Rossella Greco is an Italian who has chosen to live in Finland, a country that has been confirmed as the “happiest country in the world” for the sixth consecutive year. The 33-year-old researcher chose the Scandinavian country for professional reasons, but above all for the social policies that allow her to lead a peaceful life: “I don’t know if you can call it happiness – she told Fanpage.it – but here there is many possibilities, many advantages and above all a lot of economic aid”.
Rossella Greco, 33, in Finland
Scarlett Greco she is 33 years old, she is one Italian researcher and have lived there for a year and a half Finland, which the World Happiness Report 2023 has decreed for the sixth time in a row the happiest country in the world. A choice she says she’s so pleased with that she wants to consider staying in town Oulu even after the research assignment has ended.
In fact, together with her husband, who has followed her in this new adventure, she is thinking about buying a house where she can one day raise children because, as Fanpage.it said, Finland is a country “that is growing up respects people”.
“I don’t know if you can call it luck, but there are many opportunities here,” he explains, “there are many advantages and also a lot of economic help: You have the feeling that the state will never let you down, too when you’re not working, and above all nobody weighs like in Italy”
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I ask you bluntly: How did you come to Finland?
Researching in Italy isn’t that easy, especially in the south, I’m originally from Bari so let’s say you don’t have much of a choice: either you start traveling or you give up researching. I decided to become a globetrotter and so after my PhD in Spain I went in search of a research project that I could work with but also live peacefully with.
Rossella Greco, Italian in Finland
I turned down Italy almost immediately because unfortunately we all know how search works and I started looking at the Scandinavian countries where it’s easier to get involved, especially if you’re not alone and traveling with your family, because there is a lot of government support. And so in the end I decided to come here with my husband.
How long have you lived in Finland?
I have been living here in Oulu for a year and a half and should stay there at least until 2026 when my contract as a chemical researcher expires, but I plan to stay here longer… unfortunately there is no future for my work in Italy. And not only for me.
What do you think?
I’ll give you an example: my husband came here with me because he didn’t have a job and he was immediately helped to integrate better and find one as soon as possible. He was assigned a so-called “agent” who almost immediately helped him find a job, guiding him step by step in his search, and he could also take free courses to learn Finnish.
Rossella Greco, Italian in Finland
Where do you and your husband live? Did you rent a house?
At the moment we are renting but looking for a house to buy as we intend to stay here for a long time it is more convenient to take out a mortgage as renting is significantly more expensive than buying. House prices here are those of Italy, of course in small towns: a house of 70 square meters can cost up to 60,000 euros. Compared to a typical Finnish salary…
What is the average salary in Finland?
We’re talking about 2,500 euros, which, given the acquisition costs of the houses, makes it possible to plan a purchase even after two years of living. The cost of living, on the other hand, is not low: food is almost exclusively imported, so shopping in the supermarket is therefore quite expensive. If we talk about a dinner you have to spend at least 50 euros per person.
How much does it cost more or less in Milan…
Yes, but with the difference that there is a reason here: prices are high because restaurants, bars, shops are open a few hours a day, because people here work fewer hours than in Italy.
In short, there are positive and negative sides. Do you ever think about the idea of going back to Italy?
Absolutely not. If I could choose, I would like to go back to Spain, it’s a country that manages to balance work and private life, let’s say, here you feel good above all for work, more humanly speaking …
Still, Finland is the happiest country in the world
I don’t know, it’s certainly a country where people live well. I think the happiness you are talking about is mostly at work because there are so many opportunities, there are so many benefits and even economic help: you feel like you’ve never been let down by the state, even if you do it is not working and most importantly no one does it for you like in Italy.
If I could choose, I might not live here, but my husband and I made a precise decision, driven mostly by work: having that stability anywhere else is impossible at the moment.
Would you recommend others to go and live in Finland?
Yes, absolutely, especially if you have a family because it is a country with a welfare system that allows you to live peacefully. Much emphasis is placed on providing the services that a family needs.
Is there something you miss about Italy?
My family… and food of course, but those are things you miss once you step outside.