10 Things You Need To Know Before Moving To Finland

I have been living in Finland for almost three years now (oh time flies!) but when I moved here or rather was planning to move to Finland, there was not much information available about life in Finland and I had to figure out a lot of things by myself. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why I started creating YouTube videos so I could help existing and potential expats here: hence this blog page and my Instagram.

In this blog post, I am covering some general but important things to know before moving to Finland for everyone.

1. Finland is expensive

Before you pack your bags and get ready to move to this beautiful nature haven, you should know that while Finland offers a great lifestyle, it is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. So, please analyze your income, spend, savings and profits and take an informed decision after due research and consideration.

2. Finland is really cold

The average temperature is between 5 to 7 degree in southern part of Finland which is where Helsinki, the capital is. The winter is really long and cold even in the far south and it usually last about 4 to 5 months with around or below freezing temperature from mid-November to late march. So do expect the place to be really cold!

3. Bring your appetite with you

Finland has a lot to offer when it comes to naturally delicious, pure, safe and healthy food. sustainable balanced diet. Finnish traditional food is interesting and some of them have become my new favorite dishes! Lunch buffets are popular in Finnish restaurants, good food quality and big portion size to fill up your stomach from as little as just €10. This is certainly one way to be for Nordic eats!

4. Adjust to early lunch

People here eat light lunch early in the day, generally between 11am and noon. Some office canteens are only open until 1pm, and almost never beyond 2pm. Dinners are generally eaten at home between 4pm-6pm, and restaurants are at their busiest between 5pm-7pm. In some smaller towns, it can be difficult to find a place to eat after 9pm!

5. It’s challenging to open Finnish bank account!

Without having the Finnish ID number and an address in Finland, opening a bank account can be a challenge. To rent a place to live in Finland, you generally need a bank account, and to obtain an ID number, you need an address. You may need to rely on a foreign bank account for your first few months in Finland.

6. Banking in Finland is awesome

I love the banking system in Finland. Everything is done easily and online, which is the same as in Singapore, but buying things online is significantly easier here in Finland. I can opt for the option to authenticate myself through Finnish banking system instead of entering my card details. Banking in Finland is so efficient and easy in that sense!

7. No language barrier

Another thing that you should know before moving to Finland is that a lot of people here are bilingual, English is quite widely spoken here. Many here speak fluent English and can understand conversational English and language is not much of a barrier here.

8. Public transport is your best friend

Finland has an amazingly efficient public transport system. The Metro, Tram, Train and the local buses are clean, always on time and completely reliable. It gets you from all over Finland and there’s nowhere that you won’t be able to reach without the public transport. Truly a joy to commute!

9. Don’t expect to get anything done in July

Almost no-one works during the summer month of July in Finland, and those that do can’t get much done because all their colleagues are away. Many businesses run shorter opening hours throughout the month, or close entirely.

10. You need a lot of money to get a place to live

Renting a room, apartment or house in Finland is an expensive business. Many landlords require a deposit equal to two months rent, along with the first month’s rent in advance before they will sign a contract.

€600 Finnish Apartment Tour in City Center| Helsinki, Finland

For advice about living in Finland, check out my Living in Finland Playlist on YouTube.