Moving to Australia from Finland

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Finland to Australia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Finland to Australia, you would find that Australia is 37.7% more expensive than Finland overall. A €65,577 salary in Finland would need to be roughly A$115,529 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Canberra averages 67°F vs 48°F in Helsinki, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Finland and Australia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 A$115,529

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 1.9% less

Groceries

pay 19.6% more

Transportation

pay 13.5% less

Housing

pay 63.1% more

Childcare

pay 2.8 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 16.9% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.64 AUD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Finland to Australia.

Moved in 2023
74 ↓ 41% vs 2022

people moved from Finland to Australia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Australia?

Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Australia compared to Finland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

FI
1.2
AU
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FI
4.2
AU
4.5

Finland generally does better on safety, though Australia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

FI
$6,433
AU
$7,691
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FI
43.8
AU
39.8

Finland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FI
7.0
AU
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FI
5.5t
AU
14.1t

Finland performs better than Australia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FI
34.5
AU
35.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FI
7.1%
AU
4.6%

Australia generally does better on infrastructure, though Finland leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FI
7.2%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FI
$57,500
AU
$59,500

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Finland leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FI
81.8 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FI
2.1
AU
3.0

Australia generally does better on family life, though Finland leads in infant mortality.

Data: Finnish Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Helsinki Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Helsinki Canberra
Jan–Mar 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) 80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 58°/40°F (14°/4°C) 61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 65°/49°F (19°/10°C) 56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
Month Helsinki Canberra
Jan 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C) 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C) 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C) 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C) 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C) 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C) 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C) 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C) 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C) 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C) 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C)

Data: Finnish Meteorological Institute Finnish Meteorological Institute, Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Finland and Australia. To live, work, or study long-term in Australia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Australia's immigration authority.

Finland passport

Finland passport holder visiting Australia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Finland passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Australia.
Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Finland

Visa Free
Australia passport holders can enter Finland without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Australia than Finland?

On average Australia is around 8% pricier than Finland, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

Budget about A$28,882 for 3 months in Australia (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Australia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Australia: 35.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Australia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Australia safe for expats?

Finland generally does better on safety, though Australia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Australia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.2 in Finland.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Finland?

Finland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in health coverage index. There are 39.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Australia, compared to 43.8 in Finland. Australia scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Finland: 86).

What's the weather like in Australia compared to Finland?

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 48°F in Helsinki. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Helsinki gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

The official language in Australia is English. In Finland, the official languages are Finnish and Swedish.

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At a Glance

FI AU
Population 5,601,547 26,141,369
Currency Euro (€) Australian Dollar (A$)
Languages Finnish, Swedish English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +358 +61
Time zones 1 8
Emergency number 112 000