So, you’ve packed your bags, and you’re ready to start living in Finland!
Not so fast!
Finland is one of the best countries to live in for many reasons, but it is not all sunshine and rainbows. Some things about living in Finland, Finland, just suck. However, simply being aware of the disadvantages of living in Finland can help you be prepared and view the bad things positively.
Not so fast!
Finland is one of the best countries to live in for many reasons, but it is not all sunshine and rainbows. Some things about living in Finland, Finland, just suck. However, simply being aware of the disadvantages of living in Finland can help you be prepared and view the bad things positively.
So, let’s get into seven reasons why you’ll hate living in Finland.
Reason 1: It can be challenging to make friends
Finns are generally not inclined to meet strangers and are not famous for their small talk or excellent ice breakers. Finns value their time, so they don’t want to waste any time unless there is something significant to talk about.
Also, the Finnish social scene is made up of very tight-knit social circles. People tend to have their established group of people they hang out with, and that’s it. Therefore, it is pretty difficult for strangers to join an established social group. Even Finnish people struggle with this — not just foreigners!
The positive side of this is that if you do end up making a friend, you’ll likely have a strong friendship for life. You just have to be outgoing, proactive, and take action yourself to make that friend in the first place!
Reason 2: Hard to find a job
In 2021, Yle News reported that Finnish companies suffer an all-time shortage of skilled workers but still won’t risk hiring employees from abroad. In 2019, a study showed that white Finns got the most job interviews from an applicant pool with equal backgrounds and language skills. It is simply a tough job market for foreigners living in Finland to crack into!
In another survey of 500 Finnish companies, about 40% of companies reported not being able to do business in English, which is not good for foreigners working in Finland. If you want to work at a Finnish company, you need to spend at least a year or two studying first to learn Finnish well enough.
While it is challenging, it is also very possible to get a job and be successful as a foreigner living in Finland. If you are searching for a job, you can discover hidden job opportunities in Finland using my friend Varpu’s Get Discovered course.
Reason 3: The Finnish language is challenging
If you plan to learn Finnish before moving to Finland, know that it is a tough language to learn. It is a Finnic-Ugric language utterly different from the significant Indo-European languages spoken throughout Europe.
There are two versions of Finnish to make things more complicated: the written language and the spoken language. Written Finnish is used in books, magazines, other written publications, and very formal situations. If you were to speak the written language in your regular spoken dialog, you would come across as very stiff and unnatural. So, it is essential to learn both, which can take a lot of time and effort.
If you are working on learning Finnish, you can get my FREE Finnish for Dummies Email course: Get my free 5-day Finnish course here!
Reason 4: High taxes
According to Finnish Taxpayers Association, Finland had the seventh-highest total tax rate in the OECD congress in 2020. Finland has progressive taxation, which means that the more you earn, the more you pay taxes. Finland also has high marginal tax rates, which takes a lot off your possible salary increase.
Of course, Finns get quite a bit in return for their taxes. Taxpayer money goes to benefits such as an inexpensive healthcare system and a free education system from primary school through master’s level at university.
Reason 5: Winter weather
Finland is generally pretty temperate and has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. However, winter is brutal.
Because it is located so far north, Finland gets very little sunlight in winter. Finland also experiences “pääkallokeli” or “skull weather,” which refers to weather conditions so icy that you’ll hurt yourself or break your skull.
To survive a Finnish winter, you’ll need to spend a lot of money on warm, high-quality winter clothes. That is because temperatures can be as low as -30 degrees Celsius!
But with the proper winter weather gear, there are a lot of fun winter activities to enjoy like cross country skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, and more.
Reason 6: High prices and high cost of living
According to stat.fi, Finland has the eighth-highest total price level of private consumption in the EU in 2020. Prices of goods are high, plus Finland has a relatively high value-added tax (VAT) of 24%. For example, if the cost of a product is $100, a Finn would pay $124 on this after the tax.
According to Numbeo.com, Finland has the twenty-first highest personal living index globally. The cost of living in Finland is high, but rent is actually about 39% lower than in the United States.
Reason 7: The awkward communication culture
Finns tend to avoid any unnecessary conversation. This means that it is hard to approach Finns, but the communication can also be challenging once you do. Many Finns choose not to speak, which can create a lot of awkward silence.
Because of this awkward communication culture, the dating scene can also suck. Even if someone is interested in you, dates can be full of awkward silence. This also leads to a lack of communication that creates problems later on in relationships.
Of course, the positive is low competition in the dating world. If you’re willing to put yourself out there, there are a lot of beautiful, intelligent, and awesome single people in Finland.
Bonus reason: The Finnish Smile
People always say that Finns never smile and look grumpy, but that’s not entirely true. Instead, you just have to learn to recognize the Finnish Smile — a pretty neutral resting expression.
What next?
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