Cost of living in Tallinn

🇪🇪 Estonia · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.

Wondering how far your salary goes in Tallinn? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, central districts€600–900 / month
Public transportFree for registered Tallinn residents; ≈€30 / month otherwise
Groceries, one person€250–400 / month
Half-litre of beer in a bar€5–7
Coffee€3–4.50

Good to know

Population
≈460,000 (city); ≈620,000 (Harju county)
Languages
Estonian; Russian widely spoken; English excellent among under-40s and in tech
Currency
Euro (EUR) — Estonia is in the eurozone
Time zone
EET (GMT+2); EEST (GMT+3) in summer
Power plug
Type F, 230 V / 50 Hz
Climate
Cold maritime — snowy winters, mild summers, ~6 hours of daylight in December
Driving side
Right
EU status
In the EU, Schengen, the eurozone and NATO

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Tallinn checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.

Plan your move to Tallinn

A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.