Finnish housing allowance calculator 2026
Choose your municipality, enter rent, household size and gross income, and the calculator estimates Kela’s housing allowance.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Calculation method
Kela’s general housing allowance (yleinen asumistuki) in 2026 pays 70 % of the amount by which your accepted housing costs exceed a basic deductible (perusomavastuu) worked out from your income: in Kela’s own example, Jaakko in Turku, with €800 of gross income and €700 rent a month, gets €299.25. Only rent up to your municipality group’s maximum counts, €447 for one person in Turku, so a pricier flat does not raise the allowance past that cap. The deductible is 0.5 × [income − (667 + 94 × adults + 296 × children)], always on gross income. There are three municipality groups: Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa in group I, 24 other cities in group II and the rest in group III. In Åland the rate is 80 %. Amounts under €15 are not paid. The allowance is tax-free, but owner-occupied homes are excluded, and students are normally covered by the housing supplement of student aid instead.
Estimated housing allowance per month
€159.25
Income limit for this household about €1,612/month
| Housing costs (rent, water, heating) | €670.00 |
|---|---|
| Maximum, municipality group II, 1 people | €447 |
| Accepted housing costs | €447.00 |
| Basic deductible from income | − €219.50 |
| Housing allowance 70% of the difference | €159.25 |
Estimate with Kela’s 2026 formula; Kela decides on application. Calculation method
Kela’s examples run through the calculator
The calculator reproduces Kela’s published cases. Jaakko’s rent exceeds his group’s cap, so only €447 is accepted. His deductible is 0.5 × (€800 − €761) = €19.50, and the allowance 0.7 × (€447 − €19.50) = €299.25. Eino ja Elisa are a couple, so their cap is €652 and their allowance €125.65.
| Example | Income | Costs | Accepted | Deductible | Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaakko, Turku | €800 | €700 | €447 | €19.50 | €299.25 |
| Eino ja Elisa, Turku | €1,800 | €950 | €652 | €472.50 | €125.65 |
Allowance by income and municipality group
Below is a single person paying €700 a month, water included. Each extra euro of gross income adds 50 cents to the deductible and takes 35 cents off the allowance.
| Gross income/month | I (Helsinki) | II (Tampere) | III (e.g. Kajaani) |
|---|---|---|---|
| €0 | €394.10 | €312.90 | €275.80 |
| €800 | €380.45 | €299.25 | €262.15 |
| €1,000 | €310.45 | €229.25 | €192.15 |
| €1,200 | €240.45 | €159.25 | €122.15 |
| €1,400 | €170.45 | €89.25 | €52.15 |
The calculator shows your group under the municipality field. Group II covers Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Järvenpää, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Kuopio, Lahti, Lohja, Nokia, Nurmijärvi, Oulu, Porvoo, Raisio, Riihimäki, Rovaniemi, Seinäjoki, Sipoo, Siuntio, Tampere, Turku, Tuusula, Vihti. All the caps by household size are on the maximum housing costs page.
Income limits by household
These limits match the ones Kela publishes. They apply when your housing costs are at or above the cap for your group.
| Household | I (Helsinki) | II (Tampere) | III (e.g. Kajaani) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | €1,844 | €1,612 | €1,506 |
| 2 adults | €2,428 | €2,116 | €1,960 |
| 1 adult, 1 child | €2,630 | €2,318 | €2,162 |
| 2 adults, 2 children | €3,780 | €3,366 | €3,154 |
Income is counted gross: wages, holiday bonuses, overtime, earnings-related unemployment allowance, the general support (yleistuki) and capital income. Interest and dividends count above €12.02 a month per person. Child benefit, social assistance, child maintenance support and student loans do not. More on the income limits page.
Applying and reporting changes
Kela decides on application, and you can get the allowance backdated by at most 1 month. Tell Kela if your household income rises by €400 or falls by €200 a month or more. The rules are on Kela’s calculation page, Kela’s housing allowance page and in the General Housing Allowance Act.