Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Finland Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Finland Property Pack
This guide breaks down what you can actually buy as a foreigner in Finland at every budget level, from $100k studios to $500k family homes.
We cover real neighborhoods, real prices in euros and dollars, and the hidden costs that most guides skip over.
We constantly update this blog post with the latest housing prices in Finland, so the numbers you see here reflect early 2026 market conditions.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Finland.
What can I realistically buy with $100k in Finland right now?
Are there any decent properties for $100k in Finland, or is it all scams?
Yes, you can find decent properties in Finland for around $100k (about 85,000 euros), but you will mostly be looking at small apartments in value districts of bigger cities or larger units in smaller regional towns.
The neighborhoods in Finland that give the best value for a $100k budget include Kontula, Mellunmaki, Vuosaari, and Jakomaki in Helsinki, plus Koivukyla and Hakunila in Vantaa, where prices per square meter in early 2026 sit between 2,500 and 4,000 euros.
Buying in popular or upscale Helsinki areas like Eira, Ullanlinna, or Toolo for $100k is nearly impossible because those neighborhoods command 9,000 to 12,000 euros per square meter, so your budget would only cover a tiny studio with significant compromises.
What makes Finland relatively scam-resistant is that real estate transactions require a public purchase witness to be valid, and apartment purchases involve official transfer tax filings and housing company share documentation, making "fake deed" fraud much harder than in many other countries.
What property types can I afford for $100k in Finland (studio, land, old house)?
For around 85,000 euros in Finland, your realistic options are a studio or micro-apartment of 18 to 28 square meters in the Helsinki metro area, or a larger apartment of 40 to 55 square meters in regional cities like Oulu, Tampere, or Turku.
At this price point in Finland, you should expect older buildings from the 1960s to 1980s, and you will want to budget for at least cosmetic updates like paint and flooring, plus pay close attention to the housing company's upcoming renovation plans (especially pipe renovations, which can cost tens of thousands of euros).
For long-term value in Finland at the $100k level, a small apartment near public transport in a city with strong job markets tends to be the safest bet because it attracts a wide range of future buyers, while old houses or land at this budget usually mean remote locations or heavy renovation needs.
What's a realistic budget to get a comfortable property in Finland as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the realistic minimum budget to get a comfortable property in Finland is around 200,000 to 250,000 euros (about $235,000 to $295,000) if you want to live in or near Helsinki, though this drops to 150,000 to 180,000 euros ($175,000 to $210,000) in cities like Tampere, Turku, or Oulu.
Most buyers looking for a comfortable standard in Finland typically need to budget between 200,000 and 350,000 euros ($235,000 to $410,000), which gets you a proper one or two-bedroom apartment in a well-connected area with good building condition.
In Finland, "comfortable" generally means at least 45 to 65 square meters, a building without major imminent repairs, good public transport access, and basic modern amenities like an updated kitchen and bathroom.
The required budget in Finland can vary dramatically by neighborhood, with inner Helsinki costing two to three times more per square meter than outer Helsinki or surrounding cities, so flexibility on location is the fastest way to stretch your euros further.
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What can I get with a $200k budget in Finland as of 2026?
What "normal" homes become available at $200k in Finland as of 2026?
As of early 2026, a $200k budget (around 170,000 euros) in Finland moves you from studio compromises into normal daily living, typically meaning a proper one-bedroom apartment in the Helsinki metro area or a comfortable two-bedroom in Tampere, Turku, or Oulu.
At this price point in Finland, you can expect around 30 to 45 square meters in Helsinki's value-to-mid districts like Kannelmaki or Malmi, 40 to 60 square meters in Vantaa or outer Helsinki, and 50 to 75 square meters in Finland's other major cities.
By the way, we have much more granular data about housing prices in our property pack about Finland.
What places are the smartest $200k buys in Finland as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the smartest $200k buys in Finland are in well-connected Helsinki metro areas like Kannelmaki, Malmi, parts of Vuosaari, Tikkurila in Vantaa, and Myyrmaki, or in strong "second cities" like Tampere's Hervanta and Kaleva edges, or Turku near universities and hospitals.
