Finnish Cost Of Living? (1 Viewer)

Am planning a one week trip in June. Please can anyone give me an idea of food/drink/petrol prices? Intend staying in hotels b and b so will need to allow for midday/evening meals albeit I don't eat much at midday, particularly when out bird-watching.
I do like a drink or three in the evening but appreciate that this could be something of an expensive luxury over there.


Ron

Ron

I have a Finnish colleague here in Paris and I sent her your post. Here's her reply:

Prices in Finland are almost the same as in Paris: Food in supermarkets is almost same price, gasoline is a bit cheaper (http://www.polttoaine.net/index.php?t=PK-Seutu)
Eating outside is more expensive in Finland, but quality of food is good. I recommend to try salmon and reindeer. Wine is more expensive in the restaurants, glass costs approximately 6 €, but beer and cocktails are cheaper than in Paris. Drinking in a bars is not that expensive if you’re used to prices in Paris 
These are a few nice restaurants in the center of Helsinki, which might be worth visiting:
http://www.asrestaurants.com/EN/restaurants/savotta/presentation.html
http://www.zetor.net/
All restaurants in Helsinki http://eat.fi/en/helsinki

To which I would add: Of course, some of these comparisons are with Paris - food is probably a bit cheaper in Paris than the UK, although this can vary according to product. Drinking in bars is almost certainly more expensive in Paris than the UK but wine in restaurants is usually cheaper.

Hope this helps.

David

DavidinParis said:

Ron

I have a Finnish colleague here in Paris and I sent her your post. Here's her reply:

Prices in Finland are almost the same as in Paris: Food in supermarkets is almost same price, gasoline is a bit cheaper (http://www.polttoaine.net/index.php?t=PK-Seutu)
Eating outside is more expensive in Finland, but quality of food is good. I recommend to try salmon and reindeer. Wine is more expensive in the restaurants, glass costs approximately 6 €, but beer and cocktails are cheaper than in Paris. Drinking in a bars is not that expensive if you’re used to prices in Paris 
These are a few nice restaurants in the center of Helsinki, which might be worth visiting:
http://www.asrestaurants.com/EN/restaurants/savotta/presentation.html
http://www.zetor.net/
All restaurants in Helsinki http://eat.fi/en/helsinki

To which I would add: Of course, some of these comparisons are with Paris - food is probably a bit cheaper in Paris than the UK, although this can vary according to product. Drinking in bars is almost certainly more expensive in Paris than the UK but wine in restaurants is usually cheaper.

Hope this helps.

David

Click to expand...

That sounds about right from my limited experience. One thing with the costs of eating out is that, apparently, it is not expected that you tip in Finland. This means that the costs are not necessarily as high as they at first look. They have some radical idea about paying waiting staff a decent wage or something, so tipping isn't really deemed necessary.

My colleague also pointed out that beer can be about €2 in student bars. I think she was speaking from considerable experience.

Hi Ron

I'll check current fuel tomorrow from bus to work but c.€1.45/l for 95 strength last I recall.

Food - Finns eat early...lunch is main meal and often taken around 1130h. Many eateries do a lunch menu which is between 6-9 € here in Tampere - soup or salad cheaper than main (usually includes salad buffet as well as hot course) Agree Salmon (soup and "meat") is good eatin'. Does mean restaurants can close quite early at night too...

Supermarkets are, I think, more pricey than you'll be used too.

If you are travelling around then let the ABC service station chain be your friend...

http://www.abcasemat.fi/en/

Not used b&b but hotels can be ok pricewise...loyalty cards and canny net surfing will be needed. Cumulus, Scandic are two main chains that cover most places you might be considering...an idea of where you are headed might be useful...

Drink is both pricey and restricted in supply. Anything over 4.7% is only to be bought in state controlled Alko shops which have limited opening such as not at all on Sunday...I pay €5 for a pint of Guinness in my local (you'll pay €6 'cos you haven't been "customer of the year" and earned a perpetual discount :0) Bring airport offer litre bottles if spirits are required...

Police: they will do you for speeding, they can (and do) random breath test particularly around the Mid-summer festivities...if you're gonna have a bevy and then drive next day...DON'T...or, failing that start early, drink moderately and stop early let it clear your system...bear in mind you are here when the sun hardly sets so early can mean 0300 starts, etc...

It's all true what they say about the birding being hard work...are you considering guides or planning to work alone?

