Average Cost of living

grmmph · Post by **grmmph** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:50 pm

Hey,
We are considering renting a flat from at the private sector at tampere, instead from TOAS.
I have seen some flats around the center (Tammla area) that more or less that same rent as TOAS, but I am not clearly sure from recent posts in the forum what is the extra living expenses we would have to pay for Gas, elecrtricity and Internet.

I have seen that the water is around 20e/per person, So I wonder how much will cost us a cheap internet access, and what is the average use of electricity and gas for a couple in Tampere, in a 30 sq/m flat?
Is there any other cost I should take into account?

Thanks.

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Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:55 pm

20e per nenä is a bit much for water. It's about 13e here. That's all we seem to use with a dishwasher and shower and drinking water etc.
Electricity for us is about 48e every 2 months. We never use the floor heating here, it runs the bill up so ridiculously fast. Especially with a 1000W computer and the vacuum etc. (It takes a long time to clean a big place) We always turn everything off from the wall every time we leave the apartment though, except for the fridge and freezer of course.
We pay about 30e for fiber-optic internet. You can get slower, for cheaper. Depends where you live. If you live on a new exchange the internet is cheaper, if you live on an older exchange the internet is slower and more expensive.

grmmph · Post by **grmmph** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:03 pm

Hey, Thanks.
What about the gas cost?
And there is any monthly tax on the flat or something like that?

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:11 pm

It is possible to get a gas line in urban Tampere(?)

Real-estate tax on an apartment house is paid by the housing company (makes a significant fraction of the monthly fee the apartment owner needs to pay). It is not a separate charge to the tenant.

grmmph · Post by **grmmph** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:26 pm

By possible you say no needed, so you heat your houses with electricity then?

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:28 pm

grmmph wrote:By possible you say no needed, so you heat your houses with electricity then?

Housing company heats the flat with something usually. It is quite rare for tenant to pay for the heating on top of the rent. But as Kutittaa said, you might pay for electric heating used in shower room. Which is good to use sometimes to get the floors dry. Keeps to mold away.

edit. sorry, no ill intentions with your name Kutittaa... I seem to got stuck to English mode after talking few hours.

Tiwaz · Post by **Tiwaz** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:30 pm

grmmph wrote:By possible you say no needed, so you heat your houses with electricity then?

We heat with pretty much anything which is not easily flammable and explosive.
District heating (hot water through pipes from heat plant), electricity (variety of methods), oil, wood... Most urban buildings run on district heating.

Gas has never been used in Finland beyond some extremely marginal areas. There are no pipelines for them, nor is there likely to ever become ones. Too risky.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:40 pm

Tammela area in Tampere... It would seem safe to assume heating costs are included in the rent (District heating, housing company collecting them as part of the monthly fee the owner pays)

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:57 pm

Tiwaz wrote:Too risky.

And by too risky, one should remember how it went when Ukraine and Russia had a little negotiation about the gas prices...

Tiwaz · Post by **Tiwaz** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:08 pm

Upphew wrote:
Tiwaz wrote:Too risky.
And by too risky, one should remember how it went when Ukraine and Russia had a little negotiation about the gas prices...

Well, that and show "Extreme makeover home edition" from USA has had those gaslines cut more than once, and then everyone running away and whole place being essentially in quarantine until guys from gas company finally manage to cut the flow and fix the pipe.

Big bada boom.

grmmph · Post by **grmmph** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:14 pm

Thank you all guys. Pretty much amazing that you don't have to pay for the heating.
So it's seems that total cost are around 60-80 a month for a couple in that kind of apartment.

I have also read that internet in Finalnd is a legal right. Is it affect the prices in any way?

Tiwaz · Post by **Tiwaz** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:19 pm

grmmph wrote:Thank you all guys. Pretty much amazing that you don't have to pay for the heating.
So it's seems that total cost are around 60-80 a month for a couple in that kind of apartment.

You DO pay for heating. It is simply included in monthly upkeep payment housing company charges from owners of apartments. Who, if they rent it to you, include that cost to your rent.

I have also read that internet in Finalnd is a legal right. Is it affect the prices in any way?

In your case no. House has already phonelines which can be used for internet access, which fulfills the right more than enough.
So if you want something special, it comes with cost.

To expand. You get internet, so you pay for it. Right to internet simply means that service providers cannot refuse to provide you one (at least if you are person paying bills and so on). Even if it means building line to arse end of nowhere where you live.
But still going to cost.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:20 pm

Internet might be a legal right but that doesn't mean it's 'everywhere' and it doesn't mean that you don't have to pay for it.

Add that 80e on top of food, rent, telephone bill, television bill, petrol for a car (or transport for busses etc). as well as extra in case of emergency.

grmmph · Post by **grmmph** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:36 pm

Seems reasonable.

Well I don't need a car, or a cable TV. Just a Phone subscription and food.
The thing is TOAS provies electricity, water and internet with the rent, so I just wanted an estimate about how much more expancive it will be on private sector.

Just for comparation, TOAS offered me a room with shower/WC and shared kitchen in the very central Tampere. 28 sq/m for 540e (includes all costs).
It's seems that I can get around Tammela a little bigger flat with my own kitchen for 500e(+all living expances it will be around 570e).
It is not THAT a big difference. Anyone can tell me why TOAS considered as so cheap?

Tiwaz · Post by **Tiwaz** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:59 am

grmmph wrote:Seems reasonable.

Well I don't need a car, or a cable TV. Just a Phone subscription and food.
The thing is TOAS provies electricity, water and internet with the rent, so I just wanted an estimate about how much more expancive it will be on private sector.

Just for comparation, TOAS offered me a room with shower/WC and shared kitchen in the very central Tampere. 28 sq/m for 540e (includes all costs).
It's seems that I can get around Tammela a little bigger flat with my own kitchen for 500e(+all living expances it will be around 570e).
It is not THAT a big difference. Anyone can tell me why TOAS considered as so cheap?

Because you are assuming living costs are cheap. Also, (TO)AS-apartments tend to come furnished. Is the other apartment furnished?
Student housing usually has fast internet, you have to shovel up around 20-30 euros a month for equivalent from open market.
Electricity depends on your use.

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