🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,967 in Vaasa versus $1,992 in Kettering.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,902 in Vaasa versus $2,630 in Kettering.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,838 in Vaasa versus $3,267 in Kettering.
🌍Living in Vaasa costs roughly 1% less than in Kettering, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vaasa43% above, Kettering45% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.30€14.02
$19.97£14.78
-18.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.6€74.5
$82.2£60.8
5.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.27€8.84
$10.96£8.11
-6.30%
Cappuccino
$4.98€4.29
$4.76£3.52
4.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15€3.57
$2.12£1.57
95.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93€3.38
$1.59£1.18
147.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.60€7.40
$5.92£4.38
45.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.32€8.02
$5.48£4.05
70.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68€1.45
$1.52£1.12
10.53%
White Bread(500g)
$3.31€2.84
$1.81£1.34
82.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.24€3.64
$2.74£2.03
54.74%
Eggs
$3.77€3.24
$4.08£3.02
-7.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.93€7.68
$9.68£7.16
-7.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.83€9.32
$7.36£5.45
47.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.56€21.14
$17.10£12.65
43.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74€2.36
$3.32£2.45
-17.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$1.63£1.21
57.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98€2.57
$2.84£2.10
4.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.71€4.05
$3.30£2.44
42.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.19£0.88
13.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$1.83£1.35
8.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.88€2.48
$1.20£0.88
140.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.78€3.25
$1.33£0.98
184.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.17€13.05
$24.21£17.91
-37.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.92€11.11
$10.24£7.58
26.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.14€2.70
$3.34£2.47
-5.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14€3.56
$2.13£1.58
94.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.10€1.81
$2.66£1.97
-21.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.31€35.54
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.45€10.71
$4.21£3.12
195.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35€1.16
$1.89£1.40
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$93.3€80.3
$24.09£17.82
287.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23€1.92
$2.03£1.50
9.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K€32.1K
$38.3K£28.3K
-2.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K€29.9K
$41.1K£30.4K
-15.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$267€229
$206£152
29.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.27€32.93
$16.72£12.37
128.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.85€34.29
$44.44£32.88
-10.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.78€34.23
$40.01£29.60
-0.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.85€15.36
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.29€13.16
$13.62£10.07
12.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$422€363
$1,480£1,095
-71.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.5K£11.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.7€71.2
$87.3£64.6
-5.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.27€20.02
$36.93£27.32
-36.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.0€61.1
$75.3£55.7
-5.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€112
$107£79.2
21.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$771€663
$1,088£805
-29.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$569€489
$892£660
-36.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075€925
$1,083£801
-0.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$822€707
$779£577
5.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,738€2,356
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,318€1,994
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaasa
Kettering
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,759€3,234
$4,332£3,205
-13.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
5.06
4.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vaasa: August 31, 2026
Last update for Kettering: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $771 in Vaasa and $1,088 in Kettering. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kettering pays 15% 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: $87.0 in Vaasa vs $82.0 in Kettering for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $301 per month, with Kettering cheaper across the board.
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
What is the total cost difference between living in Vaasa and in Kettering?
Vaasa and Kettering differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,967 vs $1,992 including rent). Vaasa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Where can you earn more: Vaasa or Kettering?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Kettering. 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: $771 in Vaasa versus $1,088 in Kettering. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Vaasa and in Kettering?
Shoppers in Kettering pay roughly 38% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Vaasa and in Kettering?
All in, you'll spend $1,967 per month in Vaasa versus $1,992 in Kettering – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Vaasa or in Kettering?
At $1,967 in Vaasa versus $1,992 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 in 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 1% less than in Kettering. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.