Compare countries · Finland vs Norway
Finland vs Norway
Finland(Europe)·
Norway(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Finland leads on 6, Norway on 4, 3 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Finland cheaper than Norway?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Finland at 69.0 and Norway at 83.7. Finland is about 18% cheaper overall.
Is Finland or Norway safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Finland scores 1.48 and Norway scores 1.69. Finland ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Finland or Norway?
On the UN Human Development Index, Finland scores 0.948 and Norway scores 0.970. Norway scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Finland compared to Norway?
GNI per capita runs $55,250 in Finland against $97,310 in Norway; people live 82.3 years on average against 83.2; Numbeo users rate healthcare 78 against 76. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Finland
69.0
Worse than 90% of countries
Norway
83.7
Worse than 96% of countries
Finland: 18% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Finland
21.9
Worse than 74% of countries
Norway
29.2
Worse than 88% of countries
Finland: 25% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Finland
1.48
Better than 95% of countries
Norway
1.69
Better than 80% of countries
Finland: more peaceful (1.48 vs 1.69).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Finland
73.5
Better than 83% of countries
Norway
66.7
Better than 72% of countries
Finland: higher perceived safety (73.5 vs 66.7).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Finland
0.948
Better than 94% of countries
Norway
0.970
Better than 98% of countries
Norway: higher human development (0.970 vs 0.948).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Finland
$65,884
Better than 86% of countries
Norway
$104,044
Better than 97% of countries
Norway: 58% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Finland
82.3 yrs
Better than 86% of countries
Norway
83.2 yrs
Better than 92% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Finland
77.6
Better than 93% of countries
Norway
75.8
Better than 86% of countries
Finland: better-rated healthcare (77.6 vs 75.8).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Finland
178 Mbps
Better than 75% of countries
Norway
176 Mbps
Better than 74% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Finland
86/100
Better than 97% of countries
Norway
93/100
Better than 99% of countries
Norway: freer press (93 vs 86 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Finland
7.76
Better than 99% of countries
Norway
7.24
Better than 96% of countries
Finland: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.76 vs 7.24).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Finland
603
Better than 84% of countries
Norway
613
Better than 90% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Finland
54.4
Worse than 93% of countries
Norway
70.6
Worse than 74% of countries
Norway: more pleasant climate rating (70.6 vs 54.4).
Deciding between Finland and Norway for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Finland profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Norway profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.