In this section, you will find many useful information about the daily life in Helsinki.
The food
Comparing to the others European Member, the food in Finland is quite expensive and it’s common to buy only few things and have at least 30€ of shopping. After the rent is the main source of costs. The meat and the fish are very expensive in the supermarket and the fruits and vegetables also. The cheapest supermarket is LIDL. Although the price of the food is quite expensive, if you are careful and you manage it well, it would not be a problem. Some example of price: Milk: 1.50€, Meat: 5€ (500g), Tomatoes: 3€(kg), Cheese(3€/250g)…
The public transport
The public transport in Helsinki Region is quite good and you can easily go everywhere in Helsinki Region even if it can take time so take a book or something for distraction with you.
A Single ticket in Helsinki of one hour available from buses and trams cost: €2.80 and €1.40 for the children.
A single tickets In the Metropolian Area which include Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa are sold 4.50 € and 2.30€ for the children.
If you want a day ticket in Helsinki: the adult ticket for 1 day costs €8, for 2 days €12, for 3 days €16you divide by two the price of the adult ticket and you have the price for the children.
For a regional one: the adult ticket for 1 day costs €12, for 2 days €18, for 3 days €24 and divide by two.
If a controller ask your ticket and you don’t have it, you will have to pay a penalty fare of €80 and the price of a single ticket.
If you know that you will stay few days, the best option is to take a Helsinki Card which allow you unlimited free travel on buses, trams, metro, local trains and Suomenlinna ferry within Helsinki during the validity of the Card.
For further information about this card and is price go here. Students studying in Finland have great reduction and less 50% for all the trains in Finland!
This website is very useful if you want to know which bus or tram you have to take in Helsinki Area.
A Single ticket in Helsinki of one hour available from buses and trams cost: €2.80 and €1.40 for the children.
A single tickets In the Metropolian Area which include Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa are sold 4.50 € and 2.30€ for the children.
If you want a day ticket in Helsinki: the adult ticket for 1 day costs €8, for 2 days €12, for 3 days €16you divide by two the price of the adult ticket and you have the price for the children.
For a regional one: the adult ticket for 1 day costs €12, for 2 days €18, for 3 days €24 and divide by two.
If a controller ask your ticket and you don’t have it, you will have to pay a penalty fare of €80 and the price of a single ticket.
If you know that you will stay few days, the best option is to take a Helsinki Card which allow you unlimited free travel on buses, trams, metro, local trains and Suomenlinna ferry within Helsinki during the validity of the Card.
For further information about this card and is price go here. Students studying in Finland have great reduction and less 50% for all the trains in Finland!
This website is very useful if you want to know which bus or tram you have to take in Helsinki Area.
Alcohol in Finland
The alcohol industry is controlled and managed by the government with “Alko Oy” this brand is the only one authorized to sell wine and spirit in Finland. The supermarket can only sell Mild and beer beverages. This policy is the consequences of a hard consumption of alcohol from Finnish people. Finnish are not reputing to drink the most often but when they drink, they drink a high quantity of alcohol (an average of 1L each week). A recent study realized in 2006 putted alcohol number 1 is the cause of death for men and a close second for women in Finland. To resolve this problem, the government decided to increase the taxes in alcohol and having high price to reduce Finnish consumption, however Estonia became the new country for citizen to import alcohol from Estonia to Finland.
Concretely, for example a bottle of Vodka(1L) cost at least 20€, better look by yourself in Alko Website. Don't try to find strong alcohol in the Website, it's forbidden by Finnish law to put it.
A majority of people are going to Estonia by boat for 20€, I can recommend you Eckero Line company. The travel will take you 8 hours ( four to go and four to come back) but the alcohol is twice time cheaper than Finland and you can bring for an unlimited amount. You can also go there for others purchase and of course to visit, it's an awesome city (I recommend you to take a free guide, it will explain you the history of the city). Below find a map to see where is Finland compared to Talinn, the capital of Estonia.
Concretely, for example a bottle of Vodka(1L) cost at least 20€, better look by yourself in Alko Website. Don't try to find strong alcohol in the Website, it's forbidden by Finnish law to put it.
A majority of people are going to Estonia by boat for 20€, I can recommend you Eckero Line company. The travel will take you 8 hours ( four to go and four to come back) but the alcohol is twice time cheaper than Finland and you can bring for an unlimited amount. You can also go there for others purchase and of course to visit, it's an awesome city (I recommend you to take a free guide, it will explain you the history of the city). Below find a map to see where is Finland compared to Talinn, the capital of Estonia.