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What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Helsinki

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  • Francois Bertrand

    I found a former Helsinki expat who had recently moved back to Brazil, so we swapped all the important need-to-knows.

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Relocating to Helsinki

About the City

Helsinki is located in the Uusimaa region of Finland, and with an urban population of 620,000 in 2014, it is the country’s largest city.

The origins of the city date back to the 16th century, when a trading port was established there by the Swedish King Gustav I. However, the town did not undergo major development until the 19th century once it had been annexed by the Russians.

Helsinki became the capital of Finland in 1812, as the previous capital Turku was considered to be too close to and too much influenced by Sweden. Finland eventually achieved independence in 1918, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.

Today Helsinki is a very attractive place to live, often topping league tables with its high standard of living. The capital is becoming increasingly cosmopolitan, with around 10% of the population having been born in another country. With a rapidly growing innovative technology sector, Helsinki’s prosperity looks set to last.

The Climate in Helsinki

Finland’s climate is affected by the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift, which bring warmth to the region. July is the warmest month, with temperatures averaging 17.8°C and maximum temperatures reaching as high as 33°C. January and February are generally the coldest months, when temperatures are around -4°C, with record lows dropping to below -30°C.

There can be snow as early as November and as late as April, but the majority of Helsinki’s snowfall occurs from December to March. In January and February, expats moving to Helsinki can expect to see over 20 cm of snowfall each month.

Helsinki’s northern latitude means that it has extremes of daylight hours, with days as short as 5.5 hours in the winter, and with up to 18.5 hours of daylight in the summer.

Finding Accommodation in Helsinki

Rental accommodations are expensive in Helsinki, but their quality is generally high, too. There are several areas of the city which are particularly popular with expats moving to Helsinki, such as Kallio, an up and coming area conveniently situated north of the city center. The majority of property available to rent consists of apartments. Houses for rental are harder to find, particularly in the city.

Generally, houses are for sale rather than for rental, and are more widely available in the suburbs and in the neighboring areas of Vantaa and Espoo, both of which benefit from good infrastructure for those needing to commute into Helsinki.

Why you'll love InterNations in Helsinki

19,583
Members in Helsinki
26
monthly events
20
interest-based groups
39
event hosts

and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!

Jul 2, 2025, 5:30 PM
5 attendees
Cafe Carusel offers again different live music groups all through July. 2.7 OSMO IKONEN & Carusel Allstars 9.7 LAGAYLIA FRAZIER (USA), Carusel Allstars feat TIMO LASSY 16.7 SOUL NIGHT: ANDERS VON
Jul 5, 2025, 6:00 PM
30 attendees
Join others also new in Helsinki and Internations. A smaller, cosier event that makes it easier to chat! Friendly faces. Social Evening. Enjoy a night out. Learn more about Internations from Ambassad
Jul 10, 2025, 6:30 PM
24 attendees
Join us for summer time after work drinks and conversation at the very trendy Last Drop Bar! This time on a Thursday. Right smack in the centre of town! Friendliest of bar tenders, charming outdoor
Jul 13, 2025, 11:00 AM
7 attendees
Thanks to the success of the last event, we're doing it again. We meet at the same place as before, then to lovely patisserie & boulangerie N'Avetta on the old Porvoo road (25km, 35 min). Next, I'

See all upcoming events for expats in Helsinki

Our Global Partners

  • 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.

Our Global Partners

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