Shared apartments, spare rooms and roommates in Espoo

Espoo is chosen by international students who want to get into the Nordic lifestyle, since the cost of living is usually a little cheaper than in the capital of Finland, Helsinki. Of course, this does not mean that living in Espoo is very cheap. For this reason, most students often decide to live in shared flats to make their exchange more affordable. In addition, by living in a multicultural environment with your flatmates you can learn about their ways of life, and much better if one of them is Finnish and you can delve deeper into the local culture!

Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Espoo

These are some pros and cons of living in shared flats in the Finnish city:

Advantages of sharing a flat in Espoo

• By saving on the monthly rent you can enjoy a lot more of the city, of Helsinki (which is about half an hour away by public transport) and of the surrounding nature.

• Some shared flats in Espoo are located near natural areas and have balconies that have nice views, where you can relax while you are at home.

• Spare rooms in apartments are available in a variety of student-friendly areas, both in the centre of Espoo and in neighbourhoods close to universities, such as Otaniemi and Leppävaara.

Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Espoo

• The residences do not usually include bedding, towels or kitchen utensils. You can bring them from home or buy a box that they offer with all this when you get to live there.

• The use of heating in winter is usually a recurring problem if there are no established rules since you have to remember that each one will want to make different use of it.

Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Espoo

You can use different apps for Erasmus+ to find out about different aspects of the exchange to Espoo. They usually provide, for example, information on procedures to apply for mobility and to validate subjects, as well as different experiences and student recommendations. One of these tips is that, in addition to enjoying the party and the fun experiences, take advantage of the high quality of teaching that Finnish institutions have to learn as much as you can from your tutors and classmates.

How to meet people in Espoo

These are some of the ways you have to meet people in the Finnish city, apart from sharing a flat with other students: 

Student associations in Espoo

There are several branches of the Erasmus Student Network that you can join, such as the ESN Laurea of ​​the University of Applied Sciences Laurea. In these associations, you will be able to meet people while participating in fun activities. In addition, you will be able to meet students from Finland, Estonia, and Latvia with the ESN Pirates of the Baltic, which organizes a biannual event to go by boat to Stockholm.

Facebook groups for Erasmus in Espoo

On Facebook, groups are usually created by Erasmus destination or by year or academic cycle. In these, you will be able to meet people before your arrival. Different organized events, activities, parties, and trips are also published, as well as discounts and clubs that you can join.

Whatsapp groups for Erasmus in Espoo

Both associations and Facebook groups often create WhatsApp groups that you can join to be in more direct contact with other young people. These groups also provide answers to common questions that arise when moving to Espoo, for example about paperwork or bank accounts.

Tips for living in a shared apartment in Espoo

Keep these tips in mind when living in a shared flat in the Finnish city:

• You should check where the campus of the university you are going to go to is located since both Aalto University and Laurea University of Applied Sciences have several campuses in different areas of the city.

• If you are considering living in a residence, remember that this has its pros and cons. The latter usually have to comply with a greater number of rules and schedules than in a private flat, but the advantages are usually that they can include facilities such as study areas, a gym and even a sauna.

Frequently asked questions about sharing a flat in Espoo

Flat sharing in other Erasmus cities

Flatshare in Helsinki