- Francois Bertrand
I found a former Helsinki expat who had recently moved back to Brazil, so we swapped all the important need-to-knows.
Canadian Expats Moving to Finland: Your Questions, Answered
If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in Finland, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in Finland. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.
What are the most common nationalities in Finland? As an expat in Finland, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in Finland currently are:
- Russians
- Indians
- Americans
- British
Which cities are most popular among expats in Finland? Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in Finland:
- Helsinki
- Oulu
- Pori
How much rent do expats pay in Finland? Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 915 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.560 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within Finland.
To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in Finland.
Average rent in Helsinki
- Single expats: 1.169 USD
- Expat families: 2.078 USD
Average rent in Oulu
- Single expats: 759 USD
- Expat families: 1.316 USD
Average rent in Pori
- Single expats: 572 USD
- Expat families: 928 USD
How safe is Finland? You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in Finland as very safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as very low. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) very low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very high.
How safe is Finland for women? Female expats rated the safety situation in Finland as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in Finland (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.
Meet other Canadians at our events in Finland
Attend our monthly events and activities for Canadians expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Want to meet other Canadians at our events?
Why Canadian expats move abroad (& how they like it)
Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our Canadian members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.
Meet other Canadians in Finland
Our Global Partners
Pursue your hobbies with amazing new friends
Do you want to continue with your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living abroad? There’s a variety of InterNations Groups you can join, including everything from sightseeing to hiking. These are run by dedicated Consuls with at least one activity each month, such as dinners in the cities finest restaurants, sports or outings with other expats to explore all that your new home has to offer.
Find other Canadians to share your hobbies with
Find Tips and Advice on Finland from Canadian Expats
Of course, expat living in Finland is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Canadians is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Finnish way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Canadians in Finland, residing in Helsinki, Oulu, Pori and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Canadians in Helsinki.
If you ever wish to have a chat in your native language, discover where to shop for Canadian food or discuss your favorite sports team's latest match, become a member of the Finnish InterNations Community:
- Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from Canada in Finland.
- Obtain and share insider tips in our Finland Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get maple pancakes in Oulu.
- Search the InterNations Places database for Finland to get information on institutions from your home country, including the Canadian embassy.
From the thousands of lakes and little islands to its beautiful birch forests and coniferous taiga woods, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly Canadian expats in Finland.
Join Our Expat Activities and Mingle with Fellow Canadians in Finland
Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Finland. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Finnish poronkäristys, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Helsinki’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see Finnish Lapland beyond the polar circle as well as other beautiful landmarks in Finland.
Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from Canada and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Canadians living in Finland!
- Francois Bertrand
I found a former Helsinki expat who had recently moved back to Brazil, so we swapped all the important need-to-knows.
- Maria Loura
Some information on InterNations helped me a great deal, and I'm sure other expats in Helsinki feel the same way.
