Finances for exchange students
In general, you should have at least €800-1,000 per month available for living expenses. This amount covers only the most essential costs, such as accommodation, food, local transportation and study-related expenses, and does not include leisure activities, travel or other personal spending. Please note that there may be additional costs at the beginning of your stay, such as housing deposits, residence permit fees, transportation cards or student union membership fees. Some of these costs are refundable, while others are optional.
The easiest and often most affordable way to manage your finances in Finland is to use an online banking service such as Revolut or Wise. These services allow you to make payments, transfer money and manage different currencies conveniently. Opening a Finnish bank account is usually not necessary for exchange students, as most daily transactions can be handled through international bank cards and online banking services. Please note that Finland is largely a cashless society, and card payments are accepted almost everywhere. Cheques are not used as a method of payment in Finland.
If you come from a non-EU/EEA country, you must demonstrate sufficient financial resources when applying for a student residence permit. The Finnish Immigration Service requires students to have enough funds to support themselves throughout their stay in Finland. Currently, you must have access to at least €800 per month to cover accommodation, food and other everyday expenses. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Finnish Immigration Service.
Living costs
The average cost of living for an exchange student in Turku is approximately €600-900 per month, depending on your accommodation, lifestyle and spending habits. You should budget for housing, food, local transportation and personal expenses independently during your exchange.
As a student, you may be eligible for discounts on student lunches, public transportation, sports services and many cultural activities. Membership in the Student union of the University of Turku is voluntary for exchange students, but it provides access to a student card and various student benefits.
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Student housing | 300-500 € |
| Food and groceries | 250-300 € |
| Local transportation | 40 € |
| Personal expenses and leisure | 100-200 € |
| Total | 600-900 € |
Please note that your first month in Finland may be more expensive than usual due to deposits and other one-time expenses.
In addition to your monthly living costs, you may encounter some start-up expenses when arriving in Turku:
- Housing deposit (depending on accommodation provider)
- Housing admission fee (if applicable)
- Public transportation costs
- Student Union membership fee (optional)
- Starting Package (optional)
The Starting Package for exchange students is 80 € and includes a 45 € deposit which will be refunded if all the items are returned clean and in good condition. This package contains some useful household items such as plates, cups, curtains, a pillow, a blanket etc. (This service is optional and only for the members of the Student Union.)
Student accommodation in Turku is primarily provided by the Student Village Foundation of Turku (TYS). Exchange students can apply for accommodation after receiving their acceptance letter from the University of Turku.
Housing options include rooms in shared apartments, single apartments and family apartments. Costs vary depending on the accommodation type and location.
Typical monthly rental costs are:
- Room in a shared apartment: approximately €230-250 per month
- One-bedroom apartment: approximately €290-450 per month
Student housing is generally more affordable than accommodation on the private rental market. Depending on the housing provider, additional fees such as a deposit or admission fee may apply. Always check the latest pricing and conditions directly with your housing provider.
Students can enjoy affordable meals at student restaurants across the campuses of the University of Turku. A subsidised student lunch typically costs around €3-4, making student cafeterias one of the most budget-friendly dining options in Finland. The student restaurants operated by Unica offer lunch options on and near campus. Menus are updated daily and include vegetarian and vegan alternatives. To receive the student-priced lunch, you must present a valid student card or other proof of student status.
Useful links:
- See the selection of student restaurants and their menus
- Read our student blog about student cafeterias
- Watch a video about student restaurants and grocery stores in Turku by our UTUambassador Tolga
- Browse lunch menus of restaurants in and around Turku
Eating out or buying groceries?
Most exchange students combine student lunches with cooking at home. While restaurants in Finland can be relatively expensive, student cafeterias offer an affordable way to eat on campus. Preparing your own meals and using student restaurants regularly can help keep your monthly food expenses manageable.
As a general guideline, exchange students should budget approximately €250-300 per month for food and groceries, depending on their eating habits and lifestyle.
The largest grocery store chains in Finland are K Group / Kesko (K-Citymarket, K-Supermarket and K-Market) and S Group (Prisma, S-Market and Sale). Both offer free customer loyalty programmes that can provide savings on everyday purchases. If you expect to shop regularly at these chains during your exchange, joining one or both of these programmes may help reduce your grocery costs. K Group also offers a separate loyalty programme designed for students.
Discount supermarket chains such as Lidl are also popular among students and can offer lower prices on many everyday grocery items.
Food prices change regularly, so instead of maintaining a fixed list of product prices, we recommend checking current information through:
- InfoFinland (general information on living costs in Finland): Cost of living in Finland
- The online stores of Finnish grocery chains (K Group, S Group and Lidl)
Many supermarkets offer discounts on products approaching their expiry date, often in the evening. Taking advantage of these discounts can be an effective way to reduce your food expenses during your exchange.
Turku is a compact and student-friendly city. Walking and cycling are common ways to travel between campus, student housing and the city centre. Many student residences are located within walking or cycling distance of the university campuses.
For longer journeys, students can use local buses, trains, long-distance coaches and ferries. More information on transportation options is available on the University of Turku website: Getting to and around Turku.
Föli operates public transportation in Turku and the surrounding municipalities.
- A single bus ticket costs €3.15 when purchased via the Föli app or by contactless payment. Cash payments are still accepted on buses, but the ticket costs €4.50 when purchased from the driver. Single tickets are valid for 2 hours, including transfers.
- Students who travel regularly can purchase a student-priced travel card, which currently costs €40 for 30 days of unlimited travel within the Föli area.
- Students under the age of 20 are eligible for the same discounted fare through a youth travel card.
- Student discounts are available to exchange students who meet Föli's eligibility requirements and can verify their student status.
