4% of the budget for this.
Restaurants are really good here, each of them telling its history, offering its cuisine, and not leaving you hungry.
Locals are ready to give as much as 15.9% to the eateries.
Paying bills requires the Finns to set off 5.4% of the salary.
The least is spent on clothing and shoes because these people set priorities correctly, have own manufacturers, know how to save on sales and discounts, and places to go shopping too.
Average Costs Breakdown
Helsinki: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Average monthly net salary of an average Finnish employee is equal to $2,726.49.
The minimum wage is not fixed on the territory of Finland because the system of laws has some awesome articles like paying fines according to the size of your salary.
The employees receive the wages which are relevant to their specialty, job position, work experience, season works etc.
The highest salaries can be earned if you are a fireman, a doctor or a policeman.
Dentists, engineers, and school teachers are on the list for the highest wages too.
Those interested in getting mortgage loans for a house or an apartment will have to pay 1.45% every year for twenty years.
Helsinki Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Helsinki Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Helsinki
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Espoo | 73.78 |
| Tampere | 79.04 |
| Turku | 70.13 |
