Since I am American I am not sure what the average salary would be for a comfortable lifestyle in Finland. Our family would be moving to Lappeenranta so I don't think we would need as much as some places to live there. I have heard it is more expensive in Helsinki.
I lived in Lahti for two years and it seemed that you had to make at least 2000 a month to live in a clean average sized (2-3 bedrooms) apartment with a bit of fun money left over after bills and etc.
We are hoping to buy a house one day and would like to be able to have a good family life there.
Anyone have any info on what they think we need to make?
By the way, my husband is Finnish so please keep in mind we would come prepared, we just need to know what numbers to look out for in home prices and salary.
average income
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amberpatomo
Well "we" are two adults and two children. I have learned that I will still get my mothers pay and childrens pay so that will be around an additional 600 euros a month to what my husband makes. They base it off of income and we assume it shouldn't go down to much. I say this because we are hoping for another baby when we get there.
My husband has researched the mining industry and has found some reputable companies to work with. We are hoping they will offer something worthwhile.
We will not move to Finland unless we are sure of everything. One good thing is that when we sell our home here in the US we will have about 35,000 dollars in equity to take with us. So we will be secure at least for a while.
My husband has researched the mining industry and has found some reputable companies to work with. We are hoping they will offer something worthwhile.
We will not move to Finland unless we are sure of everything. One good thing is that when we sell our home here in the US we will have about 35,000 dollars in equity to take with us. So we will be secure at least for a while.
I am trying to figure out the same thing. My husband has a job opportunity in Tikkurila starting September or October, so the housing would have to be in the pääkaupunkiseutu--Vantaa, Espoo, maybe Kerava or Järvenpää, so the cost of housing will probably be higher than Lappeenranta.
How realistic is the 900 euros per adult, 450 euros per kid calculation that was posted above? --is this before taxes? Is this figure true for your family, those of you raising a family in Finland, or are you getting by with less, or does it seem that it is not realistic?
How realistic is the 900 euros per adult, 450 euros per kid calculation that was posted above? --is this before taxes? Is this figure true for your family, those of you raising a family in Finland, or are you getting by with less, or does it seem that it is not realistic?
This is a fairly socialistic country, which means that you get more from the government to pass by if your salary is bad enough. The more you earn, the more you need to finance the welfare state and don't get anything out of it. In the end everybody is then fairly equally well off. You will be getting more from the sate if you come along with many children. Some areas pay extra for a family with children. An example is Espoo that pays quite a bit extra per child per month on top of what the state gives you anyways.
For example, a family with two children: The husband earns some 2750 Euros a month that results in 2000 Euros after taxes. The wife does not work because the second child is still under 1 year old and she looks after both herself. The family has just moved to Espoo after years abroad, hence the wife gets only the absolute minimum unemployment money and child support on top that is like a mini salary for not bringing the children to state subsidized daycare. Together that is some 700 Euros tax free. Hence, they have together some 2700 Euros per month available after income tax. The weekly shopping for food, diapers, clothes, etc. amounts to roughly 200 Euros for such a family, which leaves in a conservative calculation some 1700 Euros for housing, energy, a car, and fun-related expenses that make your stay pleasant in Finland.
If your husband is imported from USA to work in Finland, I assume it is because of some special skill that earns substantially more than the average 2750 Euros of the previously described scenario. However, that could mean substantially less welfare payments to the mother who has no work permit. Well, I guess that should help you enough to estimate yourself how things will go. In any case, the salary sucks here when you come from any western country to Finland, but one can pass by without excessive consumption habits and with taking advantage of the welfare system as far as possible.
For example, a family with two children: The husband earns some 2750 Euros a month that results in 2000 Euros after taxes. The wife does not work because the second child is still under 1 year old and she looks after both herself. The family has just moved to Espoo after years abroad, hence the wife gets only the absolute minimum unemployment money and child support on top that is like a mini salary for not bringing the children to state subsidized daycare. Together that is some 700 Euros tax free. Hence, they have together some 2700 Euros per month available after income tax. The weekly shopping for food, diapers, clothes, etc. amounts to roughly 200 Euros for such a family, which leaves in a conservative calculation some 1700 Euros for housing, energy, a car, and fun-related expenses that make your stay pleasant in Finland.
If your husband is imported from USA to work in Finland, I assume it is because of some special skill that earns substantially more than the average 2750 Euros of the previously described scenario. However, that could mean substantially less welfare payments to the mother who has no work permit. Well, I guess that should help you enough to estimate yourself how things will go. In any case, the salary sucks here when you come from any western country to Finland, but one can pass by without excessive consumption habits and with taking advantage of the welfare system as far as possible.