Cost of Living in Finland 2026: Official Figures
In Finland wages, taxes and the cost of living are higher than the EU average. Many services, such as schooling and health care, are funded from taxes, which makes them cheaper for residents than in many other countries. Housing costs vary a lot by location. This guide puts official numbers on each part, from Statistics Finland, the state's InfoFinland service, the Finnish Immigration Service and Study in Finland, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
The average rent of a non-subsidised dwelling was 15.94 EUR/m² in Finland in the second quarter of 2026, 21.34 EUR/m² in Helsinki and 13.88 EUR/m² outside Greater Helsinki. Full-time wage and salary earners earned EUR 4,300 per month on average. Inflation was 2.2 per cent in August 2026. A student must show EUR 800 a month for a residence permit, and Study in Finland recommends €900–€1,200. InfoFinland puts the price level of private consumption about 26% above the EU average.
Rent by city
Statistics Finland publishes average rents per square metre each quarter. These are the figures for non-subsidised rental dwellings in April to June 2026, for all tenancies and for new rental contracts.
| Area | Average rent, EUR/m² | New contracts, EUR/m² |
|---|---|---|
| Whole country | 15.94 | 17.26 |
| Greater Helsinki | 20.11 | 20.72 |
| Whole country excluding Greater Helsinki | 13.88 | 14.76 |
| Helsinki | 21.34 | 22.04 |
| Espoo-Kauniainen | 18.82 | 19.02 |
| Vantaa | 17.80 | 17.98 |
| Tampere | 16.94 | 18.22 |
| Turku | 15.63 | 15.98 |
| Kuopio | 14.98 | 15.17 |
| Jyväskylä | 14.65 | 14.97 |
| Rovaniemi | 14.55 | 15.87 |
| Oulu | 14.20 | 14.81 |
| Lahti | 13.34 | 13.14 |
To estimate a monthly rent, multiply the figure by the size of the flat in square metres.
Small flats cost more per square metre
| One-room flat, non-subsidised | Average rent, EUR/m² |
|---|---|
| Helsinki | 26.71 |
| Greater Helsinki | 25.54 |
| Tampere | 21.06 |
| Turku | 19.57 |
| Oulu | 18.05 |
| Whole country excluding Greater Helsinki | 17.87 |
Subsidised housing is cheaper
Government-subsidised rental dwellings averaged 13.47 EUR/m² in the whole country, 15.20 EUR/m² in Greater Helsinki and 12.44 EUR/m² elsewhere.
Rent trends
Non-subsidised rents rose 0.1% in a year in April to June 2026. They fell 0.3 per cent in Greater Helsinki and rose 0.4 per cent in the rest of Finland. Rents of government-subsidised dwellings went up by 2.0 per cent in Greater Helsinki and by 1.7 per cent in the rest of the country.
Costs on top of the rent
InfoFinland reminds newcomers that rent is not the whole housing bill. In detached houses, heating is often the largest single cost item. You should take out home insurance, and many landlords require it. On average, about one-fifth of Finns' net income goes to housing, and about 30% of Finns live in rental homes.
What people earn
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average monthly earnings of full-time wage and salary earners, April to June 2026 (preliminary) | EUR 4,300 |
| Rise in nominal earnings over a year | 3.4 per cent |
| Rise in real earnings over a year | 1.6 per cent |
Earnings grew faster than consumer prices over the period, which is why real earnings rose.
Prices
- Inflation: consumer prices rose 2.2 per cent in the year to August 2026, after 2.1 per cent in July. Core inflation was 1.4 per cent.
- What pushed prices up: petrol, diesel and heating oils rose most. Prices of owner-occupied flats and interest on consumer credit and student loans held the index down.
- Level against Europe: InfoFinland states that the price level of private consumption in Finland is approximately 26% higher than the EU average, and that alcoholic beverages cost approximately 120% over the EU average.
- Clothing: slightly more expensive than the EU average. Used goods are widely available in good condition and cost less.
Services paid from taxes
| Service | What a resident pays |
|---|---|
| Pre-primary, comprehensive and upper secondary education | Free of charge |
| Municipal early childhood education | Depends on income; up to around €300 for your oldest child |
| Doctor's appointment at a health and social services centre | About €30 |
| Doctor's appointment at an outpatient clinic | About €70 |
| Hospital treatment | About €70 per day |
| Public health care fees in a year | Up to approximately €760 |
| Reimbursable medications in a calendar year | After approximately €630, you pay a very low price for the rest of the year |
| Libraries, maternity and child health clinics | Free of charge |
These are InfoFinland's figures, from a page dated March 2025, and prices vary between localities. The right to public health services depends on having a municipality of residence in Finland.
The income levels Finland sets for residence permits
| Permit | Required income in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Student | EUR 800 per month |
| Residence permit for an employed person | EUR 1,600 gross per month |
| Net income threshold, Helsinki metropolitan area | 1,210 per month |
| Net income threshold, other large municipalities | 1,090 per month |
| Net income threshold, other municipalities | 1,030 per month |
The three net thresholds apply to permits such as those for start-up entrepreneurs and for graduates of Finnish institutions. The Finnish Immigration Service explains the three tiers by regional variation in housing costs.
Students
- Study in Finland recommends reserving approximately €900–€1,200 per month for living expenses, depending on the location, covering food, accommodation and travel.
- Tuition for students from outside the EU/EEA typically ranges from €9,000 to €20,000 per year in English-taught programmes.
- The student union fee at universities is about €50–€70 per academic year, and the student healthcare fee is around €35 per term.
Frequently asked questions
Is Finland expensive to live in?
Prices are above the EU average: InfoFinland puts private consumption about 26% higher. Many public services, including schooling, are free or cheap for residents.
How much is rent in Helsinki?
Non-subsidised dwellings in Helsinki averaged 21.34 EUR/m² in the second quarter of 2026, and one-room flats 26.71 EUR/m², according to Statistics Finland.
Which Finnish cities are cheaper to rent in?
Outside Greater Helsinki the average was 13.88 EUR/m². Among the larger cities, Lahti averaged 13.34 and Oulu 14.20 EUR/m².
What is the average salary in Finland?
Full-time wage and salary earners earned EUR 4,300 per month on average in April to June 2026, according to Statistics Finland's preliminary data.
How much money does a student need per month in Finland?
The legal minimum for a residence permit is EUR 800. Study in Finland recommends approximately €900–€1,200 depending on the location.
How much does a doctor's visit cost in Finland?
About €30 at a public health and social services centre and about €70 at an outpatient clinic, according to InfoFinland. Prices vary between localities.
What is inflation in Finland?
Consumer prices rose 2.2 per cent in the year to August 2026, the latest Statistics Finland figure when this page was checked.
Official sources
- Statistics Finland — Rent index and average rents per square metre, quarterly (table 15fa)
- Statistics Finland — Rents of dwellings, 2nd quarter 2026 (16 July 2026)
- Statistics Finland — Index of wage and salary earnings, 2nd quarter 2026 (26 August 2026)
- Statistics Finland — Consumer price index, August 2026
- InfoFinland — Cost of living in Finland
- InfoFinland — Housing in Finland
- Finnish Immigration Service — Income requirement
- Study in Finland — Fees and cost of living
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Rent figures are averages per square metre, so individual flats cost more or less. Information, not financial advice.