Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaasa and Kettering Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaasa and Kettering

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,759 in Vaasa versus $2,125 in Kettering.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,611 in Vaasa versus $2,793 in Kettering.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,462 in Vaasa versus $3,461 in Kettering.

Living in Vaasa costs roughly 17% less than in Kettering, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vaasa 31% above, Kettering 59% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.25 €13.13
$20.04 £14.93
-23.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.8 €70.5
$82.8 £61.7
-1.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 €9.62
$10.76 £8.02
3.90%
Cappuccino
$4.28 €3.69
$4.55 £3.39
-5.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.87
$1.97 £1.47
10.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 €1.61
$1.38 £1.03
35.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.37 €8.06
$5.49 £4.09
70.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 €5.14
$5.45 £4.06
9.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.10
$1.15 £0.85
10.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 €2.17
$1.57 £1.17
60.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.04 €3.48
$2.06 £1.53
96.12%
Eggs
$3.26 €2.81
$4.22 £3.14
-22.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.11 €6.12
$10.19 £7.59
-30.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.10 €10.42
$7.30 £5.44
65.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.32 €16.63
$15.83 £11.80
22.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.13 €1.84
$3.26 £2.43
-34.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.75 £1.30
11.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 €1.68
$2.76 £2.05
-28.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 €3.27
$2.53 £1.88
50.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 €1.23
$0.99 £0.74
44.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 €1.39
$1.67 £1.24
-3.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.70
$1.03 £0.77
91.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.52 £1.14
28.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.60 €10.85
$16.31 £12.15
-22.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.84 €11.06
$10.88 £8.10
18.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.55
$2.54 £1.89
16.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 €3.36
$1.91 £1.42
104.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.20 €1.89
$2.69 £2.00
-18.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.57 €37.51
$87.3 £65.0
-50.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.00 €7.75
$4.15 £3.09
116.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.99 £1.48
-38.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$52.1 €44.86
$25.00 £18.62
108.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.14 €1.84
$1.97 £1.47
8.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.0K €36.2K
$38.0K £28.3K
10.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K €32.0K
$42.2K £31.4K
-11.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 €166
$255 £190
-24.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.71 €26.44
$16.52 £12.30
85.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.80 €19.63
$35.46 £26.42
-35.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.43 €33.94
$41.06 £30.59
-3.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.55 €15.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.90 €12.83
$13.51 £10.06
10.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$310 €267
$1,401 £1,043
-77.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,022 €3,462
$13.6K £10.1K
-70.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.2 €69.0
$74.7 £55.7
7.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.29 €20.05
$36.47 £27.17
-36.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 €78.7
$70.4 £52.4
29.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €90.9
$90.6 £67.5
16.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$764 €657
$1,070 £797
-28.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 €510
$878 £654
-32.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,136 €978
$1,069 £797
6.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$817 €704
$794 £592
2.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,739 €2,358
$5,477 £4,081
-49.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,347 €2,020
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,775 €3,250
$4,321 £3,219
-12.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.97
5.79
-31.43%

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

Last update for Vaasa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kettering: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $764 in Vaasa and $1,070 in Kettering. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kettering pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $82.0 in Vaasa vs $83.0 in Kettering. Groceries flip the comparison at $343 vs $284, with Kettering cheaper for home cooking.

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
Vaasa vs Kettering: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kettering cheaper than Vaasa?
Vaasa is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vaasa or Kettering?
On paper, Kettering earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Vaasa and Kettering?
Rent for a central apartment: $764 in Vaasa versus $1,070 in Kettering. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Vaasa runs roughly 100% less than in Kettering. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $310 in Vaasa versus $1,401 in Kettering. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Vaasa or Kettering?
At $1,759 in Vaasa versus $2,125 in Kettering, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Vaasa but tight or insufficient in Kettering. The gap between the two cities makes Vaasa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Vaasa or Kettering?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Vaasa or Kettering?
Safety-wise, Vaasa and Kettering are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Vaasa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Kettering. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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