Cycling is one of the most popular ways to get around Turku. The city has an extensive network of cycle paths, and many students choose to buy or rent a bicycle during their exchange.
Students can also use:
- Fölläri city bikes, available from spring to autumn. A season pass is an affordable option for students planning to cycle regularly, while short-term passes are also available for visitors.
- Shared electric scooters, operated by several companies such as Voi, Tier and Ryde. Scooter prices vary by provider, but users typically pay a small unlocking fee (approximately €1) plus a per-minute charge (approximately €0.15-0.30 per minute). Monthly subscriptions and discount packages may also be available.
Students who regularly use shared e-scooters should note that costs can accumulate quickly. For example, a 15-minute scooter ride may cost around €3-6, making scooters convenient for occasional trips but usually more expensive than public transportation or cycling.
Study costs
There are no tuition fees for exchange students studying at the University of Turku through a student exchange agreement.
Most required course materials can be borrowed from the university libraries. If the library only has few copies of a book, you may need to acquire the material some other way, such as buying it from a bookstore or second-hand.
Membership in the Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY) is voluntary for exchange students. The membership fee is 54€ for the whole academic year or 27€ for one semester.
Membership provides:
- A digital student card
- Access to student discounts
- Student-priced lunches
- Student events and activities
- Other local and national student benefits
The student card is available on the Tuudo App which you can download after paying the Student Union Membership fee. It will take few days before your payment information is transferred from the UTU study register to Tuudo.
Some international students work part-time during their studies in Finland. However, exchange students should not rely on finding employment to finance their exchange period.
Finding a job often requires initiative, flexibility and, in many cases, Finnish language skills. Short exchange periods can also make job searching more challenging. Campus-based jobs are relatively uncommon.
Students interested in part-time work can make use of career services, job portals and local employment resources available in Turku. The links below provide information about employment opportunities, career development and job searching in Finland.
The Career Services of the University of Turku advises and assists you at key stages of the job-seeking process. City of Turku also provides help and information for job-seekers.
- Public employment and business services
- Osaamispiste in Turku - knowledge centre for immigrants
- Careers in Southwest Finland (Job openings where Finnish language skills are not mandatory)
- How to Get a Part-time Job as an International Student in Turku? (A blog post written by our student Tianrui)
- Unlock your potential - How UTU Career Services can help you (A blog post written by our student Oshani)
- My story: How Strategic Volunteering Paved the Way to a Career at the University of Turku (A blog post written by our student Kristaps)
Free-Time Activities and Travelling
Student life at the University of Turku offers plenty of opportunities to meet new people, explore Finnish culture and make the most of your exchange experience.
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN Uni Turku) organises activities throughout the semester, including welcome events, trips, international dinners, sports activities, parties and cultural excursions. Participating in ESN activities is an affordable and popular way to meet other exchange students, travel around Finland and build an international network.
The Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY), student organisations and subject associations also organise a wide variety of events, excursions, parties, cultural activities and recreational opportunities throughout the academic year. Exchange students are welcome to participate in many of these activities, regardless of their field of study.
Students can benefit from discounts on many leisure and cultural activities in Finland, including:
- Museums
- Theatre and cinema tickets
- Concerts and cultural events
- Sports facilities and fitness centres
- Public transportation and long-distance travel
- Student restaurants and cafeterias
Discount availability varies by provider, and students may be asked to present a valid student card. Some discounts are available only to members of a Finnish student union, while others are available to all higher education students.
To discover current student benefits and discounts, see:
- Frank student benefits
- Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY)
- CampusSport: The CampusSport fee for the whole Academic Year is 87 € and 57 € for one semester. Also possible to get 30 days for 23 €.
Turku also offers a wide range of free or low-cost activities, including outdoor recreation areas, beaches, parks, public events and festivals. The nearby archipelago, riverfront area and nature trails provide excellent opportunities for exploring Finnish nature on a student budget.
Turku's location makes it easy to visit other parts of Finland during your exchange. Finland's rail and coach networks provide convenient connections to major cities and regions across the country.
Popular destinations include:
- Helsinki (approximately 2 hours by train or bus)
- Tampere (approximately 1 hour 45 minutes by train or bus)
- Rauma, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its well-preserved wooden old town
- Porvoo, one of Finland's oldest towns, famous for its historic riverside warehouses
- Lapland, particularly during the winter season for northern lights, winter sports and Arctic experiences
Travel costs vary depending on the season and how early tickets are booked. Students can often find affordable train and coach tickets by booking in advance. The main providers of long-distance travel in Finland are VR (Finnish Railways), Onnibus and Matkahuolto. Students may also be eligible for discounts on train and coach travel with a valid student card.
Many exchange students also travel to neighbouring countries during weekends, holidays and semester breaks.
From Turku, you can easily reach:
- Stockholm, Sweden by ferry (overnight and daytime crossings are available)
- Tallinn, Estonia by ferry via Helsinki
- Other Nordic and Baltic destinations through regional flight, ferry and rail connections
Ferry cruises between Finland and Sweden are particularly popular among students and often feature special promotions, group offers and discounted prices during off-peak periods. Day cruises and overnight cruises can be an affordable way to visit Stockholm and experience the Finnish and Swedish archipelagos.
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and other student organisations also arrange trips and excursions within Finland and abroad. These organised trips can be a convenient and cost-effective way to explore new destinations together with other international students.
While travelling can be one of the highlights of an exchange experience, it can also significantly increase your overall expenses. If you are planning to travel frequently during your exchange, it is advisable to budget additional funds beyond your basic monthly living costs. Checking student discounts, booking tickets early and travelling outside peak seasons can help keep costs manageable.