Moving to Finland from Spain
What to Expect
Considering a move from Spain to Finland? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Spain to Finland, you would find that Finland is 20.4% more expensive than Spain overall. A €64,304 salary in Spain would need to be roughly €66,571 in Finland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Finnish and Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Helsinki averages 48°F vs 68°F in Madrid, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Spain and Finland.
What does your salary buy?
€64,304 → €66,571
To maintain the same standard of living in Finland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 10.4% more
Groceries
pay 13.7% more
Transportation
pay 33.3% more
Housing
pay 12.5% less
Childcare
pay 1.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 82.0% 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?
What the data shows about people moving from Spain to Finland.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Finland compared to Spain.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Spain 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Spain 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
Spain generally does better on environment, though Finland leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Finland generally does better on infrastructure, though Spain 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
Finland generally does better on employment & economy, though Spain leads in top income tax 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 generally does better on family life, though Spain leads in life expectancy.
Data: Agencia Tributaria, Spain, 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 | Madrid | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 55°/40°F (13°/4°C) | 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) | 58°/40°F (14°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) | 65°/49°F (19°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 58°/44°F (14°/7°C) | 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Madrid | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C) | 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C) |
| Feb | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C) | 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C) |
| Mar | 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C) | 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C) | 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C) | 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C) |
| Jun | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C) | 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C) |
| Jul | 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C) | 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C) |
| Aug | 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C) | 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C) |
| Sep | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C) | 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C) |
| Oct | 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C) | 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C) |
| Dec | 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C) | 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C) |
Data:
Agencia Estatal de Meteorología,
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Spain 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.
Spain passport holder visiting Finland
Visa Free
Finland passport holder visiting Spain
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 Spain?
On average Finland is around 4% pricier than Spain, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Finland?
Budget about €16,643 for 3 months in Finland (based on a €64,304 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Finland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Finland: 34.5 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?
Spain 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 0.7 in Spain. About 86% of people in Finland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Finland compared to Spain?
Spain generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland leads in health coverage index. There are 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Finland, compared to 44.8 in Spain. Finland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Spain: 85).
What's the weather like in Finland compared to Spain?
The average high temperature in Helsinki is 48°F, compared to 68°F in Madrid. Helsinki receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Madrid gets 16.6 in.
What language do they speak in Finland?
The official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. In Spain, the official languages are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish.