These areas in Finland are smarter buys because they combine good public transport links, steady rental demand from students and workers, and housing companies that tend to have clear, funded repair plans rather than surprise renovation bills.
The main growth factor driving value in these smart-buy areas of Finland is proximity to employment hubs, universities, and expanding metro or tram lines, which keeps demand stable even when the broader Finnish housing market slows down.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Finland. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
What can I buy with $300k in Finland in 2026?
What quality upgrade do I get at $300k in Finland in 2026?
As of early 2026, moving from $200k to $300k (from around 170,000 to 256,000 euros) in Finland gives you real choice, meaning better micro-locations closer to rail or metro, better building quality with fewer imminent repairs, and a higher likelihood of getting two bedrooms outside of prime Helsinki.
Yes, $300k can often buy a property in a newer building in Finland, especially outside the most expensive Helsinki postcodes, where newer construction from the 2000s to 2020s becomes accessible in areas like Vantaa, Espoo, Tampere, and Turku.
At this budget in Finland, you typically start seeing features like elevators in apartment buildings, updated bathrooms and kitchens, better energy efficiency, balconies or terraces, and buildings with healthier housing company finances.
Can $300k buy a 2-bedroom in Finland in 2026 in good areas?
As of early 2026, yes, $300k (about 256,000 euros) can buy a 2-bedroom apartment in good areas of Finland, though in Helsinki you will mostly find them in outer good areas rather than the inner city.
The specific good areas in Finland where $300k buys a 2-bedroom include Pasila edges, Pitajamaki, and Munkkivuori edges in Helsinki, plus Leppavaara and Matinkyla edges in Espoo, Tikkurila and Myyrmaki in Vantaa, and central areas of Tampere and Turku.
A $300k 2-bedroom in Finland typically offers 55 to 75 square meters in Helsinki metro areas and 65 to 90 square meters in other major Finnish cities, giving you a functional family layout with separate living and sleeping spaces.
Which places become "accessible" at $300k in Finland as of 2026?
At the $300k price point in Finland, neighborhoods that become newly accessible include Helsinki's "better-than-value" tier like Pasila edges, Pitajamaki, Munkkivuori edges, and Vuosaari waterfront-adjacent areas, plus more comfortable options throughout Espoo and Vantaa.
These newly accessible areas in Finland are more desirable because they offer shorter commute times to central Helsinki, better local services like shops and restaurants, more green space, and buildings that are often newer or better maintained than what you find in budget districts.
In these newly accessible Finnish neighborhoods for $300k, you can typically expect a well-maintained 1-bedroom or smaller 2-bedroom apartment in a building with an elevator, good transport connections, and a housing company with stable finances.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Finland.
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What does a $500k budget unlock in Finland in 2026?
What's the typical size and location for $500k in Finland in 2026?
As of early 2026, a $500k budget (about 426,000 euros) in Finland typically buys you 70 to 100 square meters (750 to 1,075 square feet) in desirable Helsinki areas, or 90 to 140 square meters in good districts of Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, or Turku.
Yes, $500k can buy a family home with outdoor space in Finland, though near Helsinki this usually means a rowhouse or terraced home rather than a detached house, while in cities outside Helsinki you can often find detached houses with proper yards.
At $500k in Finland, you can expect a comfortable 2-bedroom in many desirable Helsinki neighborhoods, a spacious 3-bedroom in Vantaa or Espoo, or a large family home with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 1 to 2 bathrooms in Tampere, Turku, or Oulu.
Finally, please note that we cover all the housing price data in Finland here.
Which "premium" neighborhoods open up at $500k in Finland in 2026?
At the $500k level in Finland, premium neighborhoods that become genuinely searchable include smaller units in Helsinki's Toolo, Punavuori, and Katajanokka, plus more comfortable options in Ullanlinna and Eira for buyers willing to accept some tradeoffs on size or floor level.
These neighborhoods are considered premium in Finland because they offer walkability to Helsinki's historic center, waterfront proximity, beautiful Art Nouveau and functionalist architecture, excellent restaurants and cultural amenities, and the prestige that comes with central Helsinki addresses.
