Moving to Finland: Housing options & real estate market for expats

Finding the right apartment is the first major challenge for many newcomers when moving to Finland. The Finnish property market – especially in the capital region – is characterised by a very low vacancy rate, stable prices and a variety of housing models that are often unfamiliar to foreigners. Particularly the high prevalence of cooperative and right‑of‑occupancy models, as well as the great importance of holiday cottages (mökki), fundamentally distinguish the Finnish market from Germany. In Finland, there is also no statutory rent brake; prices are generally negotiated freely between landlord and tenant. This guide provides you with a comprehensive overview of the various housing options, the most important legal framework of the Finnish rental market, as well as a current rental price overview of the main cities, to help you make your decision.

Unlike in Germany, where the choice is usually between a rental apartment (rented) and an owner‑occupied apartment (in your own land registry), Finland offers a wider range of housing forms. The best‑known models:

– VUOKRA-ASUNTO (RENTAL APARTMENTS): The classic rental apartment, offered either by private landlords, by cooperatives (asumisoikeusyhteisö) or by municipal companies. Municipal offerings often have years‑long waiting lists. Unlike in Germany, chain rental contracts with short terms are also common.

– ASUMISIOKEUSASUNTO (RIGHT‑OF‑OCCUPANCY APARTMENT): A hybrid form that does not exist in Germany. You pay a one‑time right‑of‑occupancy fee (asumisoikeusmaksu, about 15 percent of the market value of the apartment) and then a monthly, rent‑like fee (käyttövastike). This allows you to live more cheaply than in a pure rental apartment, without becoming an owner. When you move out, the deposit is refunded at current value.

– ASUNTO-OSAKE (COOPERATIVE APARTMENT/SHARE): Here you buy shares in a housing company that gives you the right to use a specific apartment. You pay a purchase price (often between 120,000 euros and 600,000 euros) plus a monthly fee (yhtiövastike) to the company. The model is similar to the German housing cooperative, but in Finland it is the dominant form of home ownership. The advantage: you can sell your apartment like a property, but are bound by the rules of the cooperative. In Helsinki, these cooperative apartments make up a large part of the housing stock.

For newcomers, the following are particularly suitable:

 

– SERVICED APARTMENTS (PALVELUASUNNOT): Especially in Helsinki, Espoo and Tampere, there are providers offering furnished apartments with flexible lease terms (from one month) as well as additional services such as cleaning, laundry and sometimes even breakfast – ideal for expats with company support before a permanent solution is found.

– SHARED FLATS (SOLUASUNNOT): A budget‑friendly option, especially among young professionals and students. In Helsinki, a private room in a shared flat costs between 400 and 800 euros per month. In Germany, shared flats are similarly common, but prices vary greatly by city.

– HOLIDAY COTTAGE (MÖKKI): A unique Finnish phenomenon: more than half a million Finns own a holiday cottage by a lake or in the forests. For expats, a mökki is the perfect way to celebrate Finnish nature and summer freshness – also available for rent. In Germany, there are comparable holiday homes (e.g., on Rügen or in the Black Forest), but the mökki culture is even more deeply rooted in Finnish society.

The capital Helsinki is by far the most expensive. A one‑bedroom apartment in the city centre costs between 800 euros and 1,300 euros per month, quickly exceeding 1,400 euros in prime locations such as Punavuori or Ullanlinna. The average price per square metre for rental apartments in Helsinki is about 22 euros to 28 euros/m². In popular districts such as Kamppi, Kallio or Töölö, prices are correspondingly high. Compared to German cities, Helsinki is cheaper than Munich or Frankfurt, but more expensive than Berlin.

Espoo and Vantaa are somewhat cheaper, but still expensive. A one‑bedroom apartment costs about 700 euros to 1,100 euros, with a price per square metre of about 20 euros to 24 euros/m². Many expats choose these regions because they are closer to workplaces and still somewhat cheaper than Helsinki itself.

Tampere, the third largest city in Finland, offers a balanced price level. A one‑bedroom apartment in the city centre costs between 600 euros and 900 euros per month. The price per square metre is about 15 euros to 20 euros/m². The cost of living in Tampere is about 10‑15 percent lower than in Helsinki.

