Living costs in Finland

As a student in Finland, you need at least €800 per month at your disposal to be able to pay for your accommodation, food, and other needs.* The exact amount depends on the city, lifestyle, and type of accommodation.  Many student benefits and discounts are available, helping to make daily life more affordable.

Accommodation costs 

The costs of accommodation consist of rent, home insurance, internet access, and utilities such as electricity and water. 

If not included in the rent price, the average water consumption fee is €20–30 per month per person, and internet access in the apartment costs on average €25 per month. Keep in mind that you will probably need a mobile phone subscription to access the internet on your phone when you are outside your apartment and to stay in touch with your friends. On average, that costs €20–30 per month. 

Some housing providers require or strongly recommend that you get home insurance for your apartment. Average home insurance rates for students amount to €80–130 per year. The cost depends on the size and type of your accommodation. 

Groceries 

As a higher education student in Finland, you will have access to affordable lunches on campus. In addition, you will most likely shop at local grocery stores to stock the fridge in your apartment. How much would a trip to the grocery store cost? 

Let’s say you buy the following: 

◆ Loaf of bread €2 
◆ 1 l of milk 1€ 
◆ 500 g of cheese €4.5 
◆ 1 kg of yoghurt €1.6 
◆ 2 tomatoes €1 
◆ 3 bananas €0.8 
◆ 2 bags of instant noodles €1.6 
◆ 350 g of chicken fillets €5 
◆ 8 rolls of toilet paper €4 

With these example products and their estimated average prices, your bag of groceries would cost €21.5.