Cost of living in Finland — Finnish vocabulary

The everyday Finnish words for rent, bills, groceries and transport that newcomers, expats and YKI candidates actually need — with the norms that Finns take for granted and the numbers you can budget against in 2026.

Whether you are signing your first vuokrasopimus, comparing tarjous stickers at Prisma, or applying to Kela for asumistuki, this guide covers the four vocabulary sets that carry almost every money conversation in Finland — plus the etiquette and legal rules that surround them.

1. Housing & renting vocabulary (asuminen)

• vuokrarent
  Maksan vuokraa joka kuukauden alussa.

  I pay rent at the beginning of every month.

  Inflection: partitive (object of ongoing action)
• vuokrasopimusrental contract
  Allekirjoitin vuokrasopimuksen eilen.

  I signed the rental contract yesterday.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (completed object)
• vuokravakuus / takuuvuokrasecurity deposit — usually 1–3 months' rent
  Takuuvuokra on kaksi kuukauden vuokraa.

  The security deposit is two months' rent.

  Inflection: nominative (subject of on)
• vuokranantajalandlord
  Soitin vuokranantajalle vesivuodosta.

  I called the landlord about the water leak.

  Inflection: allative (-lle = to)
• vuokralainentenant
  Vuokralaisen pitää ilmoittaa muutosta.

  The tenant must report the move.

  Inflection: genitive (subject of necessive pitää)
• vastikehousing company fee — for owned flats
  Vastiketta maksetaan taloyhtiölle kuukausittain.

  The housing company fee is paid monthly.

  Inflection: partitive (object of passive)
• sähkösopimuselectricity contract
  Kilpailutin sähkösopimukseni netissä.

  I compared my electricity contract online.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative + possessive -ni
• vesimaksuwater charge
  Vesimaksu sisältyy usein vuokraan.

  The water charge is often included in the rent.

  Inflection: nominative (subject)
• kotivakuutushome insurance
  Otin kotivakuutuksen heti muuton jälkeen.

  I took out home insurance right after moving.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (completed object)
• muuttoilmoitusnotification of move — file with DVV
  Tee muuttoilmoitus viikon sisällä.

  File the move notification within a week.

  Inflection: nominative (imperative object — accusative form)

2. Groceries & shopping vocabulary (ruokaostokset)

• ruokakauppagrocery store
  Käyn ruokakaupassa joka lauantai.

  I go to the grocery store every Saturday.

  Inflection: inessive (-ssa = in / at)
• ostoskori / ostoslistashopping basket / list
  Kirjoitin ostoslistan valmiiksi kotona.

  I wrote the shopping list at home.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (completed object)
• tarjousoffer / sale
  Kahvi on tällä viikolla tarjouksessa.

  Coffee is on sale this week.

  Inflection: inessive (-ssa = in)
• alennusdiscount
  Sain alennusta opiskelijakortilla.

  I got a discount with my student card.

  Inflection: partitive (object of receiving)
• hintalappuprice tag
  Katso hintalapusta kilohinta.

  Check the per-kilo price on the price tag.

  Inflection: elative (-sta = from)
• kilohintaprice per kilo
  Kilohinta on halvempi isommassa pakkauksessa.

  The per-kilo price is cheaper in the bigger pack.

  Inflection: nominative (subject)
• kassacheckout / cashier
  Mene kassalle, niin maksan kortilla.

  Go to the checkout, I'll pay by card.

  Inflection: allative (-lle = to)
• kuittireceipt
  Pyydä kuitti takuuta varten.

  Ask for a receipt for the warranty.

  Inflection: nominative (imperative object)
• panttibottle deposit — 0,10–0,40 € returned at Palpa points
  Palautin pullot ja sain pantit takaisin.

  I returned the bottles and got the deposits back.

  Inflection: nominative plural (object of completed action)
• kanta-asiakaskorttiloyalty card — S-Etukortti, Plussa
  Näytin kanta-asiakaskorttini kassalla.

  I showed my loyalty card at the checkout.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative + possessive -ni

3. Bills, banking & Kela vocabulary (laskut ja Kela)

• laskubill / invoice
  Maksoin laskun verkkopankissa.

