The cost of living in Finland

Prices in Finland are quite high. Finland ranks 4th when comparing prices in the European Union after Denmark, Sweden and Austria. This is due, among other things, to a fairly high level of salaries, but not only. The main reason for the high prices is the high VAT tax on food. In Europe, the average VAT rate on food is 5.7%, while in Finland it is 14%. For comparison, in Denmark the same tax is 25%, and in Ireland - 0%. Naturally, these numbers are reflected in the total cost of living. Prices in restaurants The level of prices in restaurants varies slightly, except for the most expensive ones. Dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant will cost 44.29-70 euros (2,226 - 3,518 rubles). Lunch for one person in an inexpensive establishment will cost 8-13 euros (400-650 rubles). Lunch at McDonald's or a similar establishment will cost 7-8 euros (350-400 rubles). Local beer (0.5 liters) costs an average of 4 to 6 euros (200-300 rubles). A cup of cappuccino costs an average of 2.50-3.50 euros (125-175 rubles). A business lunch will cost 7.5-9 euros (376-462 rubles). The price of regular water in a bottle (0.33 l.) Is 1.63 euros (80 rubles). From 11.00 to 14.00 in many restaurants there is an offer for set meals, which will cost significantly less than the same dishes at regular prices on the menu. The cost of food For some natural products, prices are lower than the European average. For example, 1 kg of salmon costs 4–5 euros (200–250 rubles). Milk is also relatively cheap, price per liter. is 1.85 euros (92 rubles). A loaf of white bread (500 g) costs 1.5–2 euros (70–100 rubles). Here is a list of average prices for other foods: rice (1 kg) - 1.5-2 euros eggs (12 pcs.) - 2-3 euros cheese (for example, edem, 1 kg) - 7-10 euros oranges (1 kg ) - 1.9-3 euros apples (1 kg) - 2-3 euros tomatoes (1kg) - 2.5-4 euros potatoes (1 kg) - 0.7-1 euros Fillet of beef - 20-25 euros Minced meat - 8 euros Local beer (0.5 l.) - 2-3 euros Liter of juice - 0.7-2 euros Cola (1.5 liters) - 2.5 euros Transport The cost of tickets in different cities of Finland may differ factor of. For example, a bus ticket can cost from 2.50 in Helsinki and up to 4 euros in Rovaniemi. At the same time, in almost all cities there is a night tariff, when the price doubles and regardless of the category of passengers. A single city pass gives the right to travel on all types of public transport within Helsinki. It is valid within an hour from the date of purchase. A ticket for 10 rides costs 20 euros. Children under 6 years old travel for free. Children and adolescents from 6 to 17 years old, as well as pensioners, get a 50% discount. A family of 3 traveling together also enjoy a 20% discount. In Helsinki it is also possible to purchase a single card ("Helsinki Card") for 1-7 days without restrictions. The validity period of the card starts from the moment of its first use. The travel card can be purchased at the Helsinki Transport Authority (HKL) service points, as well as at most ports and train stations. The average cost of petrol in Finland is 1.59 euros per liter, diesel fuel is 1.49 euros. You can get to Finland from Moscow by night train "Lev Tolstoy" (departure at 22:50, arrival at 12:00), the ticket price for which is from 115 euros. The train “Allegro” departs from St. Petersburg every day, the approximate cost of tickets is from 39 euros for morning flights. Season tickets are sold for all trains. A subscription for 20 trips within 4 months gives a 30% discount. To book tickets, Russians can use the Russian-language website of the Finnish state railway company VR. All trains arrive at the Central Station, located in the center of Helsinki. The building of the railway station is an architectural monument, it was designed by the famous architect Eliel Saarinen at the beginning of the 19th century. Buses leave from St. Petersburg to Finland every day. This is the most convenient and cheapest way to get to Helsinki. One-way fares are 15-25 euros for a bus and 25-35 euros for a minibus. Utilities Basic utilities include electricity, heat, water and waste collection. The difference in the cost of utilities across the country is quite large - from 70 to 187 euros. The cost of one minute of mobile phone calls within the city is 0.7–0.9 euros (35–40 rubles). The cost of Internet services per month is on average 20 euros (about 1000 rubles). Clothing One pair of jeans (Levi's and similar brands) costs from 69 to 99 euros. Summer dress (Zara, H&M, etc.) can be purchased for 25-40 euros. One pair of sneakers (Nike) costs 69-100 euros. Men's leather shoes - 70–100 euros. Daniil Burygin HomesOverseas.ru The editors of the portal would like to thank Snezhana Leibinen (Domfinland Oy) for help in preparing the material