Is water bill expensive in Germany? (2024)

Is water bill expensive in Germany?

Water usage and your water bill

Water in Germany

Water is also metered and you can expect to pay around €2 per 1m³ (1000 litres) for drinking water. Depending on the city you live in you will pay: Berlin: €1.81 per 1m³ Hamburg: €1.98 per 1m³

Warm rent means that your monthly payment includes the basic rent for the residence and additional costs – called Umlagen or Nebenkosten. Nebenkosten can include heating, water, wastewater disposal, trash and recycling pick-up, furnace inspection and other expenses.

The ensuing trade conflict between Russia and other European nations led to a shortage of fossil fuels in the EU, causing prices for electricity to shoot up - especially in Germany, where gas plants still account for a substantial part of electricity generation.

Utilities are more expensive in Germany than in the United States. Additionally, utilities are paid in local currency, the Euro, which means costs will vary based on the exchange rate. Bills are much different in Germany than in the United States; here, you may pay monthly or quarterly depending on the utility.

When you go to a restaurant in Germany, a waiter will NOT bring you a complimentary glass of water. In fact, it's almost impossible to get a glass of tap water in a German restaurant even if you ask for it.

NUS puts high water prices in Germany down to the fact that rates are controlled at local level, with cities keen to cash in on water to fund other projects. This "stealth taxing" has pushed Germany to number one in the water-cost charts.

In many places in the world, water is a given when dining out. Sometimes with ice, sometimes already waiting for you on the table, and always free of charge. Not so in Germany. The gastronomic powers-that-be in this country realized long ago that people would pay for water if it came out of a bottle instead of a tap.

Why electricity bill is high in Germany?

In the second half of 2022, grid fees accounted for more than 20 percent of the price German households paid for electricity, including metering and associated services. Germany's shift to a renewable energy future requires massive investments into the country's power network.

Natural gas prices are lower than electricity prices

Gas prices varied from 2.5 c€/kWh in Hungary to 30.1 c€/kWh in Sweden. Similar to electricity, gas prices were also relatively higher in Germany (22.3 c€/kWh) and Italy (20.9 c€/kWh) in February 2023.

All told, how high is the cost of living in Germany? According to Destatis, it adds up to €2,507 a month, with 37% of this going towards housing and energy costs and 15% on food, alcohol, and tobacco (as of September 2022). If you calculate this on an annual basis, the average cost of living in Germany is €30,084.

In 2023, household customers in Germany under a default contract paid 16.25 euro cents per kilowatt hour for gas. This was a noticeable increase compared to the previous year. Customers with a contract from a supplier other than a local one paid 14.44 euro cents per kilowatt hour that same year.

The average cost of living in Germany in 2023

Some of these costs will of course be doubled, tripled or even quadrupled for families and larger households. As a basic estimate, you can expect your total costs to be between €1200 – €3000 per month as an individual living in Germany.

Now on to the most crucial question: What's a good salary in Germany? This can vary depending on your lifestyle and location, but generally speaking, it's safe to say that a salary of €70,000 to €80,000 per year is considered more than comfortable in Germany.

In Germany, healthcare is partially free due to the social contributions to the public healthcare system. This means that individuals can receive medical services free of charge for the most part. However, some low copayments apply, such as the €10 charge for a visit to the general practitioner (GP) every quarter.

USA is better in terms of annual salaries and job opportunities. Also, Germany has higher taxes than the US so it is better to work in US after completing your studies.

Tipping isn't mandatory in Germany. Instead, it's seen as a gesture of appreciation for a good experience. A tip is always welcome, but in Germany, it's usually based directly on the quality of service. If you're satisfied, leaving a tip is a way to show it.

Are there free toilets in Germany?

Toilet Fact 2: You will probably have to pay to use a public toilet in Germany. Even in train stations and department stores there's usually an attendant or a coin-operated turnstile. The normal rate is 50 euro cents, but some places charge up to a euro. Airports are the rare exception to the pay-to-pee rule.

Europe's Water Is Generally Safe

The tap water throughout most of Europe is completely safe to drink. The taps in hotels, homes, restaurants and cafés all run with potable water. Of course, there's always room for common sense.

Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage).

For an 85m² apartment, you might spend around €272.65 monthly. This includes electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage collection. Costs can range from €170.00 to €425.00 depending on factors like apartment size and energy consumption.

The "consumption" of water, for example use of water, has been decreasing in Germany over the past fifteen years. Over the past three years, the average consumption of drinking water was between 120 and 123 litres per person and day. Compared to other industrialised countries, that figure is rather low.

It would be hard to get by for less than €1,000 a month in Germany, and this rises to around €1,500€ - €2,000€ in the cities where rents are higher. Students can usually cover living costs for around €850 a month. Travel is fairly affordable, even in big cities, and food and drink prices are average for Europe.