Cost of living comparison

compared to

United States vs. Finland Cost of Living Summary

United States is 36.4% more expensive than Finland overall.

Restaurants
pay 7.6% more in United States
Groceries
pay 40.7% more in United States
Transportation
pay 24.7% less in United States
Housing
pay 2.0 times more in United States
Childcare
pay 2.8 times more in United States
Entertainment and Sports
pay 6.7% less in United States
Clothing
pay 19.0% less in United States

The cost of childcare, housing, groceries, and restaurants in United States are more expensive than in Finland. Expenses including transportation, clothing, and entertainment and sports are lower in United States. Notably, childcare and housing are significantly more expensive in United States.

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United States vs. Finland Cost Breakdown

If you lived in United States instead of Finland, you would:

pay 7.6% more for restaurants

 
Finland
United States
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $15.96
€14.32
$19.86
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
 $11.89
€10.67
$11.42
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.80
€2.51
$2.67
 
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pay 40.7% more for groceries

 
Finland
United States
Bread
1 loaf
 $2.55
€2.29
$3.63
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.18
€3.75
$6.52
 
Milk (1 gallon) $4.89
€4.39
$3.98
 
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pay 24.7% less for transportation

 
Finland
United States
Gasoline (1 gallon) $8.37
€7.51
$4.01
 
Monthly public transit pass $69.28
€62.15
$66.70
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $35,392.23
€31,752.14
$34,164.82
 
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pay 2.0 times more for housing

 
Finland
United States
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
 $23.47
€21.05
$70.22
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $812.17
€728.64
$1,681.01
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $648.17
€581.50
$1,404.28
 
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pay 2.8 times more for childcare

 
Finland
United States
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $343.69
€308.34
$1,450.99
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $13,310.70
€11,941.70
$24,361.50
 
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pay 6.7% less for entertainment and sports

 
Finland
United States
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $8.12
€7.29
$6.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.71
€4.22
$5.31
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
 $12.52
€11.23
$10.42
 
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pay 19.0% less for clothing

 
Finland
United States
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
 $91.56
€82.15
$53.15
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
 $40.36
€36.21
$41.88
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
 $97.65
€87.61
$89.76
 
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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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Compare further: Finland vs. United States

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330 people moved from Finland to United States.
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