Living On $48K A Year In Helsinki

It was a significant purchase: The four-bedroom apartment cost $326,000 all-in. The couple put $78,000 down, financed the rest and split the $932 monthly mortgage payment, which includes interest.

Plus, she plans on staying put for a while. “I was born in Helsinki,” she says. “And I’ve always liked Helsinki.”

You can’t beat the health-care system and parental leave policy, she adds. “In my humble opinion, Finland is the best place to have kids.”