For $500k in these premium Finnish neighborhoods, buyers can realistically expect a well-located 1-bedroom or compact 2-bedroom of 50 to 70 square meters in an older but well-maintained building, often with charming period details but potentially without an elevator.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Finland versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What counts as "luxury" in Finland in 2026?
At what amount does "luxury" start in Finland right now?
Luxury real estate in Finland generally starts at around 700,000 to 1,000,000 euros ($820,000 to $1,170,000) in Helsinki, where this budget can secure a prime location, newer high-spec construction, or waterfront views, while in other Finnish cities luxury can start as low as 400,000 to 700,000 euros ($470,000 to $820,000).
The entry point to luxury real estate in Finland is defined by prime micro-location in historic inner-city Helsinki, exceptional building quality with premium finishes, and amenities like private saunas, large balconies or terraces, secure parking, and waterfront or park views.
Compared to other Nordic capitals like Stockholm or Copenhagen, Finland's luxury threshold is noticeably lower, making Helsinki an accessible entry point into Scandinavian premium property for international buyers.
Mid-tier luxury properties in Finland typically range from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 euros ($1,170,000 to $2,340,000), while top-tier luxury in prime Helsinki waterfront locations like Kaivopuisto or Eira can reach 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 euros ($2,930,000 to $5,860,000) or more.
Which areas are truly high-end in Finland right now?
The truly high-end neighborhoods in Finland right now are concentrated in Helsinki's historic waterfront districts, specifically Eira, Ullanlinna, Kaivopuisto, Kruununhaka, Katajanokka, Punavuori, and parts of Toolo, where prices per square meter reach 9,000 to 12,000 euros in early 2026.
These areas are considered truly high-end in Finland because they combine historic architecture (often Art Nouveau), immediate proximity to the sea and parks, quiet tree-lined streets within walking distance of central Helsinki, and a concentration of embassies, upscale restaurants, and cultural institutions.
The typical buyer profile for these high-end Finnish areas includes successful Finnish business executives, senior professionals in law and medicine, international diplomats, and wealthy foreigners seeking a stable Nordic base, many of whom prioritize discretion, walkability, and classic elegance over flashy amenities.
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How much does it really cost to buy, beyond the price, in Finland in 2026?
What are the total closing costs in Finland in 2026 as a percentage?
As of early 2026, total closing costs in Finland typically run between 2% and 5% of the purchase price, with apartment purchases (housing company shares) at the lower end and house or land purchases (real estate) at the higher end.
The realistic low-to-high percentage range for most standard property transactions in Finland is 2% to 3% for apartments and 3.5% to 5% for houses or land, with the variation depending on whether you need legal help or, for non-EU buyers, a Ministry of Defence permit.
The specific fee categories that make up these totals in Finland include transfer tax (1.5% for apartments, 3% for real estate), title registration fees (172 euros), public purchase witnessing fees for real estate (around 120 euros plus travel), and optional legal fees if you hire an English-speaking lawyer.
To avoid hidden costs and bad surprises, you can check our our pack covering the property buying process in Finland.
How much are notary, registration, and legal fees in Finland in 2026?
As of early 2026, notary, registration, and legal fees in Finland typically total 300 to 3,500 euros ($350 to $4,100), with the wide range depending on whether you hire a lawyer and whether you are buying an apartment (simpler) or real estate (more complex).
These fees in Finland typically represent less than 1% of the property price for most transactions, making them a relatively small part of overall closing costs compared to the transfer tax.
The most expensive of these fees in Finland is usually legal help if you choose to hire an English-speaking lawyer, which can cost 1,000 to 3,000 euros, while the official registration and witnessing fees set by the National Land Survey are modest at 172 euros for title registration and around 120 euros for public purchase witnessing.
What annual property taxes should I expect in Finland in 2026?
As of early 2026, annual property tax for a typical house in Finland ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand euros per year, depending on the municipality and the taxable value of the property.
Property taxes in Finland typically represent 0.41% to 2.00% of the property's taxable value annually, with permanent residential buildings taxed at 0.41% to 1.00% and land taxed at 1.30% to 2.00%, depending on your municipality's rates.
