Possible to live off 2500 net per month in Helsinki/Kallio?

[peregrinus_fsr]

I'm an American expat that was just offered a position for 2500 Euro a month net in Helsinki. Kallio, from what I gather, is rather cheap compared to other locations near the city center, so I would be looking for a place to rent there.

My question is, would I be barely scraping by after paying rent, utilities, and for food? It's not an ideal salary starting out, but half the battle for me is simply getting a foothold in Finland. It would be fairly easy to transition to a better job simply because I'd be present in the city rather than coordinating job opportunities from Germany. Still, that might take a while, thus the question.

Would it be difficult to live comfortably off this salary for a few months?

[Pursuivant]

2500 net well if you don't start feeding your mule dollar bills dipped in cumin wine...

[Oho]

I'm an American expat that was just offered a position for 2500 Euro a month net in Helsinki. Kallio, from what I gather, is rather cheap compared to other locations near the city center, so I would be looking for a place to rent there.

25 hundred should be quite adequate. If I wanted, or could afford, to live near downtown Helsinki I'd be looking at places like Pohjois (North) Töölö or Pikku Huopalahti. Boring in comparison probably, but in the vicinity of Keskuspuisto (Centralpark) for outdoors recreation and odds are way more compatible with good nights sleep should that be your sort of thing.

[Oombongo]

If you are quite sure than 2500 is net you are getting then it is quite good.
You gotta know that salaries are low while expenses are high in here compare to US.

Why would you want to move to Finland where language is difficult to learn, everything is redonkulously expensive, economical future is grim thanks to idjits in Brussels and in parliment and weather is appalling for 350 days a year? (just being a curious christine)

[peregrinus_fsr]

If you are quite sure than 2500 is net you are getting then it is quite good.
You gotta know that salaries are low while expenses are high in here compare to US.

Why would you want to move to Finland where language is difficult to learn, everything is redonkulously expensive, economical future is grim thanks to idjits in Brussels and in parliment and weather is appalling for 350 days a year? (just being a curious christine)

Yeah, I negotiated 2500 net for the first six months, with a five hundred Euro raise at the end if everything is kosher.

Also, and I feel sort of like an awful American saying this, but nothing about the job requires a need to learn Finnish, as I'm being hired explicitly because I'm an American, and will be dealing with a North American demographic. I'll likely attempt to learn on my own time, but man, that's a tall order.

I'll be working in a very stable, growing field, and frankly, I really, really dig the cold and dark. While other people will be looking for high points to jump off, I'll be walking around, smiling like an idiot.

[betelgeuse]

That is over the national median wage (about 3k before taxes [1]) so it should be fine even in Helsinki.

[1] http://tilastokeskus.fi/til/yskp/index.html

[Alex.Sm]

I'm an American expat that was just offered a position for 2500 Euro a month net in Helsinki. Kallio, from what I gather, is rather cheap compared to other locations near the city center, so I would be looking for a place to rent there.

My question is, would I be barely scraping by after paying rent, utilities, and for food? It's not an ideal salary starting out, but half the battle for me is simply getting a foothold in Finland. It would be fairly easy to transition to a better job simply because I'd be present in the city rather than coordinating job opportunities from Germany. Still, that might take a while, thus the question.

Would it be difficult to live comfortably off this salary for a few months?

Well 2500 is quite good, of course the expenses in Finland are not like in US and everything depends on your standards and how you live your life.

The rent depends on the size of the flat and location, but let's say if you take a 2 rooms (50-60m2) flat the rent might be about ~800, maybe more maybe less depends on location. Other expenses like internet connection, mobile phone, water, insurance, electricity 100-150€/month (maybe more). Public transportation ~45€/month. If you buy a car, you will get more expenses like insurance, car tax, and so on. Food, this depends on you and can vary a lot depends on your preferences...

More or less 1500€/month for expenses and bills ...

[peregrinus_fsr]

I'm an American expat that was just offered a position for 2500 Euro a month net in Helsinki. Kallio, from what I gather, is rather cheap compared to other locations near the city center, so I would be looking for a place to rent there.

My question is, would I be barely scraping by after paying rent, utilities, and for food? It's not an ideal salary starting out, but half the battle for me is simply getting a foothold in Finland. It would be fairly easy to transition to a better job simply because I'd be present in the city rather than coordinating job opportunities from Germany. Still, that might take a while, thus the question.

Would it be difficult to live comfortably off this salary for a few months?

Well 2500 is quite good, of course the expenses in Finland are not like in US and everything depends on your standards and how you live your life.

The rent depends on the size of the flat and location, but let's say if you take a 2 rooms (50-60m2) flat the rent might be about ~800, maybe more maybe less depends on location. Other expenses like internet connection, mobile phone, water, insurance, electricity 100-150€/month (maybe more). Public transportation ~45€/month. If you buy a car, you will get more expenses like insurance, car tax, and so on. Food, this depends on you and can vary a lot depends on your preferences...

More or less 1500€/month for expenses and bills ...

Yeah, I'm aware of the disparity in living expenses from where I am now as compared to Helsinki. I did without a phone here since I arrived in Germany, and I'll likely continue doing so. I'll never need to drive, but yeah, internet certainly. I intend to live alone, and a one bedroom will be more than enough for me. I'm rather frugal, so I don't foresee making things too complicated for myself financially.

Also, eating out? Noooope.