Estonia is a country of lakes, rivers, hills, forests and a 2,361 mile coastline. There are hundreds of islands and islets along Estonia’s coast but only ten have permanent human settlements on them. The country has an extremely interesting seafaring history which few people know about. Estonia gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and is now extremely popular with digital nomads due to its affordability and low tax rates.
If you are considering moving to Estonia, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in this part of the world.
Quick Estonia Facts:
- Population: 1,328,680 (2022 estimate)
- Official Language:Estonian
- GDP Per Capita:US$27,280.66 (2021)
- Singing: Estonia holds a Song Festival every five years. Its claim to fame is the fact that up to 18,000 singers will be performing on stage at the same time. There are generally around 34,000 people that arrive ready to sing and the event is attended by over 200,000 people which equates to 1/6th of Estonia’s population.
- Currency: Euro (EU/€). As of 2022, €1= £0.86, US$1.05, $1.40 (CAD), $1.53 (AUD).
1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Estonia
Here are some sample container shipping rates to Estonia from other countries around the world.
Also see Best International Moving Companies in Estonia
2. Estonia Housing Costs
Tallinn is the most popular city in Estonia. Unfortunately, accommodation is in short supply in the city due to many factors, the arrival of digital nomads and the Ukraine crisis. Short supply means higher housing costs. Many rental agencies and landlords also ask for three month’s rent deposit which can be challenging for some would-be residents. Other areas of Estonia haven’t experienced the housing shortage but rents and property prices have increased across the board.
Monthly Rental Prices in Estonia
- 1 bedroom apartment in the city centre: €300.00 – €800.00
- 1 bedroom apartment outside the city centre: €250.00 – €600.00
- 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre: €500.00 – €1,800.00
- 3-bedroom apartment outside the city centre: €400.00 – €1,100.00
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in the city centre: €2,000.00 – €5,000.00
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside the city: €1,300.00 – €3,200.00
Source: Numbeo
Estonia Housing Cost Comparison
Below are how rents in Estonia compare with other countries around the globe.
United Kingdom is 91.46% more expensive
United States is 190.71% more expensive
Canada is 108.40% more expensive
Australia is 122.71% more expensive
France is 56.42% more expensive
Spain is 32.76% more expensive
Italy is 25.72% more expensive
Germany is 60.33% more expensive
Source: Numbeo
How to Save on Housing Costs
- Share an apartment or house. Sharing a room or flat with a flatmate or roommate is a good idea to save on housing costs. Have a look at the following sites to find your perfect room or flatmate: I Room Mates, Erasmusu, EXPAT, OK Roommateand Roomlala.
- Different areas – different prices. As with all countries, cities in Estonia are the most expensive areas to live in. Look at the outer suburbs to see what’s available. For instance, Keslinn and Nomme in Tallinn are cheaper than most areas of the city and they’re well served by public transport.
3. Estonia Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs
Estonia’s traditional diet consists of black bread, soup and herring; a throw back to their peasant roots. There is also a strong Russian influence in the types of food eaten in restaurants. The major cities such as Tallinn and Tartu cater for most international visitors’ tastes. However, if you are vegetarian or vegan, you’ll battle find restaurants that can cater for your chosen diet outside these two cities. There are some fantastic food markets in the cities, selling fish and a variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables.
- Inexpensive Restaurant: €6.00 – €18.00
- Domestic beer: €3.00 – €6.00
- Coke/Pepsi: €1.00 – €3.00
- 1L of milk: €0.60 – €1.20
- Loaf of Bread: €0.65 – €2.00
- 12 Eggs: €1.19 – €3.59
- 1kg Chicken Fillets: €3.50 – €9.90
- 1kg Beef: €3.50 – €9.90
- 1kg Apples: €0.59 – €2.50
- 1kg White Rice: €1.00 – €2.99
Source: Numbeo
Below is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major countries in the world.
- UK restaurants are 87% more expensive and groceries are 15.41% more expensive than in Estonia.
- United State restaurants are 32% more expensive and groceries are 68.89% more expensive than in Estonia.
- Canada restaurants are 49% more expensive and groceries are 53.68% more expensive in Estonia.
- Australia restaurants are44% more expensive and groceries are 69.95% more expensive than in Estonia.
- France restaurants are 38% more expensive and groceries are 53.11% more expensive than in Estonia.
- Spain restaurants are 14% cheaper and groceries are 3.96% cheaper than in Estonia.
