Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Turku and Kotka

For one person, living is cheaper in Kotka: $1,652 a month against $1,877 in Turku, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Turku, Finland
Kotka, Finland
Turku
🇫🇮 Finland
$1,877
/mo nomad
Kotka
🇫🇮 Finland
$1,652
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Turku and in Kotka

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Turku and in Kotka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,877 per month in Turku vs $1,652 in Kotka, rent included.

  • Turku $1,877
  • Kotka $1,652

A couple spends around $2,981 per month in Turku vs $2,550 in Kotka, rent included.

  • Turku $2,981
  • Kotka $2,550

A family of three spends $4,085 per month in Turku vs $3,449 in Kotka, rent included.

  • Turku $4,085
  • Kotka $3,449

Turku costs about 14% more than Kotka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Turku and Kotka sit above the global median – Turku by 38%, Kotka by 21%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turku
Kotka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.29 €14.60
$16.39 €14.69
-0.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 €90.5
$79.4 €71.2
27.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.34 €11.06
$11.11 €9.95
11.07%
Cappuccino
$4.68 €4.19
$4.50 €4.03
4.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.50
$1.84 €1.65
51.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.70
$1.26 €1.13
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.42 €8.44
$6.87 €6.15
37.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.60 €8.60
$9.80 €8.78
-2.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turku
Kotka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 €1.40
$1.02 €0.92
52.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 €2.21
$2.19 €1.96
12.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.68 €2.41
$2.67 €2.39
0.37%
Eggs
$3.70 €3.32
$2.91 €2.60
27.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.78 €6.97
$7.93 €7.11
-1.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.64 €13.12
$12.34 €11.06
18.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.82 €16.87
$18.70 €16.76
0.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 €2.50
$2.68 €2.40
4.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €2.00
$2.09 €1.87
6.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 €2.04
$2.23 €2.00
2.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 €3.90
$4.29 €3.85
1.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 €1.32
$1.15 €1.03
27.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 €1.43
$1.59 €1.43
0.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 €1.75
$1.95 €1.75
0.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 €1.63
$1.14 €1.02
59.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.15 €11.78
$10.49 €9.40
25.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.33 €13.74
$15.40 €13.80
-0.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.78 €3.39
$1.97 €1.76
91.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 €3.30
$2.82 €2.53
30.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Turku
Kotka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.61 €3.23
$4.29 €3.84
-15.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 €57.2
$57.3 €51.3
11.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.35 €7.49
$6.24 €5.59
33.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 €1.37
$1.47 €1.31
4.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.7 €58.9
$65.6 €58.8
0.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.37 €2.13
$2.03 €1.82
16.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K €33.1K
$36.4K €32.7K
1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K €34.0K
$36.6K €32.8K
3.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turku
Kotka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 €121
$135 €121
-0.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.01 €26.00
$28.69 €25.71
1.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.79 €19.53
$22.34 €20.02
-2.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turku
Kotka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.29 €38.79
$39.96 €35.81
8.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.99 €25.98
$18.16 €16.28
59.64%
Cinema Ticket
$20.86 €18.69
$15.97 €14.31
30.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turku
Kotka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$467 €418
$314 €281
48.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,398 €6,629
$7,394 €6,626
0.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turku
Kotka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.5 €85.6
$92.8 €83.2
2.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.99 €39.42
$41.07 €36.80
7.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €91.1
$103 €92.7
-1.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 €99.6
$45.34 €40.63
145.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turku
Kotka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$857 €768
$682 €611
25.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 €604
$567 €508
18.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,477 €1,323
$1,161 €1,041
27.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 €1,046
$886 €794
31.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 €3,741
$2,180 €1,954
91.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,810 €2,518
$1,396 €1,251
101.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turku
Kotka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,667 €2,390
$3,170 €2,841
-15.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.94
3.2
23.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Turku: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kotka: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Turku
$674
Kotka
$567 15.8% $107
Groceries & Markets
Turku
$371
Kotka
$327 12% $44
Eating Out
Turku
$308
Kotka
$285 7.7% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turku
$186
Kotka
$186 0.3% $0.6
Clothing & Footwear
Turku
$159
Kotka
$127 19.8% $31
Getting Around
Turku
$94
Kotka
$88 6.7% $6.3
Sport & Entertainment
Turku
$85
Kotka
$72 15.4% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $857 in Turku versus $682 in Kotka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Kotka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Turku versus $79 in Kotka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $327 – making Kotka the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇮 Turku
🇫🇮 Kotka
🕒 Local time
10:31 10:31 AM
10:31 10:31 AM
Same time as Turku
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
201,889
50,488
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Turku Kotka 260 km
From you
  • Turku
  • Kotka

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Turku vs Kotka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kotka cheaper than Turku?
Yes – Turku is pricier by about 14%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,816 per month in Turku and $2,478 in Kotka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kotka, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $682 there versus $857 in Turku.
Is eating out cheaper in Turku or in Kotka?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Turku and $79 in Kotka. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Turku and in Kotka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,877 in Turku and $1,652 in Kotka. That makes Kotka about 12% cheaper.
Is $2,500 enough for either Turku or Kotka?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,877 in Turku and $1,652 in Kotka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Turku or Kotka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kotka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Turku or Kotka?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Kotka is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 12% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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