Thinking about moving to Finland? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Finland stands out for everyday safety, political stability and a quicker path to citizenship, while it is worth weighing a heavier tax burden, a higher cost of living and patchier public transport.
Finland at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living72/100
Cost of living here sits around to a little above the EU average. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €2600 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €1000 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English80/100
English gets you a long way in cities and with younger people. Everyday admin and smaller towns often expect the local language, so some learning helps a lot.
Safety92/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 92/100 means very safe: violent crime is rare and most areas feel comfortable at any hour. The usual big-city pickpocketing is the main thing to watch.
Healthcare85/100
Scored 85/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). A strong universal system with good access and quality; most needs are covered publicly.
ClimateCold
Cold winters and warm summers, with four distinct seasons. Typical daytime highs: winter around -4°C, spring 8°C, summer 21°C, autumn 8°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~5 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 4 years, and for citizenship after about 5 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Finland's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxesto ~57%
Personal income tax: Progressive national + municipal, top combined ~57%. As a freelancer: Same brackets on profit. Company owners: CIT 20%, dividends 25.5-28.9% effective (partial exemptions by company type). Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Finland stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Finland scores best for:
- Everyday safety.
- Political stability.
- A quicker path to citizenship.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Finland, keep an eye on:
- A heavier tax burden.
- A higher cost of living.
- Patchier public transport.
Is Finland right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Finland actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Finland lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.