  I paid the bill in online banking.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (completed object)
• eräpäivädue date
  Eräpäivä on ensi maanantaina.

  The due date is next Monday.

  Inflection: nominative (subject)
• viitenumeroreference number
  Muista viitenumero laskusta.

  Remember the reference number from the bill.

  Inflection: nominative (imperative object)
• e-laskue-invoice
  Tilasin sähköyhtiön e-laskun verkkopankkiin.

  I ordered the electric company's e-invoice to my online bank.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (completed object)
• tilinumero / IBANbank account number
  Anna tilinumerosi palkanmaksua varten.

  Give your account number for the salary payment.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative + possessive -si
• verkkopankkionline banking
  Kirjaudu verkkopankkiin pankkitunnuksilla.

  Log in to online banking with your bank credentials.

  Inflection: illative (-Vn = into)
• MobilePaymobile payment app
  Lähetin vuokran MobilePaylla.

  I sent the rent with MobilePay.

  Inflection: adessive (-lla = by / with, means)
• arvonlisävero (ALV)value-added tax (VAT) — standard 25,5% since 2024
  Hinnat sisältävät arvonlisäveron.

  Prices include VAT.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (completed object)
• kela-korttiKela card — social insurance card
  Näytä Kela-korttisi apteekissa.

  Show your Kela card at the pharmacy.

  Inflection: nominative + possessive -si (imperative object)
• asumistukihousing allowance — means-tested, via Kela
  Hain asumistukea Kelasta netissä.

  I applied for housing allowance from Kela online.

  Inflection: partitive (object of hakea)

4. Transport vocabulary (liikkuminen)

• HSL-korttiHelsinki region transit card
  Latasin arvoa HSL-kortille automaatilla.

  I loaded value onto the HSL card at the machine.

  Inflection: allative (-lle = onto / to)
• kausilippuseason ticket
  Ostin kuukauden kausilipun AB-vyöhykkeille.

  I bought a one-month season ticket for zones AB.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (completed object)
• kertalippusingle ticket
  Kertalippu maksaa 3,10 €.

  A single ticket costs €3.10.

  Inflection: nominative (subject)
• juna / VRtrain / national rail
  Menen junalla Tampereelle.

  I'm going to Tampere by train.

  Inflection: adessive (-lla = by, means)
• linja-auto / bussibus
  Nousin bussiin rautatieasemalla.

  I got on the bus at the railway station.

  Inflection: illative (-Vn = into)
• raitiovaunutram
  Raitiovaunussa on ilmainen wifi.

  There's free wifi on the tram.

  Inflection: inessive (-ssa = in)
• polttoaine / bensafuel / petrol
  Polttoaineen hinta nousi taas.

  The price of fuel went up again.

  Inflection: genitive (of / possessive relation)
• autoverocar tax
  Maksoin autoveron tuonnin yhteydessä.

  I paid the car tax when importing the vehicle.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (completed object)
• ajokorttidriving licence
  Unohdin ajokorttini kotiin.

  I forgot my driving licence at home.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative + possessive -ni
• pysäköintimaksuparking fee
  Pysäköintimaksun voi maksaa sovelluksella.

  You can pay the parking fee with an app.

  Inflection: genitive-accusative (object of voi maksaa)

Cost-of-living norms in Finland

• Rent is paid on the 1st or 5th

  Most vuokrasopimus contracts set the due date at the beginning of the month. Late rent triggers a viivästyskorko (late interest) and, after repeated delays, notice.

• Deposit up to three months

  By law the takuuvuokra cannot exceed three months' rent. It is refunded after move-out inspection, minus any documented damage.

• Register your address at DVV

  File a muuttoilmoitus within a week of moving. Kela benefits, tax card, and voting rolls all update from that record.

• Bottle deposits add up

  Almost every bottle and can has a pantti of 0,10–0,40 €. Return them at Palpa machines in supermarkets for a coupon at the kassa.

• Cash is rare

  Nearly all payments are by card or MobilePay. Even flea markets and second-hand sales expect digital transfer.

• Kela covers the safety net

  Asumistuki (housing allowance), opintotuki (student aid), and sairauspäiväraha (sickness benefit) are all applied for through Kela's online service.