Moving to Finland from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Finland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Finland, you would find that Finland is 2.3% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,000 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly €63,900 in Finland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Finnish and Swedish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Helsinki averages 48°F vs 66°F in Auckland, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Finland cheaper than New Zealand?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 25.9% more
Groceries
pay 7.5% less
Transportation
pay 19.4% more
Housing
pay 17.5% less
Childcare
pay 38.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 27.1% 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.
What salary do you need in Finland?
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,000 → €63,900
To maintain the same standard of living in Finland
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Finland cost about 8% more than cities in New Zealand.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from New Zealand to Finland.
people moved from New Zealand to Finland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Finland compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Finland performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics.
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
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland leads in health coverage index.
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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Finland leads in gdp per capita.
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 New Zealand across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016), Finnish Tax Administration (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Finland vs New Zealand
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Auckland | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 74°/61°F (23°/16°C) | 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 63°/51°F (18°/11°C) | 58°/40°F (14°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 60°/47°F (15°/8°C) | 65°/49°F (19°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 67°/55°F (20°/13°C) | 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Auckland | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C) | 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C) |
| Feb | 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C) | 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C) |
| Mar | 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C) | 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C) | 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C) |
| May | 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C) | 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C) |
| Jun | 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C) | 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C) |
| Jul | 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C) | 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C) |
| Aug | 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C) | 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C) |
| Sep | 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C) | 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C) |
| Oct | 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C) | 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C) |
| Dec | 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C) | 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Can you move from New Zealand to Finland?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Finland
Visa Free
Finland passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 New Zealand?
Finland and New Zealand are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to Finland?
Budget about €15,975 for 3 months in Finland (based on a NZ$130,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Finland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Finland: 36.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Finland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Finland safe for expats?
Finland performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Finland is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Finland compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland leads in health coverage index. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Finland, compared to 36.1 in New Zealand. Finland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Finland compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Helsinki is 48°F, compared to 66°F in Auckland. Helsinki receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Auckland gets 43.3 in.
What language do they speak in Finland?
The official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