More as and when you have questions

br
Mark

Thanks everyone. Paris is an interesting comparator. I live in Southport, used to live and work in London and had a long weekend in Paris last October.
Paris by far the dearest of the three places, this one way way the cheapest.
Paris worth it though for the ambience and the "splendour" but I prefer London of the two cities, more dynamic (and much cheaper plonk if you know where to go!). I wouldn't like to have to live in Paris even if I spoke French fluently.
Drinks in Paris were expensive particularly beer (lager) with wine and brandy a bit cheaper. I guess Finland will be lager and vodka. As long as I can get a decent "buzz" for a tenner or so.
Anyway, two of us have booked 4 plus 1 night into the Airport Hotel at Oulu and two nights in the Sokos Hotel in Kuusamo. Both places recommended by friends who went there last year. Need to hire a car.
I'm a video man , which is a much slower pursuit than snapping, and far slower than simply listing. Thus choosing a guide or not a bit problematical apart from some inborn resentment at giving somebody E200 for pointing out a few albeit very interesting birds.
Ideally it would be me and my mate or just me and a guide but that will surely cost a load. On the other hand being stuck with a noisy crowd of still photographers (and they are noisy!) does not appeal.
I guess I need to contact Finnature for some advice unless anyone can recommend alternatives.

Ron

I am not perhaps a good example, as my style of travel makes everywhere cheap, but I've been to Finland four times in the last three years and find it nowhere near as expensive as hyped. McMadd has already given petrol costs, and beyond that so long as you don't plan to drink every night, what is there to spend money on? A big country of open spaces and forests, all devoid of things to spend money on, just full of birds.

Bar owls, all birds are easily found without guides.

Fuel at €1.46 today so close enough with my recall!

One thing to add about cars is that you need to be aware of the limitations of the unmanned fuel stops you'll encounter...they only accept Finnish debit/credit cards...not having a car and not hired one lately I can't recall if they take notes or not but be sensible and fill up at ABC's or other manned stations just in case.

If you are in Oulu and Kuusamo then there are numerous trip reports with all the gen you'll need...I'd suggest that woodpeckers could also be a little more elusive as well as owls however...Bluetail picnic area Great spots accepted...

I'd suggest the guiding prices reflect the time and effort throughout the year to assess potential prey items and so likelihood of breeding numbers and then checking nest boxes or known natural sites once the season is underway...my first "boxed" Pygmy Owl came at the end of a long series of empty boxes in a poor year...

Here's a site for weather forecasts...

http://www.fmi.fi/weather/local.html?place=Oulu
http://www.fmi.fi/weather/local.html?Keywords=&station=2851&param=4&map=1&place=Kuusamo

Tarsiger you'll know I trust

http://www.tarsiger.com/home/index.php?lang=eng

Tiira is a bit like birdtrack but you need to create a user name and navigate the Finnish menus...have fun ;0)

http://www.tiira.fi/

Depending on workload nearer the time I may be able to query this database for species you are interested in but no promises...

One other thing to mention is the "skeeters"...as I recall from personal experience and also recommended by CAU on another thread like this..."OFF" is the brand of choice and will be required!

cheers
Mark

Haven't much to add to what McMadd wrote, but you can browse through recent records from Finland without registration through this link:
http://www.tiira.fi/index.php?toiminto=48
The abbreviation of the regional bird club is on the left, and the options are either "Aikajärjestys=temporal order" or "Systemaattinen järjestys= systematic order". The systematically ordered pages also show the scientific names of the species, so they'll be pretty easily deciphered if you know the scientific names.

Only interesting records from the past two weeks are shown (or from the past 30 days in Lapland). A record is considered to be interesting if the combination of date, number and region exceeds some pre-set limits (for example one Arctic Redpoll is not considered to be interesting in Lapland, but a wintering Chaffinch is, or a flock of 30 Arctic Redpolls).

Here are direct links to some intersting regions for foreign birdwatchers:

Oulu region:
http://www.tiira.fi/mielenkiintoiset_PPLY.html

Kuusamo:
http://www.tiira.fi/mielenkiintoiset_Kuusamo.html

Lapland:
http://www.tiira.fi/mielenkiintoiset_LLY.html

Entire country (but here the pre-set limits are stricter, and you can't see as many records as on the regional pages):
http://www.tiira.fi/mielenkiintoiset_Suomi.html