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How is Life in Finland for Foreigners? A Brutally Honest Review

  • Writer: Pramesh Bajracharya
    Pramesh Bajracharya
  • Dec 26, 2025
  • 4 min read

How is life in Finland for foreigners?

Finland has a strange way of sneaking up on you. One moment you are Googling “cold countries with good education,” and the next you are standing in a S or K branded supermarket trying to pronounce maito while a Finn silently waits behind you, respecting your personal space.


People often wonder what it is really like to settle into this northern wonderland, not just to visit for a weekend of saunas and Santa, but to actually live, study, work, and build a life here. The truth is, Finland is somewhere between a peaceful paradise and why is the sun gone for three months, depending on the season and your vitamin D levels.


Foreigners arrive expecting icy weather and polite people, and they get both, plus a surprising amount of silence, a lot of paperwork, and a social culture that takes time but rewards patience. Whether you are moving for studies, work, or pure curiosity, Finland has its own rhythm, and once you learn to dance to it, it starts to feel like home.


So let us talk about what life here actually looks like for foreigners, the good, the quirky, the chilly, and the unexpected.


1. First Things First: Is Finland a Good Place to Live as a Foreigner?


Short answer: Yes.


Finland is safe, clean, organized, and allergic to chaos. The buses arrive on time. The people mind their business. The lakes look like Windows wallpapers.


But, and this is important, Finns are not big on small talk. Or medium talk. Or sometimes any talk.


If you enjoy silence, congratulations, you have found paradise.


2. Daily Life in Finland for Immigrants


Finland loves rules and forms, and online portals that require strong authentication, two-factor verification, and possibly your soul.


But once you get through the paperwork, you get:


  • Affordable healthcare

  • High-quality education

  • Clean air

  • Everything on-time except for employment which we will get to later


Finnish motto: We do not promise excitement, but we do promise stability.


3. Social Life in Finland: Quiet, Slow, and Surprisingly Warm Once You Crack the Ice


Let us be honest: Social life in Finland is like winter, it takes time to warm up.


You might experience:


  • Long silences

  • People avoiding eye contact

  • Neighbors who greet you after 2 years of living next door


But once a Finn lets you in, you are in for life. They will help you move, lend you tools, and sit in comfortable silence with you for hours.


Pro tip:Finnish friendships start through hobbies, and in the sauna.


4. Employment Opportunities in Finland


Employment is at an all time low at the moment in Finland. If you already found a job before moving here, that is like the best possible scenario. All you need now is a taste of our relocation and integration services to make the best of your life in Finland. But if you are planning to look for a job once you get here, we have bad news for you. 


While you will find a bunch of vacancies throughout the year, it is not easy to land a job as a foreigner in a country that majorly communicates in Finnish or Swedish. Language is only the beginning of the story as even Finnish people with their native language as Finnish have a hard time finding a job that they like. 


The positive thing is that once you get a job, it is stable, pays really well, and you get to enjoy a work-life balance unlike anywhere in the world. So, where do you start to look for a job? Here are the top job search websites to begin with:



5. Life in Finland for International Students


Finland is a dream for international students:


  • Free or affordable education

  • Modern campuses

  • Professors who treat you like a human

  • Student discounts that feel like magic

  • Endless coffee


You will experience:


  • Student parties during Vappu

  • Winter depression (sorry, it is real)

  • Midnight sun messing up your sleep schedule

  • Making friends from 20 different countries


And yes, you will learn to survive on noodles, rye bread, and Fazer chocolate. Want to know what the costs look like? Here is a detailed guide on the cost of living in Finland.


6. Pros and Cons of Living in Finland


Because no place is perfect, not even the land of saunas and silence.


✅ Pros


  • Extremely safe

  • Clean environment

  • High-quality education

  • Great work-life balance

  • Nature everywhere

  • People respect your personal space 


❌ Cons


  • Dark winters that test your will to live

  • Social life takes time

  • High unemployment rates

  • Cost of living is comparatively high

  • You will become dependent on coffee

  • Weather changes every 5 minutes


Final Thoughts: So, Is Finland a Good Place to Live as a Foreigner?


If you like peace, nature, equality, and the smell of fresh cinnamon buns, absolutely.

If you need constant social stimulation, sunshine, and spontaneous conversations with strangers, prepare for a cultural plot twist.


Finland is calm, quirky, and quietly wonderful. It will not shout for your attention, but it will grow on you like moss on a pine tree.


So pack your warmest jacket, your curiosity, and your coffee mug. Finland is waiting.


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