Complete information about the cost of living in Finland!

Finland is ranked as the World’s happiest country for the 4th time this year. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Finland didn’t lose its charm. It is obvious to wish to study in such a country. But what about the cost of living in Finland?

Finland is a country in North Europe. It has nice, cold weather. It also has the best universities in the world. Almost 9 universities in Finland are ranked on the top list of universities in the world. You can apply to any one of them. Some of them are as follows-

• The University of Helsinki
• Aalto University
• The University of Turku
• The University of Jyvaskyla
• The University of Oulu

The cost of living in Finland for Indian students  differs from the students coming from the US or the UK. 1 euro costs 80.53 Indian rupees. There are services in Finland that will help you reduce your living cost. We are going to look at them in this article. 

The student visa

You will need a student visa to study in Finland. Moving to Finland from India will require some documentation. The cost of a student visa in Finland is approximately 360 EUR, which is INR 31,200/-. To study in Finland, non-EU students need to apply for a resident permit for more than 3 months of stay. 

Support from the Finland Government

The Finland government offers several scholarship programs to support students coming from abroad. Even the universities have scholarship programs to support such students. These will help you reduce the cost of living in Finland.

• Finland Government Scholarship for International students.
• Aalto University scholarship
• Scholarship for International students by the University of Helsinki
• Scholarship for International students by the University of Tampere
• CIMO Doctoral Fellowship for International students

The tuition fees in Finland

The tuition fee for international students varies by university and courses that you apply for. It can be between 4k to 18k Euros. Students from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland are not required to pay the tuition fee. For students from India, they need to pay 1500 Euros which is INR 1, 30,000/- per year for the courses in English.  

Besides, you will need to pay the annual tuition fee. This fee is between 5k to 18k Euros. In INR, it would be between 4,33,290/- to 15,19, 900/-. 

Apart from University tuition fees, you will need to buy the uniforms for your course. In Finland, every course has its own different set of overalls. 

The accommodation

As said before, the cost of living in Finland differs by your location. Helsinki is the capital of Finland and because of that, it is the most expensive city to live in. You will find two kinds of accommodations in Finland. The first one is on-campus and the second is off-campus. 

Most students recommend on-campus accommodation. It is cheaper than living off-campus. 

For on-campus student residence halls, you will have to pay 160 to 380 Euros per month. That is INR 13,900/- to 33,000/-. This is the rent for a single room in a shared student apartment. 

Off-campus accommodation-

No.	Type of accommodation	Rent Euro	Rent INR
1	3 Room Apartment	1100	88,413/-
2	Student Apartment	650	52,244/-
3	Student housing	320	25,720/-

Utilities

The cost of living in Finland doesn’t end with accommodation. You will have to pay monthly for the utilities. The off-campus living will cost you extra for the utilities. These can vary depending on your landlord and telecommunications provider. 

1. Water- 25 €
2. Wifi- 20€
3. Electricity- 7€

Groceries

The off-campus cost of living in Finland also includes the cost of groceries. If you are living in the metropolitan city of Helsinki, then it can be a bit costly for you. The other cities aren’t that expensive compared to Helsinki. 

Here’s the list of things you may need on daily basis and the cost for it!

No.	Groceries	Price in Euro	Price in INR
1	Milk 1 lit	0.90	72.13
2	Loaf of bread (500g)	1.70	136.25
3	Rice (1kg)	1.85	148.29
4	Eggs (10)	1.20	96.17
5	Coffee	0.84	67.31
6	Chicken	2.99	239.62
7	Tea	2.50	200.35
8	Apple	1.70	136.21
9	Banana	1.50	120.19
10	Frozen Pizza	2.50	200.32
11	Tomato	2.85	228.36
12	Potato	0.90	72.10
13	Onion	1.15	92.13
14	Lettuce	1.40	112.16
15	Shampoo	2.80	224.25

So, the total expense for groceries would be around 26.78 Euros. Which is INR 2,145/-. The expense of groceries depends on your needs. 

Also, if you go to a restaurant for a meal, it will cost you more. The average cost of a meal in restaurants in Finland is between 10 to 12 EUR. If you want to have a 3-course meal, then it will cost you approximately 60 EUR. 

Transportation

Public transport is always a better option than personal cars. It will save a lot of money for you. The car will cost you approximately 2,700 to 3,300 Euros. Which is from INR 2,16,082/- to 2,64,105/-. 

For public transport, it is better to get a monthly pass. It can vary in cost depending on which city you are residing in and the cost of traveling. It can cost approximately 35 to 50 EUR per month. Whereas a single ticket costs 3 Euros. 

One thing that you must know while calculating the cost of living in Finland, is that you need to pay a student union membership fee. It is approximately between 80 to 100 EUR per year. It is to create social connections and build a helpful environment for you to study. 

Key Takeaways

• The cost of living in Finland depends upon where you choose to stay. If you stay in campus accommodation, then you can save some money.
• You need to be aware of utility costs for your living area.
• The cost of living in Finland for Indian students is much more affordable than the other European countries.
• You can apply for a university scholarship to reduce the cost of living in Finland.  

This is all you need to know about the cost of living in Finland for Indian students. Click here to read more articles like this!

Liked this blog? Read more: Study in Finland | 5 Things you need to know before studying here!

FAQs  

Q1. Is there any specific scholarship for Indian students?

Answer – No. There isn’t any scholarship specifically for Indian students in Finland. You can apply for the university scholarships mentioned above.

Q2. Are there any part-time jobs for students in Finland?

Answer – Yes. You can apply for part-time jobs in Finland if you want to earn and learn.

Q3. Is the cost of living in Finland more expensive than in the US?

Answer – No! The cost of living in Finland is cheaper compared to the US.