Working in Espoo, but where to live? Advice please!

Sarah79 · Post by **Sarah79** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:05 pm

My husband has a new job in Espoo, and we'll be looking to relocate within the next few months. Our big challenge is trying to find the right place to live, so I was hoping that if we give a bit of background you might be able to provide some advice.

We are in our early 30's, no children. We're looking for a 1-2 bedroom apartment, preferably in a small block near plenty of greenery/parklands/natural landscape. As we're moving from the other side of the world we'd like to be located in an area where there's things to see and do within easy reach - restaurants, cafes, bars, book stores... that sort of thing. We don't want to be isolated out in the suburbs. That said we're definitely past our partying days and do love the quiet. Also, we would prefer not to purchase a car so will be relying on public transport.

At first our monthly wage will be in the vicinity of $4,500 - $5,000 (gross).. until I find a job (I'm a teacher with an EU passport).

Our taste isn't expensive and I guess in the past we've tended to live in slightly bohemian type areas.

So far I've had 2 suggestions.. 1) Tapiola in Espoo, and 2) Kallio in Helsinki. What are your thoughts on these places?

Thanks in advance...

**Sponsor:**

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:06 pm

Sarah79 wrote:That said we're definitely past our partying days and do love the quiet.

and 2) Kallio in Helsinki. What are your thoughts on these places?

Kallio is nice when you like cheap beer and drunken people - not what you are looking for.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:17 pm

Sarah79 wrote:At first our monthly wage will be in the vicinity of $4,500 - $5,000 (gross).. until I find a job (I'm a teacher with an EU passport).

3500-3800 in local money, for anyone interested.

Sarah79 · Post by **Sarah79** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:11 pm

Upphew wrote:
Sarah79 wrote:At first our monthly wage will be in the vicinity of $4,500 - $5,000 (gross).. until I find a job (I'm a teacher with an EU passport).
3500-3800 in local money, for anyone interested.

Sorry, my bad, I meant 4500-5000 Euro.

cors187 · Post by **cors187** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:56 pm

Anywhere, its all the same.
There are exceptions where the exact streets, malls and squares may present the less than desirable street folk.

cors187 · Post by **cors187** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:02 pm

In summer its nice to be in a newer coastal apartment.
In winter its nicer to be around the keha3 or further from the coast.

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:11 pm

Sarah79 wrote:preferably in a small block near plenty of greenery/parklands/natural landscape.

Isn't whole Espoo just a huge park with some small houses?

OK it's not that extreme, but you would have a hard time finding any place in Espoo that is not near to a park.

Sarah79 wrote:As we're moving from the other side of the world we'd like to be located in an area where there's things to see and do within easy reach - restaurants, cafes, bars, book stores... that sort of thing.

Also, we would prefer not to purchase a car so will be relying on public transport.

That's not a problem.

I doubt you can judge on what you will like from the distance, and you will anyway have a hard time finding anything before you'll come to Finland.

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 6:13 pm

Public transport is excellent in the metropolitan area. Amongst the best in the world. You have nothing to worry about in that regard.

If you are a teacher, I believe you need to have a Masters Degree to teach in schools in Finland.

I think these days just a 1 bedroom flat will set you back over 800€ a month, even more the closer to Helsinki you get. Even where I live which is about 35km from Helsinki Centre, outside of the Metropolitan area, 1 bedroom flats can cost 800€ and more. Rents are really expensive in Finland. Maybe if you move out to the sticks somewhere you could get something cheap LOL.

And then you being foreigners, new to here, it could be hard for you to get a place to rent. Is there anyway your husband's employer can help in that department?

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Fri May 03, 2013 1:35 pm

Public transportation connections:
http://www.hsl.fi/EN/Pages/default.aspx

You apparently want something with good connections to the place where your husband works and to Helsinki center. To be on the safe side, preferably one that does not rely on changing from one bus to another. (rail traffic is reasonably punctual, bus that started its route half an hour or more earlier not so much). Your salary should be enough for almost all places. Finding an apartment while still abroad may indeed be difficult, so in the end you can't likely be very picky now.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu May 09, 2013 11:41 am

What I suggest is to
a) look at exactly where the office is.
b) look which buses stop nearby (if you're on the train/metro track you're lucky)
c) look when those buses run (so its not like the one bus on schooldays/direction)
d) look along the bus routes.
e) when you find a location look if its got a shopping centre and go on google streetview to have a peek.

If you are intending to stay on the public transport and not have a car... in Espoo

you really need to plan & plan & plan. And crosstown traffic sucks. And bus pass to another city costs, so even if theres a line in the map it doubles the ticket price.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu May 09, 2013 12:25 pm

Matinkyla is a high-rise densley populated suburban sprawl but it is quite close to the sea. Otherwise there is nothing to do there, just a mall with some fast food outlets and the usual stores like H&M etc.