- Italy restaurants are 42% more expensive and groceries are 22.15% more expensive than in Estonia.
- Germanyrestaurants are 19% cheaper and groceries are 18.96% more expensive than in Estonia.
Source: Numbeo
Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries
- Know your supermarkets: Estonia has many supermarket chains and independently owned grocery stores as well as ethnic stores and street markets. Popular supermarkets in Estonia are Delice Supermarket, Toidumaailm, Coop Supermarket, Grossi Toidukaubadand Selver Supermarket.
- Find Cheap Eats:Estonia has a reputation for providing excellent street food, especially in Tallinn and Tartu, which is extremely affordable. Have a look at the following sites for suggestions – Trip Advisor, Wanderlog, In Your Pocket, Budget Meals in Tartu, and Quick & Cheap
4. Estonia Alcohol Costs
Estonians love to drink. Beer is their favourite tipple, followed by vodka. Mulled wine is also popular in the winter months. Prices are reasonable and compare well with other eastern European countries. When you walk into a bar in Tallinn, you’d think you were in Ireland, the UK or the States as this style of pub is taking over from the traditional Estonian water holes.
- Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: €3.00 – €6.00
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: €3.00 – €6.00
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €1.00 – €2.00
- Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €1.10 – €2.50
- Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €5.00 – €10.00
Source: Numbeo
How to drink for less in Estonia
- Keep an eye on adverts, local papers and flyers to see who’s advertising cheap drinks.
- Most of the restaurants and bars in the cities have happy hours, usually late afternoon. Have a look at the following sites for more tips on where to go to save money on a night out – Traveller, City Seeker, Parnu – Otto’s Rambles and Wanderlog.
5. Estonia Transportation Fares
Estonia is a small country, and it has a good public transport system consisting of trains, buses, ferries and subways. All the major cities are within three to four hours of each other. Tallinn provides free public transport (buses, trolly-buses, and trams) to the residents and may extend this to other cities in the country. Estonian public transport is reliable and punctual and is operated by TLT (Tallinn Linnatranspordi AS). Similarly, the train transport service is owned by Elron which is a government-owned operator, and the ferry service is provided by Kihnu Veeteed.
Below are some example ticket costs.
- One-way ticket (Local transport: €0.80 – €2.00
- Monthly Pass, (Regular Price): €10.00 – €30.00
- Taxi start (normal tariff): €2.00 – €4.00
- Taxi 1km (normal tariff): €0.50 – €1.00
Source: Numbeo
How to save money on public transport
- Buy the right ticket like a 1 or 2-hour ticket or one-day ticket or a group ticket, etc. to save money.
- Travelling by rail is the cheapest way to travel
- Get a Smart Card or a Tallin Card to travel to over 40 different areas at a reduced price.
- Estonia has excellent bicycle tracks, and many people travel by bicycle, especially in summer and spring.
6. Cost of Internet in Estonia
Accessing the internet is considered a human right in Estonia and access is consistent and quick. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2017 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:
- Telia Eesti– €15.08/Mo for 300 Mbit/s
- Tele2 Eesti– €17.23/Mo for 512 Mbit/s
7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure
Estonia has a cool, temperate climate with long, cold winters and short, warm to hot summers. During the winter months, the Baltic often freezes in some coastal areas. The temperature ranges from 5C to -7C in the winter. Summer temperatures rarely go above 22C but will experience up to 19 hours of sunshine around the summer solstice. The average annual rainfall in the country is between 550mm and 750mm, with coastal regions receiving the most rain. November is the wettest month.
Below are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.
- Pair of Jeans: €40.00 – €120.00
- Summer Dress: €20.00 – €50.00
- Running Shoes (Trainers): €50.00 – €110.00
- Business Shoes: €60.00 – €150.00
- Short Doctor’s visit (15 mines): €50
- Deodorant: €4.01
- Shampoo: €3.74
- Toilet Paper (4 rolls): €2.14
- Gym membership per month: €20.00 – €65.00
- Movie (cinema) ticket: €7.00 – €12.00
Source: Numbeo and Expatistan
8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Estonia
Estonians and the increasing number of expats in the country enjoy driving. There were 1,099,789 registered personal vehicles in 2021 and it’s thought this number will increase dramatically by the end of 2022. If you’re buying a second hand car be sure to get it checked by a reputable garage before signing on the dotted line.
You can drive in Estonia for up to one year with a valid driving license from your country or an International Driving Licence. The Estonia Driving Guide gives you a lot of detailed information on driving rules and conditions in the country.
