Cost of Living in Finland for International Students
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It is important to know the monthly and yearly cost of living in Finland if you are planning for higher studies there. It is a part of the total expenses to study abroad that depends on the lifestyle and spending habits of a student.
Cost of living in Finland for Indian students is between EUR 900 and EUR 1,100 per month. This amount includes the expenses of rent, groceries, and transportation. The cost of living in Finland for Indian students is higher than in India.
Student accommodation rent ranges from EUR 240 to EUR 600. Groceries can cost EUR 180 to EUR 400 per month. Indian students need a monthly budget of INR 1 lakh to INR 1.10 lakh to manage a comfortable lifestyle in Finland. We will discuss below the expenses of living for international students who want to study in Finland.
- Cost of Living in Finland
- Accommodation Expenses in Finland
- Tuition Fees in Finland
- Living Expenses in Finland
- Students Union Membership Fee
- Cost of Healthcare in Finland
- Popular Cities in Finland by Cost of Living
- How to Reduce the Cost of Living in Finland?
Cost of Living in Finland
The following table provides an approximate cost of living in Finland (data has been sourced from various sources):
| Category | Cost in EUR (€) per month |
|---|---|
| Housing | 250-600 |
| Food | 150-250 |
| Clothes | 50-200 |
| Transport | 60-2,700 |
| Medical | 30-120 |
| Entertainment | 30-500 |
Note: The average cost of living in Finland for international students is nearly €1,000 per month.
Accommodation Expenses in Finland
Accommodation rent is a major part of the overall budget for studying in Finland. Your house type can increase or reduce your financial stress and total living expenses. You can either choose to live in a student dormitory or a rental house. The price/rent of both housing options are not the same. Below, we've mentioned the estimated living expenses you may spend to live in Finland as a student:
| Types of Accommodation | Monthly Rent |
|---|---|
| Student Dormitory | EUR 200 to EUR 300 (INR 17,667 to INR 26,500) |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment (Near City Centre) | EUR 800 (INR 70,670) |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment (Outside of Centre) | EUR 650 (INR 57,500) |
Tuition Fees in Finland
Finland is among the popular European countries known for its quality programs. The tuition fees of the program may be higher than study abroad destinations. Students who are from outside the EU/EEA area need to pay tuition fees for bachelor’s and master’s level programs. These programs are taught in the English language to international students. The annual tuition fee varies from €4,000 and € 18,000 approximately depending on the university and the degree. Students are also eligible to apply for a scholarship in Finland from the university.
Read: Cost of studying in Finland
Living Expenses in Finland
After the Tuition fee, students now need to arrange living expenses and show that they have sufficient financial resources as well as insurance when they apply for a student residence permit. The monthly cost of living in Finland for students is around €700 – €900, including food, accommodation, travel, etc. Living costs in Finland are typically higher in larger cities than in smaller ones.
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Students Union Membership Fee
All the students studying undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the universities in Finland are members of the Student Union (HYY) and therefore bound to pay the student union membership fee. For the academic year 2023-24, the obligatory Student Union membership fee for Bachelor's and Master's degree students is €52. Tuition fees include the Student Union membership fee.
Cost of Healthcare in Finland
Finland offers healthcare services to international students based on their income level. European citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in Finland, UK citizens can use their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), and workers get health insurance from their employers that cover incidents in the workplace only. International students who came to study in Finland are advised to take private insurance.
Popular Cities in Finland by Cost of Living
The table given below provides the average monthly cost of living in different cities in Finland:
| Cities |
Cost of Living (approx.) in $ |
|---|---|
| Helsinki |
1,763 |
| Espoo |
1,752 |
| Tampere |
1329 |
| Vantaa |
1,611 |
| Oulu |
1,305 |
| Turku |
1,397 |
| Seinajoki |
1,145 |
How to Reduce the Cost of Living in Finland?
There are two ways to reduce the cost of living in Finland for international students:
- Scholarships: Students can apply for a variety of scholarships. This can them to cover overall tuition costs while studying in Finland.
- Part Time Work: Indian students can work part time for a maximum of 30 hours per week.
It is important for students to plan their finances well. Make sure to plan your Finland studies well in advance to avoid unnecessary expenditures.
Helsinki is the national capital of Finland. A large portion of total Finnish population is living in the national capital. The living cost of Helsinki is nearly INR 1.50 Lakhs per month. This amount includes the house rent, utilities, food, transport, and etc.
The cost of living in Finland will vary from individual to individual. There aree various factors that affects cost of living such as lifestyle, location of your university, type of accommodation etc. The costs of living are higher in the capital region (Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa) than elsewhere in the country. Thus, you should prepare to have about 800 euros per month to cover your living costs in Finland as Aalto student.
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Comments
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2 years ago
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2 years ago
K
2 years ago
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2 years ago
There is no limited minimum wage in Finland for international students and they can earn up to 900-1300 euros per month depending on the sector. The lowest salaries range between 7 to 8 euros per hour and it goes up to 9-13 euros per hour.