OBJECTIVES: To explore patient characteristics, resource use and costs related to different episodes of care (EOC) in Finnish health care. EOC is a health problem needing testing, diagnosis, care or follow-up from its first presentation by the patient to health care until the completion of the last health care contact for it. Literature around costs of episodes (COE) is scarce. METHODS: Primary and secondary care data was collected during the three months prospective, non-randomized follow-up study (Effective Health Centre) using questionnaires and electronic health record. Setting included three primary health care practices in Pirkanmaa, Finland. 622 (41% of potential) patients were recruited during one week period. Patients that had doctor/nurse appointment on the recruiting day and agreed to participate were included. Patients visiting specialized health guidance clinic for pregnant women, children and mothers were excluded. The main outcome measures were patient characteristics, resource use and costs classified based on the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2) episode title codes. Resource use was valued with health care providers’ 2012 unit costs. Social Insurance Institution costs (e.g. outpatient drugs) were excluded. RESULTS: On average, patient had 1.22 EOCs during the three months. Patient characteristics and resource use differed between the EOC-classes. Class L 'Musculoskeletal' had the highest number of episodes (17%). The most common (8%) single EOC was 'upper respiratory infection'. The mean COE was €390 (SE €61) and the median COE was €165 (IQR €118-289) during the three month follow-up. The most expensive class was K 'Circulatory', with a mean COE of €910. The most expensive single COE (€32,546) was in the group K. The most expensive one percent of COEs summed up covered 36% of total COEs. CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics, resource use and costs differed between the ICPC-2 classes, which could be taken into account in evaluations, planning and pricing.