Budget & Costs
What does Finland cost?
Finland is one of the more expensive travel countries in Europe — comparable to Scandinavia, but cheaper than Norway or Iceland. Prices are about 20–30% above the German level. Especially alcohol and dining out are costly. However, many things are free: hiking in national parks, wild camping (right of public access), berry picking, many museums.
Typical Prices (Guidelines 2025/2026)
| Item | Price (€) |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | 3.50–5.00 |
| Lunch (Lounas buffet) | 10–14 |
| Dinner in a restaurant | 18–35 |
| Beer (0.5l in a restaurant) | 7–10 |
| Beer (0.5l in a supermarket) | 2.50–3.50 |
| Supermarket shopping (1 day) | 15–25 |
| Hostel (dormitory) | 25–40 |
| Hotel (mid-range, double room) | 90–150 |
| Mökki by the lake (per night) | 80–200 |
| Glass igloo (per night) | 300–600 |
| Bus Helsinki–Turku | 10–20 |
| Train Helsinki–Rovaniemi | 30–80 (early bird) |
| Rental car (per day) | 40–70 |
| Dog sledding tour (2–3h) | 120–200 |
| Northern lights tour | 80–150 |
Budget Levels
Backpacker / Budget (€50–80 per day)
Hostels or wild camping, self-catering at the supermarket (Lidl, S-Market, Prisma are cheap), Lounas buffets at lunchtime (daily menu €10–14 including salad, bread, coffee), long-distance buses (Onnibus from €5!), free activities like hiking and berry picking. Finland has excellent hostels, and the right of public access makes free camping legal.
Mid-range (€100–180 per day)
Hotels or Airbnb/mökki, a mix of self-cooking and dining out, VR trains with early bird discounts, occasional guided activities (a dog sledding tour, a northern lights safari). The most comfortable way to experience Finland without spending too much.
Comfort / Luxury (€200–500+ per day)
Design hotels in Helsinki, glass igloos in Lapland, gourmet restaurants (Helsinki has several Michelin-starred restaurants), private northern lights tours, helicopter flights over Lapland, exclusive wilderness lodges. Finland can also be truly luxurious — and the quality is right.
Tipp
Finland's biggest saving hack: the Lounas buffet. At lunchtime, almost all restaurants offer an all-inclusive menu for €10–14: hot main course, salad bar, bread, butter, and coffee. Often the best and cheapest meal of the day.
Saving Tips
Finland doesn't have to be expensive if you plan wisely. Here are the best strategies:
- Helsinki Card: For 1–3 days (from €49). Free entry to 30+ museums and attractions, free use of public transport, hop-on-hop-off bus, and canal boat. Worth it if you visit 3 museums a day.
- Onnibus & Matkahuolto: Finland's long-distance buses are extremely affordable. Onnibus offers tickets from €5 (Helsinki–Tampere), Matkahuolto from €8. Early bird prices are the cheapest.
- Book VR trains early: The Finnish railway (VR) offers early bird tickets from €19 (instead of €70+). The earlier, the cheaper — book 2 months in advance.
- Self-catering at the supermarket: Lidl is the cheapest, S-Market and K-Market have good deals. Finnish bread (Ruisleipä) and cheese are cheap and delicious.
- Use the right of public access: Wild camping is legal and free. In national parks, there are free fire pits (laavu) and shelters.
- Alcohol in the supermarket: Alcohol is extremely expensive in restaurants. In the supermarket, you can get beer and cider (up to 5.5%). Wine and spirits are only available in Alko stores (monopoly, similar to Systembolaget in Sweden).
- Museum days: Many museums have free days or hours — check the websites in advance.
- Share a mökki with friends: A cabin by the lake costs €80–200 per night — shared among 4–6 people, it's cheaper than a hotel.
War dieses Kapitel hilfreich?