Property taxes in Finland vary significantly based on location, with Helsinki and other major cities often setting rates near the middle of the allowed range, while some smaller municipalities set rates at the lower end to attract residents.
First-time homebuyers in Finland can benefit from a transfer tax exemption (no 1.5% tax on their first apartment purchase), though ongoing annual property taxes do not have similar exemptions for most buyers.
You can find the list of all property taxes, costs and fees when buying in Finland here.
Is mortgage a viable option for foreigners in Finland right now?
Getting a mortgage as a foreigner in Finland is possible but involves stricter requirements than for Finnish residents, with most banks requiring a valid residence permit, a Finnish personal identity code, and a local bank account before they will consider your application.
Foreign buyers in Finland typically face loan-to-value ratios of 50% to 70% (meaning down payments of 30% to 50%) compared to 85% to 90% LTV for Finnish residents, and interest rates in early 2026 generally range from 2% to 4% for variable-rate loans, though foreigners may pay a premium.
To qualify for a mortgage in Finland, foreign buyers typically need proof of stable income (ideally from within the EU), comprehensive financial documentation translated into Finnish or English, a valid residence permit of sufficient duration, and sometimes a Finnish co-borrower or guarantor.
By the way, if you want to go deeper, you can check our pack of documents related to the real estate market in Finland.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Finland compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What should I predict for resale and growth in Finland in 2026?
What property types resell fastest in Finland in 2026?
As of early 2026, the property types that resell fastest in Finland are studios and one-bedroom apartments near rail, metro, or tram stations and close to universities, because they attract the widest buyer pool of students, young professionals, and investors.
The typical time to sell a property in Finland in early 2026 is around 3 to 5 months in the capital region for well-priced apartments, with KVKL data showing used studios in the Helsinki metro area selling in roughly 98 days on average, though this varies by size and micro-location.
What makes certain properties sell faster in Finland is not just price but proximity to public transport hubs like Helsinki's metro stations or Tampere's new tram line, plus building condition and housing company financial health, since Finnish buyers are very cautious about upcoming renovation costs.
The slowest-selling property types in Finland tend to be large detached houses in remote areas far from employment centers, apartments in buildings facing major pipe renovations without clear financing plans, and older rowhouses in regions with declining populations.
If you're interested, we cover all the best exit strategies in our real estate pack about Finland.
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What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Finland, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics Finland - Prices of dwellings | Finland's official statistics agency with transaction-based data. | We used it to anchor realistic price-per-square-meter levels for apartments across Finland. We then translated those bands into what different budgets can buy in various cities. |
| Finnish Tax Administration (Vero) | The official source of truth on transfer tax rates. | We used it to calculate buyer closing costs at 1.5% and 3%. We kept the "beyond the price" math concrete and comparable across budgets. |
| National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) | The registry authority for secure property ownership. | We used it to explain how legitimate ownership is formalized in Finland. We outlined practical "safe buying" steps for foreign buyers. |
| Ministry of Defence | Administers permit requirements for non-EU/EEA buyers. | We used it to separate what foreigners can buy freely from what needs permission. We included real fees and timelines that foreign buyers should plan for. |
| European Central Bank | The official euro reference-rate publisher. | We used it to convert USD budgets into realistic EUR purchasing power for early 2026. We kept budget scenarios numerically consistent throughout the article. |
| KVKL (Finnish Real Estate Federation) | Industry federation compiling transaction data from agents. | We used it to estimate time-on-market by property type and city. We informed resale-speed expectations for different property categories. |
| Bank of Finland | The central bank's official statistics on lending rates. | We used it to frame what "mortgage is viable" means in current rate conditions. We avoided guessing based on anecdote. |
| Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority | The banking regulator overseeing mortgage lending rules. | We used it to ground the mortgage section in Finnish lending supervision reality. We supported "how banks think" about risk, LTV, and documentation. |
| InfoFinland | Official government portal for residents and newcomers. | We used it to verify neighborhood characteristics and housing search guidance. We confirmed practical information about the Finnish buying process. |
| Global Property Guide | International research firm tracking property markets worldwide. | We used it to cross-check price trends and rental yield data. We compared Finland's market dynamics to other Nordic and European markets. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Finland. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.