Tapiola is a huge construction site at the moment, I would definitely avoid it.

I think Kallio is great. If I was moving into the city I would probably look for a place around there. Property is still under-priced for the location and it does have some character (unlike some other parts of what is basically a modern city). Younger, trendy, arty people are moving there and it has some nice cafés etc. The drunks are gradually moving out as rents increase and the whole area goes a bit more up-market. If you are looking for bohemian then it's pretty close. Also Punavuori but that will be more expensive.

If you don't have kids, I see no reason why you would want to live in Espoo.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Thu May 09, 2013 12:34 pm

Rosamunda wrote: I think Kallio is great.

Perfectly reasonable opinion as such, but it is not (for me either) the first place that comes to mind when somebody mentions greenery and quiet.

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Thu May 09, 2013 1:02 pm

Rosamunda wrote:I think Kallio is great. If I was moving into the city I would probably look for a place around there. Property is still under-priced for the location and it does have some character (unlike some other parts of what is basically a modern city). Younger, trendy, arty people are moving there and it has some nice cafés etc. The drunks are gradually moving out as rents increase and the whole area goes a bit more up-market.

The area around Hakaniemi is OK.

In the North, Kallio includes the Southern side of Helsinginkatu. Eastern Helsinginkatu is part of the area in Helsinki where people go for cheap beer (pubs are open from 9am (sic) to 2am), and there are also Thai massage salons (the Finnish version of a brothel) everywhere.

Liam1 · Post by **Liam1** » Wed May 22, 2013 1:48 pm

As previously mentioned Espoo is a bit strange as it is not really a city - more a collection of suburbs and smaller towns with a lot of forrest / greenery in between.
The official Espoo centre (Espoo Keskus) is not really that nice to live. If this is where your husband will work, it is quite well connected so that he can travel there and you live elsewhere.
We live in Ymmersta/Kaunienen border which is nice (1k from central park, 1k from shops at Kaunienen) and 20min by train into Helsinki centre (10 Min to Espoo Keskus) - however like most Espoo areas, local facilities are quite poor. Tapiola is nice in that it has more of its own centre so has more shops , some restaurants Mankkaa is also OK and close to Tapiola centre. Leppevaara and Matinkyla (some parts) are OK in parts and both have big shopping centres. There are nice parts on the coast as well Haukalahti Westend (both a bit pricey), Lauatassari (almost in Hki), Kivenlahti (bit cheaper but further out)

One point I'd make immediately is what Espoo has in terms of access to nature, it gives back in access to nice restaurants and independent shops. In both cases there are few and many are in / on the edge of shopping centres so not that atmospheric. However as mentioned Hki is near and if you don't have kids (no babysitters) going into the centre is very easy and the choice is greater there.

I'm sure that you have heard anyway, but most families have both parents working here. This means that living in more suburban areas may get a bit more lonely during the day as there are so few people around. Obviously not an issue if you get a job early.

Lord of Manchester · Post by **Lord of Manchester** » Sun May 26, 2013 9:53 pm

Sarah79 wrote:My husband has a new job in Espoo, and we'll be looking to relocate within the next few months. Our big challenge is trying to find the right place to live, so I was hoping that if we give a bit of background you might be able to provide some advice.

We are in our early 30's, no children. We're looking for a 1-2 bedroom apartment, preferably in a small block near plenty of greenery/parklands/natural landscape. As we're moving from the other side of the world we'd like to be located in an area where there's things to see and do within easy reach - restaurants, cafes, bars, book stores... that sort of thing. We don't want to be isolated out in the suburbs. That said we're definitely past our partying days and do love the quiet. Also, we would prefer not to purchase a car so will be relying on public transport.

At first our monthly wage will be in the vicinity of $4,500 - $5,000 (gross).. until I find a job (I'm a teacher with an EU passport).

Our taste isn't expensive and I guess in the past we've tended to live in slightly bohemian type areas.

So far I've had 2 suggestions.. 1) Tapiola in Espoo, and 2) Kallio in Helsinki. What are your thoughts on these places?

Thanks in advance...

Forget Tapiola, Espoo, Vantaa etc,they are basically suburban ghettos (despite) what anyone tells you and kallio do you carry a knife ? (the howls of anguish that will appear here within minutes of this posting) If you indeed have the stated pretax income plus the opportunity of earning more then you can basically choose where you want to live, Kaivapuisto is good as is Eira, Katajanokka, Kruunuhakka, and even Kuulosaari if you don't mind a ten minute metro ride

If you have a good income (it looks like i)t keep very central you can get 50 square metres for €1000 and remember if you live in town no train/bus fares etc and the out of towners will come to visit you (if only to brag "yeah I was in Helsinki yesterday", sorry I appear snobbish, but I've lived in many !"#¤% in my life and I know the differemce between a good are and a bad one !!

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