In Turku a one‑bedroom apartment in the city centre costs about 550 euros to 850 euros per month, with a price per square metre of 12 euros to 18 euros/m². Turku is thus the cheapest of the larger cities.

In Oulu, Jyväskylä und Kuopio , a one‑bedroom apartment in the city centre costs between 500 euros and 750 euros per month, with the price per square metre often below 15 euros/m². In rural regions or in eastern Finland, rents are significantly cheaper at 400 euros to 600 euros per month.

In addition to the base rent, monthly utility costs (vesi, sähkö, lämmitys – water, electricity, heating) are payable – in Finland, heating is often included in the price, but not always. Budget an additional 50 euros to 100 euros for a one‑bedroom apartment. A flat‑rate internet connection costs about 20 euros to 40 euros per month. Heating costs in Finland are on average higher than in Germany due to the cold winters, but many modern apartments are very energy efficient.

RENTAL CONTRACT: In Finland, a rental contract can be concluded either in writing or orally. However, a written contract is strongly recommended. Most rental contracts are open‑ended (toistaiseksi voimassa oleva), but fixed‑term contracts (määräaikainen) are common, especially for students and short‑term rentals.

DEPOSIT (VUOKRAVAKUUS): The statutory deposit cap is a maximum of three months' rent; in practice, one to two months' rent is common. The deposit is placed in a separate deposit account (vakuustili) in the tenant's name. This is a major difference from Germany, where the deposit is often paid directly into the landlord's account in many cases. Upon moving out, the deposit is refunded plus interest, provided there is no damage.

TENANT PROTECTION AND NOTICE PERIODS: The statutory notice period for tenants for indefinite contracts is generally one month; for landlords, the notice period is three months (if the tenancy has lasted longer than one year). Compared to Germany, the notice periods for landlords are shorter (in Germany, the periods increase with the duration of the tenancy up to nine months). The landlord needs a valid reason (e.g., own use, default in payment, serious nuisance).

RENT CONTROL: Finland has no rent brake like in German metropolitan areas. The rent can be freely agreed as long as it is not "unreasonably high" (kohtuuton). The law is very vague here; there are no concrete comparative rents. In case of dispute, the court decides. In practice, this means the market is much more flexible, but also more prone to strong price fluctuations.

SUBLETTING: The tenant may not sublet the entire apartment without the landlord's consent. For subletting part of the apartment (e.g., a room), consent is generally required. Without consent, eviction may result.

For many emigrants, buying property in Finland is a desirable goal. Finland is one of the EU countries where foreigners generally enjoy the same rights as local citizens when acquiring property. For EU/EEA citizens, the purchase of property is generally possible without a special permit (with the exception of holiday cottages in certain restricted areas). This is a major difference from Germany, where EU citizens can also buy freely.

The most popular regions for property purchases are the capital region of Helsinki‑Espoo‑Vantaa, Turku and the lake districts in the east (e.g., the Savonlinna region). Property prices in prime locations are cheaper by European comparison than in Germany. The average purchase price for owner‑occupied apartments in Helsinki in the first quarter of 2026 was about 4,800 euros/m² (older buildings) to 6,500 euros/m² (new builds). In Tampere, prices are significantly cheaper at 2,500 euros to 4,000 euros/m², and in Turku even more moderate at 2,000 euros to 3,500 euros/m².

Moving to Finland requires careful planning regarding the apartment search, regional differences and legal framework. The Finnish model with its cooperative apartments (asunto‑osake) and the hybrid right‑of‑occupancy form (asumisoikeusasunto) offers interesting alternatives to the German rental and purchase model. Compared to Germany, rental prices in Helsinki are at a similar level to German major cities such as Cologne or Hamburg, while in smaller cities they are significantly cheaper. Ancillary purchase costs are lower in Finland than in Germany – a significant financial advantage. The right of public access (jokamiehenoikeus) also offers the opportunity to camp and hike in untouched nature – a degree of freedom that does not exist in Germany. KOCH Moving Logistics supports you with your move to Finland.