Car Registration Procedure in Estonia provides information on how to buy and register a car in the country. It’s not a difficult process but you must register your vehicle with the authorities even if you are living in Estonia as a non-resident.
Below are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Estonia:
- Volkswagen Golf:€19,000.00 – €25,000.00
- 1 litre (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol):€32 – €2.13
- Other fees (if any): There is no road tax in Estonia as this is included in the price of petrol. The average cost for running a car per month is €350.
Source: Numbeo, eesti.ee, EXPAT.
Ways to save money driving in Estonia
- Car sharing or pooling is the best option to save money. Try Bolt Blog, Talia Eesti Carpool, Tallinn Riga Vilnius Carpool, City Bee, Bla Bla Carand Visit Tallin.
- Taxis can be a cheaper option, especially if you are parking all day. Try Uberand Ride Guru.
Need your car/vehicle moved to Estonia? Then read our guide to Car Transport & Vehicle Shipping
9. Taxes in Estonia
As an expat in Estonia, you are liable to pay a flat rate of 20% from your Estonian source of income. For more information refer to Tax Summaries. The standard VAT rate in the country is 20%. Refer to Tax Summaries for details.
10. Flight Costs from Estonia
If you do make the move to Estonia, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of 2022:
- London: €153
- Paris: €161
- New York: €442
- Los Angeles: €557
- Toronto:€451
- Dubai: €334
- Sydney: €1002
- Melbourne: €1123
- Cape Town: €520
- Hong Kong: €436
Other Estonia Relocation Tips
The above costs and pricing should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Estonia. But perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.
11. Relocating to Estonia Alone
Moving abroad is stressful but moving alone can be exceptionally difficult. However, the large expat community together with Estonia’s friendly people will help you ease into your new life. Here are a few tips for settling in Estonia.
- Meetups:Connect with people who enjoy what you enjoy through Meetup.
- Attend local events: There is always something going on in Estonia and many of the activities are free. Have a look at the following sites for inspiration – Orange Smile, Travel Triangle, Visit Estonia, I Exploreand Adequate Travel
12. Moving to Estonia with a Family
Moving abroad with a family is exciting but has many challenges. UNICEF put Estonia near the top of the list when it comes to family-friendly countries. The only thing that may be a draw back for parents is the long winter but there’s plenty to do – water parks, ice skating, beaching and swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, museums and a great appreciation for music of various genre.
- New parents (or parents-to-be):Check out Moms of Tallinn, Expat Parents, Baby Center, and MOPS for advice, courses and ways to meet other parents or parents-to-be.
- Live in a family-friendly area: Tallinn and Tartu are the best areas to live in with a family.
- Find things to do with the kids:Estonia has many things for children to do. Have a look at the following website for inspiration – Visit Estonia, Inspirock, Trip Advisor, Visit Tallinn and Orange Smile.
13. Moving to Estonia for Work
Moving to a new country for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.
Currently, there are openings in Estonia for doctors (various specialities), university lecturers, teachers, engineers, lawyers, construction workers, drivers (HGV) and accountants.
Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:
- Salary:Salaries in Estonia are high compared with much of eastern Europe. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea, how much more you’ll want to be making to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
- How to find work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Estonia, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Work in Estonia, Indeed, LinkedIn, Meand Visa Hunter. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.
14. Moving to Estonia from Australia
There are a small group of expats from Australia living and working in Estonia. If you are thinking of moving from Australia to Estonia, here are a few things to consider.
- Size comparison:Australia is 171 times bigger than Estonia. The population of Australia is 25,890,773 whereas the population of Estonia is 1,328,680.
- Join expat groups:MeetUp, Internations and Facebook offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Estonia.
15. Moving to Estonia from Canada
There’s a small contingent of Canadians living and working in Estonia. If you’re considering making the move from Canada here are a few things to consider.
- Size:Canada is 221 times bigger than Estonia. The population of Canada is 38,929,902 whereas the population of Estonia is 1,328,680.
- Expat groups:Meet fellow Canadians in Estonia through Internations and MeetUp.
16. Moving to Estonia from the United Kingdom
There are over 2,000 Brits living and working in Estonia. If you’re considering joining them, here are a few bonus tips:
- Size: The UK is five times bigger than Estonia. The population of the UK is 68,730,050 whereas the population of Estonia is 1,328,680.
- Expat groups:Connect with fellow Brits in Estonia through Internations and MeetUp.
Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Estonia you can start by comparing moving quotes here.