Cost of certain food items in Finland

Valentin · Post by **Valentin** » Fri May 08, 2015 11:39 am

Hi, I'll be living in Finland for about two years as a student. The university is in Tampere - Hervanta, and I'd like to know if I need to stock up on anything like medication and food before going there.

If anyone knows the exact or approximate prices of any of the following food items and medications, or whether they are available in Finland, I would appreciate it if you could just tell me. Even if you just tell me the price of one of them, it's fine. If you're kind enough, please check the price for me next time you go past the item in the supermarket.

1- Marmite yeast extract
2- Chicken breast 500 gm
3- Protein Powder

4- Milk
5- Eggs
6- Sliced bread

7- Butter
8- Cereal box
9- Cracker Barrel cheese

Medication:
- Avodart
- B vitamins supplement
- Fish oil omega-3 supplement

Thank you very much.

**Sponsor:**

FinnGuyHelsinki · Post by **FinnGuyHelsinki** » Fri May 08, 2015 12:22 pm

You can check pricing from e.g. https://ruoka.citymarket.fi/ The food costs about the same all over, the place is one that delivers in the capital region, but it's close enough (price-wise). Just click "Tuotteet" drop-down menu on the top left. The products have pictures, so should be fairly easy to see what's what, of course there's an opportunity to pick up a few Finnish words while you're at it.

I don't see any point in bringing food items with you, unless a specialty that keeps well and you cannot get in Finland. And of course allowed to be imported, so check first to make sure.

Valentin · Post by **Valentin** » Fri May 08, 2015 12:29 pm

Thanks, I'll check the website. And of course I wouldn't be bringing milk and chicken with me. But things like Marmite and protein powder are not really hard to take with me.

Beep_Boop · Post by **Beep_Boop** » Fri May 08, 2015 12:48 pm

Looks like you're on a bulking diet

I get my whey online from MyProtein. I remember it's 8 EUR/Kg. Chicken is a bit expensive, a good breast is about 14 EUR/Kg

Valentin · Post by **Valentin** » Fri May 08, 2015 12:56 pm

Hahaha, not really; it's just more convenient for me sometimes to get my protein in the form of powder, so it'll mostly act as a food supplement. And thanks, I'll see what they have at MyProtein.

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Fri May 08, 2015 1:43 pm

You might want to bring Marmite with you. Could be difficult to find.

Valentin · Post by **Valentin** » Fri May 08, 2015 1:54 pm

Yeah, I think so too. I just hope it's not banned in Finland. I think Denmark and Canada banned it.

zetorpilot · Post by **zetorpilot** » Fri May 08, 2015 3:38 pm

Things like non-prescription medicines (ibuprofen, loperamide etc etc) are definitely worth bringing. They are much cheaper per dose in the UK that they are here. There are also large savings on vitamins and supplements. Germany is another very good place to buy these things.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Fri May 08, 2015 5:41 pm

Every time I go to the UK I buy Efalex in Boots at 3-for-2 and it works out at significantly less than half the price here. I also buy Bonjela and a few other over-the-counter meds. I don't wear contact lenses anymore but I think those products are also cheaper in the UK (as are prescription frames and lenses). I usually bring back a mega-bag of teabags (Yorkshire, whatever) as well and they last us for months, and they're not heavy to carry. I also buy horseradish sauce in the UK because it's hard to find here and cheese because it's nice to have something different but Lidl does a half decent Cheddar and a Red Leicester. Get a haircut before you board the plane too (approx 25e for a haircut here). It's maybe a bit stupid but, hey, why spend more than you have to? Dry cleaning is super expensive here too.

On the whole, I don't bring back as much stuff as I used to partly because (a) you can find most things here (and for you the current exchange rate is to your advantage) and (b) I've grown out of things like Twiglets and Cadbury's Creme Eggs and all that crap. And I make my own sausages now too.

Valentin · Post by **Valentin** » Sat May 09, 2015 9:04 am

Okay, thanks for the detailed answers guys. I'll see what I'll need to do.

Querfeldein · Post by **Querfeldein** » Sat May 09, 2015 8:21 pm

How much does myprotein charge for shipments to Finland? I have ordered from them before (in the UK), and can recommend them. They sell no-nonse products (none of dubious claims that tend to adorn supplements on the shelf) at very reasonable prices. If shipping charges aren't extortionate, I may well buy there again once I am in Finland.

On a similar note, there are a few items I found very expensive on my last trip to Helsinki compared to UK or continental supermarket prices, namely dairy alternatives such as soya / almond milk, soya cheeses, etc.

Admittedly, I only went to city-centre shops, not to any of the discounters or hypermarkets, but I remember paying almost €2 for a litre of soya milk, and saw "cheezly" cheese for close to €5 in one shop. Just out of interest, and in case you buy these regularly, how much do you pay for a litre of soya milk? Here in the UK, prices start at around £0.65, which is about €0.90, same as I paid in Germany, while a pack of "cheezly" cheese can be found for about £2.10, or €2.90, and less when it's on special offer. Places like Lidl seem to only list their special offers online - do any of the large supermarkets list their regular food prices?

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Sun May 10, 2015 6:41 pm

Querfeldein wrote:How much does myprotein charge for shipments to Finland?

http://www.myprotein.com/customer-servi ... ivery.list

Beep_Boop · Post by **Beep_Boop** » Sun May 10, 2015 10:39 pm

Upphew wrote:http://www.myprotein.com/customer-servi ... ivery.list

Yeah, the shipping is quite reasonable.
Most of the time I order with friends so we can get free shipping.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon May 11, 2015 12:57 pm

I don't know if I've ever seen cracker barrell cheese in Finland. In any case, if you see it its going to be more expensive than gold. As well as marmite. You can get it but in exotic shop with exotic stuff from exotic countries... So if you are used to some "brand" and insist on those your grocery bill will be astrological. Same with protein powder - its sold in weightlifting stores for guys looking like gorillas, not your corner shop...

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon May 11, 2015 8:12 pm

Querfeldein wrote:
On a similar note, there are a few items I found very expensive on my last trip to Helsinki compared to UK or continental supermarket prices, namely dairy alternatives such as soya / almond milk, soya cheeses, etc.

Admittedly, I only went to city-centre shops, not to any of the discounters or hypermarkets, but I remember paying almost €2 for a litre of soya milk, and saw "cheezly" cheese for close to €5 in one shop. Just out of interest, and in case you buy these regularly, how much do you pay for a litre of soya milk? Here in the UK, prices start at around £0.65, which is about €0.90, same as I paid in Germany, while a pack of "cheezly" cheese can be found for about £2.10, or €2.90, and less when it's on special offer. Places like Lidl seem to only list their special offers online - do any of the large supermarkets list their regular food prices?

Finland has 14% VAT on food so expect everything to be marginallymore expensive than the UK .

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