Moving to Finland from Germany
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Germany to Finland — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Germany to Finland, you would find that Finland is 8.9% cheaper than Germany overall. A €65,577 salary in Germany would need to be roughly €61,900 in Finland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Finnish and Swedish.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Germany to Finland.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → €61,900
To maintain the same standard of living in Finland
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 13.2% less
Groceries
pay 7.2% less
Transportation
pay 0.2% more
Housing
pay 30.7% less
Childcare
pay 33.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.3% more
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?
Real numbers on people moving from Germany to Finland, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Germany and Finland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Germany generally does better on safety, though Finland leads in feel safe walking at night.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Finland performs significantly better than Germany across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Finland generally does better on infrastructure, though Germany leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Finland leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Finland performs significantly better than Germany across all family life metrics.
Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Berlin | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 58°/40°F (14°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 65°/49°F (19°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C) |
Data:
Deutscher Wetterdienst,
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany and Finland. To live, work, or study long-term in Finland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Finland's immigration authority.
Germany passport holder visiting Finland
Visa Free
Finland passport holder visiting Germany
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Finland than Germany?
Generally yes: Finland runs about 6% cheaper than Germany on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Finland?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a €65,577 comparable salary, that's around €15,475 in Finland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Finland?
With 34.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Finland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Germany and Finland.
Is Finland safe for expats?
Germany generally does better on safety, though Finland leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Finland is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany. About 86% of people in Finland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Finland compared to Germany?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Finland, compared to 45.2 in Germany. Finland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).
What's the weather like in Finland compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Helsinki is 48°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Helsinki receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in Finland?
The official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. In Germany, the official language is German.
