Working in Helsinki Finland
The capital and largest city in Finland, Helsinki has a population of about 1.4 million in its metropolitan area. Helsinki is in close proximity to many major cities in the Northern Europe, including Tallinn in Estonia, Stockholm in Sweden and Saint Petersburg in Russia.
Helsinki is the major economic, political, educational and cultural hub of Finland. The city experiences a humid continental climate where temperatures will usually fall below −20 °C at some point during winter and rise above 20 °C in the summer.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Helsinki Airport
Located about 15km from the city centre, Helsinki Airport is a facility of growing importance, accommodating increasing tourist numbers to Finland and as a stop-off for travellers en route to Asia. Helsinki has two airports, one for international flights and the other for domestic travel.
Several public transport options are available to travellers to and from Helsinki Airport. Visitors can use the Finnair City bus or shuttle bus services, or choose from several taxi companies when travelling in larger numbers.
Railway Station
Helsinki Central Station
A key landmark opened in 1862, Helsinki Central Station is the key public transport centre in the Finnish capital. About 200,000 passengers use the station each day for the VR rail network, metro system and bus depot. The station has 19 platforms with connections throughout Finland and to all parts of Europe.
Transportation
Helsinki has a strong public transport system that features trams, buses, a metro and rail service. The tram system is the most convenient option for travel around the city centre of Helsinki, while to reach the city’s outer areas the best form of transport is by bus. The metro crosses over the tram and bus network, starting from central Helsinki and extending to its eastern neighbourhoods. Local trains meet at Central Station and travel in three directions throughout the city.
Cost of Living
The cost of living for expats in Helsinki is average to high by western standards. According to online cost of living database Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $14.20 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $87.95 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $7.80 |
| Coke (330mL) | $2.80 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $1.40 |
| Loaf of bread | $2.80 |
| Eggs | $2.90 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $3.80 |
| Monthly pass | $63.80 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $2.40 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $1420 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $2620 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $25 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $220 |
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | $3200 |
Accommodation
Accommodation in Helsinki can be expensive depending on your standards. The city does have several budget hotels, a decent selection of mid-range hotels and some of the best luxury hotels in Northern Europe. A few options to consider include:
Budget
Rastila Camping
Stadion Hostel
Eurohostel
Mid-range
Best Western hotel Carlton
Helka
Hotel GLO
High-end
Hilton Strand
Radisson Blu Plaza
Crowne Plaza
Shopping
Like most things in Helsinki, shopping for goods of all types can be very expensive. The main shopping street in the city is Aleksanterinkatu. The street is centrally located and features several shops and the largest department store in Scandinavia, known as Stockmann. Another popular spot for shopping is the Kamppi area, while the suburbs of Vantaa and Espoo suburbs have large shopping malls. Some of Helsinki’s premier markers include Hakaniemi Market Hall, Hietalahti Antique and Art Hall and Hietalahti Open Air Flea market.
Emergency
Emergency telephone numbers
Police 100-22
Fire 112
Medical emergency 112
Australian Consulate, Helsinki
Ms Anja Aalto
Honorary Consul
C/- Tradimex Oy
Museokatu 25 B
00100 Helsinki
FINLAND
Tel: +358 10 420 4492
Fax: +358 9 492 225
Email: Australian.consulate@tradimex.fi
Insurance and Healthcare
Universal health care exists for residents in Finland, including for registered expats on a Working Holiday scheme. Health care conditions and facilities are considered very good in Finland by western standards.
On top of the compulsory health insurance requirements, expats in Finland can also take out private care, with a small range of services available for those willing to pay extra. Costs for private health treatment in Finland are comparable to those in Australia.
Despite a high standard of health facilities in Finland, DFAT recommends all Australians travelling to the country take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any overseas costs.