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.
The cost of living in Finland for international students is nearly EUR 925 (INR 83,000 approx) per month. This amount includes the expenses of rent, grocery, transportation etc. Finland is one of the world’s most northern and geographically remote countries located in Northern Europe. Around 70% of the country’s land is covered with thick woodlands, making it the most densely forested country in Europe. The nickname of Finland is ‘the land of a thousand lakes’ and is known for cold water and Lapland. Finland become the perfect choice for international students to get excellent higher education at top universities in Finland.
Are you planning to study in Europe? Then Finland is among the top countries for international students to study abroad. This country is gaining popularity globally for its excellent education system at world-renowned universities, beauty, and student safety. We will discuss below the expenses of living for international students who want to study in Finland. If you are wondering about the cost to study in Finland then look at this article to learn all about the Cost of Living in Finland.
Read: Students Guide to Finland for International Students
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. However, these costs can vary largely on the basis of your city, transport options, lifestyle, and the current economic scenario and inflation.
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Accommodation Expenses in Finland
Accommodation is a major component of the overall budget for studying in Finland. The type of accommodation you choose can be a deciding factor in 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, 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.
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. The tuition fees include the Student Union membership fee. Students can visit the Student Union membership on the HYY website for more information.
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 |
Top 7 Universities in Finland
The following table provides some of the top-ranking universities in Finland and their corresponding QS World University Rankings 2025:
| University |
QS World University Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|
| 113 |
|
| 117 |
|
| University of Oulu |
344 |
| 375 |
|
| 336 |
|
| 462 |
|
| University of Jyväskylä |
489 |
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: It can be difficult to study abroad, particularly when we take into account the associated costs. In these cases, students can apply for a variety of scholarships to lower their overall tuition costs while studying in Finland. These grants are advantageous for students who have great academic backgrounds, strong test scores, and strong resumes.
- Part-Time Work: International students studying in Finland can work part-time for a maximum of 30 hours per week. Part-time work will help in reducing the cost of living in Finland.
It is important for students to plan their finances prudently, as studying abroad can be an expensive affair. Make sure to plan your Finland studies well in advance to avoid unnecessary expenditures. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.
Related Links:
| Cost of Living in Luxembourg | Cost of Living in Dubai | Cost of Living in Japan |
Cost of Living in Finland FAQs
Q. What is the cost of living in Finland for students?
A. The cost of living for students varies across Finland depending on location and lifestyle. The typical monthly living costs for students, which include housing, food, transport, and other costs, range from 600 to 1,100 EUR. However, other elements like the type of lodging, the location of the lodging, and the way of life of the individual may also have an impact on the cost of living. While it is advised that students save aside 700–900 EUR per month to pay their essential costs, individual expenses will vary.
Q. How much do students earn in Finland?
A. However, 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. Although it is advised that students set aside between 600 and 1,100 EUR per month for basic costs, real costs will vary from person to person dependent on things like lodging, food, and other ancillary costs.
Q. What is the cost of living in Helsinki Finland?
A. 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.
Q. Is it easy to get PR in Finland?
A. It might be time-consuming to gain permanent residency (PR) in Finland, but it is attainable for those who meet certain requirements. An individual normally needs to enter Finland with a residence visa and stay there for a continuous amount of time between 4 and 5 years before becoming eligible for permanent residency. The person is required to follow particular rules regarding work, schooling, or other obligations during this period. It is feasible for anyone who matches the eligibility conditions to receive PR in Finland, albeit the process may not always be quick.
Q. Can international students work part-time in Finland?
A. As an EU/EEA citizen, you have the right to work in Finland without any work permit or restrictions on hours. Students from outside of the EU/EEA countries and with a student residence permit are allowed to work part-time. Your first residence permit will allow you to work for a maximum of 30 hours per week. However, if your work is directly related to your academic degree (such as training) then this limitation is not applicable.
Q. Which are the popular courses to study in Finland?
A. Engineering, computer science, business, nursing, education, and the natural sciences are a few of the prominent academic fields for overseas students to study in Finland. More than 500 bachelor's and master's degree programmes taught in English are offered by Finnish universities. International Business and Entrepreneurship, Computer Science and Information Technology, Master's Programme in Education and Globalisation, and Master's Degree Programme in Environmental and Energy Technology are a few examples of specific courses. However, based on a person's interests and professional objectives, the popularity of a given course may change.
Q: What is the acceptance rate of LUT University Finland?
According to unofficial sources, Lappeenranta University of Technology Finland acceptance rate is around 15%. This signifies that the university is very selective while granting admissions. So, students with an exceptional academic record have a higher chance of getting admission. To study the bachelor’s programs of the university, the applicants must have completed upper secondary class education. Whereas, for admission to graduate courses, the applicants are required to have a relevant bachelor’s degree.
Q: How can I study in Finland for free?
Finland is home to some of the best foreign universities for international students and is relatively on the affordable study abroad spectrum. Listed below is an estimate of the cost of studying in Finland on the basis of academic level. Students are advised to visit the official course webpage for exact fee details as per their course of choice:
- Undergraduate tuition fees: Can range from €5,000 to €14,000 per year.
- Postgraduate tuition fees: Can range from €8,000 to €18,000 per year.
In order to lower the fees all the more, international students can apply for scholarships. In order to be eligible for a scholarship candidates are required to have a strong academic background, decent work experience (if applicable), and other extracurricular achievements. Some of the scholarships include:
- Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programs
- Finnish Government Scholarship Pool;
- Finland Scholarships; and more.
Q: Is it expensive to live in Finland for international students?
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.
Q: What GPA do you need for Aalto University Finland?
Applicants applying to Aalto University must meet specific minimum average requirements based on the school they are applying for. However, for international students applying for Aalto University the minimum GPA required by applicants is 3.0. To be admitted to the programme at Aalto it is recommended to have a strong academic profile, including competitive scores in the GREs. or GREs. However, the admission process at Aalto University takes a holistic approach, considering multiple factors in the student's profile. These factors include Leadership, Work experience, essays, LOR and interviews that the students give during their admission process.
Q: Why study at LUT University Finland?
At LUT, the major academic fields are Business, Technology or Social Sciences. Furthermore, the university is one of the Top 300 Universities in the world as per Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024. Ranked 1st in terms of reputation among Finnish Universities, LUT prepares students to constantly evolve with the working world. In short, the graduates from the degree programs are experts in technological and economic development and sustainability. In the context of academic programs, students can apply to a variety of English-language bachelor’s programs and master’s programs.
Q: How much does it cost to go to LUT University Finland?
For master’s degree programs, LUT University Finland tuition fees is EUR 13,500 per academic year for international students. Apart from this, students are also required to pay living expenses that include accommodation expenses. These will be roughly around EUR 700 per month. Other expenses included in the living expenses are a monthly bus pass, movie ticket, coffee, etc.
Also Check: Cost of Living in Finland for International Students
Q: What is the ranking of Aalto University Finland?
Aalto University has a great performance in global rankings over the past five years. In the University Ranking THE (Times Higher Education) university is ranked 201-250 in year 2023. Additionally, in the year 2024 the World University Ranking QS has ranked it at 109. We can say that the university is in the top 150 universities and it is one of the best universities in Finland as well. Hence, for international students Aalto Univeristy is surely a good option
Q: What is the application fee for Aalto University Finland?
There is no Application fee for Aalto University as the university eliminated the fee exclusively for its students. By not having an application fee, the University is creating good options and opportunities for students across the globe to pursue their educational interests and goals without the financial burden on the students. However, for Graduate students, the university hasn’t specified an application fee, hence it is suggested to call the admission office to get more details regarding the process.
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