Although it may seem like Finland has everything a place needs to be a vastly popular tourist destination, including interesting attractions like the Santa Claus village, the reason is actually much simpler than it may appear at first glance. The unfortunate answer is the cost. Today, we’ll be taking a look at how everyday life looks in Finland, from the monetary perspective. How much does general shopping cost you? How much money should you prepare for a trip to Finland?
Prices in cafes, restaurants and hotels
If, for some reason, you want to make sure your holiday destination is as Pole-free as possible, Finland is a pretty safe bet. Prices in Finland are pretty brutal for them, and for the majority of Europe to be frank. And it’s not just food or alcohol, it’s the accommodation and the restaurants too. A coffee in the Santa Village in Rovaniemi will cost you 2,5 EUR, main course or simple burgers range from 15 to 22 EUR (the limit goes up when considering the more luxurious places). In the Nili restaurant, in Rovaniemi, a main course will set you back 40 EUR, similarly to Arctic Restaurant, where a smoked salmon will cost you 28 EUR, a reindeer burger 19 EUR, a King Crab sandwich 23 EUR (and add the cost of fries or grilled vegetables to the main price (around 5 EUR per portion)). Desserts in the forms of cookies or mousse range from 10 to 15 EUR. Simple street food in Rovaniemi is quite a bit cheaper, at the average of 10 EUR per meal.
The average cost of Airbnb in Rovaniemi (in June 2020) was 820 PLN (190 EUR) per day. In Helsinki, it was a bit cheaper, at an average of 120 EUR. Turku was even lower, at 105 EUR. Naturally, that does not mean that you can’t get a flat for 25 to 50 EUR per day, but the quality will be substantially worse. You also have to expect higher prices in winter, as many of the attractions rely on Christmas.
A three star hotel in Rovaniemi costs around 150 EUR per night, tends to be much cheaper in Helsinki, where a room for 70 EUR per night is quite a common sight. If you were interested in a slightly better hotel, perhaps a snow or ice hotel, that can cost you from 300 to 500 EUR per night.
Petrol prices in Finland
Although Finland’s petrol is not the cheapest in Europe, the prices are not too far from what you expect from an EUR zone. The price varies depending on the region, where the cheapest tends to be in the Hame region, or in cities like Nokia or Hämeenlinna.
The cheapest stations in Finland are owned by Neste and Teboil, where petrol 95 ranges from 1,404 to 1,468 EUR per litre, 98 petrol goes for 1,494 to 1,542 EUR, whereas diesel fuel goes for 1,319 to 1,376. Naturally, there are stations where the price can be even up to 0.20 euros higher.
Grocery prices – general costs of living
Fruits and vegetables in Finland
| Product | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pineapple | 1,59 EUR | price per 1kg |
| Bananas | 1,69 EUR | price per 1kg |
| Apples | from 0,99 up to 3 EUR | price per 1 kg |
| Tomatoes | 3,99 EUR | for lowest class |
| Onions | 1.19 EUR | for lowest class |
| Carrots | 1.49 EUR | |
| Cucumbers | 4.49 EUR | price per 1 kg |
| Grapes | 6.49 EUR | price per 1kg |
| Oranges | 1,59 EUR | price per 1kg of lowest class |
| Potatoes | 1,19 EUR | price per 1 kg |
Dairy and meat in Finland
| Product | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 0.99 EUR | 1 litre |
| Butter | starts at 2,59 EUR | |
| 10 eggs | 1,59 EUR | M class, 0.15 per 1 egg |
| Aino Ice Cream (900 ml) | 4.49 EUR | |
| 1 kg of chicken breast | 12 EUR | price per 1 kg |
| Gouda Cheese | 10.99 EUR | price per 1 kg |
| President Cream Cheese | 6,99 EUR | 140 grams |
| Camembert Cheese (250 grams) | 4,85 EUR | |
| Sour cream | 1.29 EUR | 120 grams |
| Danone Activia yogurt | 1.79 EUR | 120 grams |
Drinks, beer and wine
| Product | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral Water | 0.50 EUR | 1 litre |
| Coca Cola | 2.65 EUR | 1,5 litre |
| Rauch Orange juice | 2,85 EUR | 1 litre |
| Carrot juice (fresh) | 7,59 EUR | 1 litre |
| Red Bull | 1.89 EUR | 250 ml |
| Karhu beer | 2.99 EUR | 0.5 litre |
| Martini Bianco | 11.99 EUR | 0,75 litre |
| Table wine (red) | 5,45 EUR | 0,5 litre |
| Ice Tea | 1.69 EUR | 1 litre |
| Absolut Vodka | 12.59 EUR | 0,5 litre |
Cosmetics, cleaning products
| Product | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antiperspirant Nivea Deo Spray | 2,79 EUR | |
| Old Spice shower gel | 2.59 EUR | 250 ml |
| Dove soap | 1.29 EUR | 100 grams |
| OMO washing powder | 4,99 EUR | 1,26 kg |
| Lotus toilet paper | 3.35 EUR | 8 rolls |
| Syoss Shampoo | 4.55 EUR | 0.5 litre |
| Nivea Shaving Cream | 4.35 EUR | 200 ml |
| Domestos Toilet Cleaner | 2.35 EUR | 750 ml |
| Elmex toothpaste | 2.65 EUR | 75 ml |
| Always pads | 2,29 EUR | 14 pads |
