Few questions about moving to Helsinki

[Samael]

Hi,

Could you please help with the following questions about moving to Finland (probably Helsinki or Espoo).

1. Is there any special rules (including unwritten ones) as of how many rooms you should rent based on family size? For example in Germany for my family of three I had to rent at least 3 rooms apartment.

2. Numbeo.com says that four-person family monthly costs are around 2700€ without rent. So including rent it would be around 3700€-3900€. Let's consider a family of 4 (two adults, two small kids, one senior software development job contract), moving to Helsinki/Espoo. Based on glassdoor data, I should expect net salary around 3000-3500€. If all those numbers are valid then my question is - how to survive? And those are very basic expenses without car, travel, insurances, savings etc. Am I missing something?

3. I'm 15 years experienced software developer (C++), not an EU-citizen (living in Germany). I'm wondering which salary should I expect in Helsinki/ Espoo? Does 5000-5500€ sound right?

Have a good day. Thank you.

[betelgeuse]

Could you please help with the following questions about moving to Finland (probably Helsinki or Espoo).

1. Is there any special rules (including unwritten ones) as of how many rooms you should rent based on family size? For example in Germany for my family of three I had to rent at least 3 rooms apartment.

Not really.

2. Numbeo.com says that four-person family monthly costs are around 2700€ without rent. So including rent it would be around 3700€-3900€. Let's consider a family of 4 (two adults, two small kids, one senior software development job contract), moving to Helsinki/Espoo. Based on glassdoor data, I should expect net salary around 3000-3500€. If all those numbers are valid then my question is - how to survive? And those are very basic expenses without car, travel, insurances, savings etc. Am I missing something?

2700€ is more than the median disposable household income so people obviously live their lives with less.

https://findikaattori.fi/en/60

[FinlandGirl]

2700€ is more than the median disposable household income so people obviously live their lives with less.

The income requirement for a residence permit for a family of 4 is 2600 Euro net.
This is doable, but a really tight budget in Helsinki.

Let's consider a family of 4 (two adults, two small kids, one senior software development job contract)

If all those numbers are valid then my question is - how to survive?

When will the other adult master the Finnish language to find a job?
A low-end salary of 1500-2000 Euro gross added to your salary is the answer to your question.

3. I'm 15 years experienced software developer (C++), not an EU-citizen (living in Germany). I'm wondering which salary should I expect in Helsinki/ Espoo? Does 5000-5500€ sound right?

That sounds like a salary near the high end for a software developer, expect to earn less than in Germany.
"C++" is vague, you could end up getting more than 5000 Euro per month or end up getting no jobs offered at all - depending on what kind of jobs your skills match the written requirements.

[indianguy]

3. I'm 15 years experienced software developer (C++), not an EU-citizen (living in Germany). I'm wondering which salary should I expect in Helsinki/ Espoo? Does 5000-5500€ sound right?

5500€ is about 120k€ per year . that is a sr.director or above level salary. if you are exceptionally good in your skillset you may be able to demand that salary but very unlikely

[betelgeuse]

When will the other adult master the Finnish language to find a job?
A low-end salary of 1500-2000 Euro gross added to your salary is the answer to your question.

The answer is also in benefits like child benefits.

[FinlandGirl]

3. I'm 15 years experienced software developer (C++), not an EU-citizen (living in Germany). I'm wondering which salary should I expect in Helsinki/ Espoo? Does 5000-5500€ sound right?

5500€ is about 120k€ per year

Based on the other numbers this was a gross salary.
5000-5500 Euro gross are the mentioned 3000-3500 Euro net.

[Samael]

3. I'm 15 years experienced software developer (C++), not an EU-citizen (living in Germany). I'm wondering which salary should I expect in Helsinki/ Espoo? Does 5000-5500€ sound right?

5500€ is about 120k€ per year

Based on the other numbers this was a gross salary.
5000-5500 Euro gross are the mentioned 3000-3500 Euro net.

Thank you guys for all your replies.

I mentioned gross values. My wife is gonna start working right after we finally settle and kids start kindergarten. She is software developer as well so it won't take long time to find an English speaking job. Meantime we learn Finnish of course. So I hope one software development salary, let's say 55k gross a year, plus child benefit will be enough for some time. I see that public transportation in Espoo is quiet good to get by without a car first time.

Let me ask another question: I'm not EU citizen (but EU resident), I live in Germany now and I have a blue card. Can it somehow help me applying to Finnish residence permit? I know that Finland (as a part of EU) also supports blue cards but what is the process in case of having existing blue card? Unfortunately I can't find the workflow on migri.fi. Does Migri convert a German blue card into a Finnish one? Or that is the same process as I did not have it?

Thank you.

[betelgeuse]

Let me ask another question: I'm not EU citizen (but EU resident), I live in Germany now and I have a blue card. Can it somehow help me applying to Finnish residence permit? I know that Finland (as a part of EU) also supports blue cards but what is the process in case of having existing blue card? Unfortunately I can't find the workflow on migri.fi. Does Migri convert a German blue card into a Finnish one? Or that is the same process as I did not have it?

If you have had the German blue card for 18 months, it gives you the right to apply in Finland when normally you would have to apply from abroad. The application forms are the same.

https://migri.fi/documents/5202425/5790 ... 8en%29.pdf