Canadian moving to Espoo/Helsinki

[Canadian_moose]

Thank you guys for the advice.

I have decided to move to Finland. After making further calculations I have realized that the lifestyle and public services were worth the lower salary for me. Public transport is affordable and efficient. Health care and education are by all comparisons very good if not excellent, and the proximity with other European countries, the diversity of cultural life (National Theater, Museums etc..) are all bonuses. Moreover, the greater Helsinki area has a plethora of public libraries, including a very decent collection of books in English. Yes, rent is expensive, but it most often than not includes heating and eve a sauna in some cases (I will be the envy of many friends in Canada for that alone).

See you soon Finland ! Now let's deal with the embassy people. : )

[betelgeuse]

Thank you guys for the advice.

I have decided to move to Finland. After making further calculations I have realized that the lifestyle and public services were worth the lower salary for me. Public transport is affordable and efficient. Health care and education are by all comparisons very good if not excellent, and the proximity with other European countries, the diversity of cultural life (National Theater, Museums etc..) are all bonuses. Moreover, the greater Helsinki area has a plethora of public libraries, including a very decent collection of books in English. Yes, rent is expensive, but it most often than not includes heating and eve a sauna in some cases (I will be the envy of many friends in Canada for that alone).

See you soon Finland ! Now let's deal with the embassy people. : )

From a Canadian perspective Finland can seem close to other European countries. However, due to the Baltic say going anywhere besides Saint Petersburg means taking a boat or plane. I envy the people who can take a train to many places. Still welcome!

[cors187]

I have realized that the lifestyle and public services were worth the lower salary for me.

Public services are only better to take the edge off the poor lifestyles.

[Canadian_moose]

Public services are only better to take the edge off the poor lifestyles.

Perhaps, though not everything valuable cost money and a consumerist lifestyle is neither needed nor wanted. I can understand that it is a difficult to grasp for some people today.

[llewellyn]

Well, to be fair, Finland, along with other Nordic countries occupies top places in pretty much every possible international survey: as societies go, the Nordic model is not too bad at all. Sometimes this endless grumpiness here gets on my nerves - yes, it's not a bed of roses but which country is? It can be very painful to live in a foreign country where many people are not overly communicative and have a bizarre gibberish as their native language which you would have to learn, in most cases, to get a job. Not to talk about bitter disappointments in love when the prince/princess turns promptly into a frog once on his/her native ground.

I guess in one particular way writers here have integrated well with the natives: you have learned to have a negative and pessimistic attitude and can't stand any positivity or encouragement...

[kharnynb]

I love living here, It just is that usually, the people who want to move here have rather unrealistic expectations.

Compared to northern America, you have a very different income/luxury idea here.
Even though your income will be lower, your actual after basics income will be very similar.
As you don't have to worry too much about health insurance and other such big worries as in the USA or even Canada.
In general, Finland does very well in basic liveability, but luxuries tend to be a bit less obviously present.

[network_engineer]

Just a quick note on the Stockmann part. Would be a bit misleading to say that it is always the most expensive, in fact, I find them to have good prices and good quality. My most recent experience? I needed a sleeve for my 11" laptop, preferably leather (don't ask why). Most of the luggage shops were expensive, close to 89 EUR and some even more 129 EUR. The rubbery material was about 39 EUR, and then some other shops had this fabric material - did not like either of these.

Stockmann, surprisingly, I found it for 41 EUR. Excellent branded leather product - just what I needed.

Same goes for vegetables, and sometimes even meat (fresh cut), cheaper than the market square. Shoes as well - at times.

[onkko]

In canada there is a moose, we have reindeer. total + for finland. Smaller mammal.

[Rick1]

After last week it might be better to mention you come from Alaska in certain IT environments

[Rick1]

Believe it or now, but one reason we are attracted to Finland is also the high taxation that allows quality public services (education, health, environmental protection etc..). We don't mind paying high taxes if it means lower poverty levels and better quality of life for most.

With the recent governments and EU influence it will mean high taxes and less services.

[Canadian_moose]

Well, one big worry for instance is public transportation. Aside from Montreal, public transport is either very expensive and unaffordable for many, and simply too inefficient for daily use. In Quebec electricity fees will be increasing by 60% for many households starting no later than January in the beginning of the Winter. Unlike Helskinki heating is never included in rents. Telecommunication services, train and plane transportations are an outright rip off all over the country no matter where you live. Aside from that I am sure Finland struggles with similar problems, high cost of living, unavailability of certain goods during the Winter, etc...But one major advantage Finland has, and perhaps many here have not traveled enough to notice or experience this, is that income inequalities is much much lower when compared to the rest of developed countries. Income inequalities is an important factor affecting multiple aspects of citizen's lives. One can check the work of Richard Wilkinson for that matter. Canada is a much better place to live than the UK or the US, but Finland does better in many regards, and income equality is one of them. I am sure the dynamics of being part of the European Union brings its share of constraints, but I am not sure Canada fares better as whole, especially now that the oil boom in Alberta has given birth to unpleasant, unplanned, uncared consequences.

[Canadian_moose]

With the recent governments and EU influence it will mean high taxes and less services.

I agree, but this is the case everywhere, including Quebec that is arguably the most left-leaning province in Canada, at least when it comes to providing public services to the middle-class. So-called Socialist party in France or their equivalent in Quebec are running austerity plans through and through.

[Rick1]

Got your point mr.moose but on the other hand too high taxes (on everything,especially if you can enjoy it)will put motivation down. Because Finns hardly complain in public it looks as a foreigner that whatever prices or taxes will be asked, the Finn will pay. I have seen hospitals for example but can ensure you that western europe is better in that respect. Also with your eating out, it becomes very quickly pricely with 24 percent taxes, for a family with two children you are not ready with 100 euro for a good dinner.

[Adrian42]

Also with your eating out, it becomes very quickly pricely with 24 percent taxes, for a family with two children you are not ready with 100 euro for a good dinner.

The VAT in restaurants is only 14%.

And the influence of the VAT on the prices in Finland is anyway overrated.
E.g. when I look at the differences in prices between Finland and my home country Germany, one factor is the lack of competition in Finland.
Another factor is the much higher level of the lower wages - 800.000 people in Germany are in legal full-time employments where they earn less than € 6 per hour (before taxes). A cheap haircut is simply not possible at German prices (under € 10) when paying Finnish salaries.

[Rick1]

Truth lies in the middle: Drinks 24 percent (also mostly the largest part with wineglass starting at 8 euro) and food 14 percent-

Also read this week an interesting article to put all the taxes 10 percent down and at the same time salaries (costs). They have my vote.