Erika Helakorpi, 23, is one of many Finns who have chosen the Costa del Sol to live and work. From Fuengirola, she manages transport requests for the Helsinki region.
Erika Helakorpi, 23, is a customer service agent for a taxi and social services company in Helsinki. But she does not work in Finland; instead, she operates from her home in Los Pacos, a neighbourhood in Fuengirola with a large Finnish community.
In an interview with the Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat, Erika explains that her job involves managing transport requests for private users and social service beneficiaries in Finland. She handles bookings, cancellations, and issues related to the journeys. “It’s a simple job, but very dynamic,” she states.
A Workday from the Costa del Sol
Erika's hours depend on a shift system that can range from early morning until well into the night. The intensity of the work varies according to demand and circumstances such as the weather in Finland. “In winter, when there’s more snow, the volume of calls increases,” she notes.
Erika earns between €1,700 and €1,800 gross per month, an amount that, as she explains, allows her to cover her daily needs with relative ease on the Costa del Sol. “The cost of living here is lower than in Finland, especially for housing and food,” she compares.
She is not the only Finnish person who has found a place to telework in the province of Málaga. Rosa-Maria Ilmola, 32, is a real estate agent in Marbella, and Riina Leppäkangas, 41, works as a personal trainer and entrepreneur in the sports sector in Fuengirola. The three agree that the Finnish community in the area is very active and provides them with a welcoming environment.
The Cultural Contrast: From Finnish Distance to Spanish Closeness
Erika highlights one of the differences that stands out to her: the way people interact. “Finns are more sociable in Spain than in our country,” she asserts. “In Finland, we tend to keep a certain distance, even at a bus stop. Here, people interact in a much closer way.”
This sense of community is also shared by Rosa-Maria and Riina. For them, living on the Costa del Sol not only offers a milder climate but also a lifestyle that contrasts with Nordic reserve. “In Spain, people talk in the supermarket queue, smile at you on the street,” comments Riina.
Riina’s income as a personal trainer is variable and usually ranges between €1,500 and €2,500 gross monthly, although during peak season it can exceed €3,000. She works with individual clients in gyms, parks, and beaches, as well as conducting group classes and offering online coaching.
Rosa-Maria, for her part, highlights that the role of a real estate agent in Spain goes far beyond buying and selling homes. “We accompany clients throughout the entire adaptation process,” she explains. “Often, we guide them on lawyers, services, or shops they may need upon arriving in the country.”
For readers in the province of Málaga, this story reflects how the Costa del Sol has become a magnet for digital nomads and remote workers from across Europe. The Finnish community in Fuengirola is one of the largest in Spain, and its presence has led to supermarkets, restaurants, and schools in Finnish. A phenomenon that, according to Erika, will continue to grow: “More and more Finns are discovering that they can work from here and enjoy a climate and lifestyle that they don’t have at home.”
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