The bare essentials – electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage collection – are staples we can't do without. But prices for these utilities vary dramatically across the planet, ranging from relatively cheap to eye-wateringly expensive.

The cost of running a home has skyrocketed in many nations since the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Using data from Numbeo, the world's biggest cost-of-living database, we've tracked down typical outlays worldwide based on the average monthly charges for a regular apartment.

Read on to find out what householders are paying in selected nations worldwide, and discover how your utility bills compare. 

All dollar amounts in US dollars. 

Inflationary pressures released after the pandemic have taken their toll on utility bills in recent years. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine caused an energy price shock across the globe that still reverberates today. Elsewhere, extreme weather events made worse by climate change have also had an impact in several countries. So how has this perfect storm of factors affected the household bills of people worldwide?

Numbeo crowdsources data from over 825,000 contributors worldwide and combines this with information from official sources to arrive at its averages. Household electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage collection costs are tracked in 97 countries. For consistency, Numbeo bases its averages on the monthly cost of these vital services for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment, the equivalent of a regular two-bedroom home. Starting with the cheapest, here's what people are paying in 31 selected nations...

India is among the most affordable countries for utilities, though Iran, which heavily subsidises energy, is the cheapest out of the 97 countries covered. Average monthly bills for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment in the Islamic Republic come in at just $15.74 (£12.35).

India's average utility outlay is economical in a relative sense too: the cost of operating a regular two-bedroom home makes up a reasonable 5.3% of the country's typical monthly wage after tax, according to Numbeo. However, the nation's poor infrastructure means many Indians face challenges accessing reliable utilities, which can be patchy at the best of times.

Malaysians devote around the same share of their income to utilities – the average monthly bill for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment in the country is just 5.2% of the typical net monthly wage.

Malaysia is among the largest oil and natural gas producers in the Asia-Pacific region and mines vast quantities of coal. While plans are afoot to derive more of its power from renewable sources, most of the nation's energy is generated from fossil fuels, keeping prices low. Moreover, electricity is extensively subsidised, though the government has recently reduced support for wealthier customers.

Peruvians devote a larger chunk of their salaries to utilities. The costs per month for a typical two-bedroom apartment equate to 11.8% of the average monthly wage after tax.

Peru's government is seeking to open the electricity market to competition in a bid to bring down prices. But the powers-that-be have plenty on their plate, from dealing with the frequent power cuts that plague the nation to improving water infrastructure. According to the sanitation non-profit Water.org, a huge 48% of the population lacks access to safe drinking water.

The cost of making a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment liveable in China averages $52.55 (£41.24) a month, which is an affordable 5.6% of the nation's typical net monthly salary.

Still, householders have been hit this year with the biggest leap in utility costs in living memory, according to Singaporean newspaper The Straits Times. Power and water prices have soared across the country as demand has increased, adding to the strain consumers are already under given China's property market crash and the recent spike in unemployment.

Mexico's number represents 8.9% of the average monthly wage after tax. The nation's electricity is pretty much supplied entirely by a state-owned company and this, together with generous subsidies, keeps prices comparatively low.

On the downside, Mexico's infrastructure has been under intense pressure this year. Scorching heatwaves have led to water shortages and power outages as demand surged. Consequently, water and electricity became major issues in the June general election, according to Reuters.

People in Europe and countries like the US and Australia may look upon the prices Brazilians pay for utilities with envy. But that $62.99 (£49.44) per month is a rather hefty 15.4% of the nation's typical monthly wage after tax has been deducted. And energy prices have risen markedly of late, with natural gas prices in the country now among the highest globally, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com.

Additionally, a severe drought in the north of the country has significantly reduced hydroelectricity generation, a major source of power in the country, pushing up costs for Brazilian households.

Indonesia's average net monthly salary is only $318.80 (£250.21) according to Numbeo, so the typical cost of running a regular two-bedroom apartment in the country accounts for a punishing 20.9% of the figure.

However, energy is heavily subsidised in Indonesia, meaning prices for households would be higher without this state support. On another note, the Indonesian government reportedly needs to spend $1.7 trillion (£1.4tn) by 2030 to upgrade the nation's water infrastructure.

Among the countries in our round-up, Argentina had the most affordable electricity prices and second-cheapest natural gas prices as of March 2024, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com. But in April, President Javier Milel's government hiked utility tariffs by up to 500% as part of its austerity drive. Energy costs multiplied overnight, while water has also seen triple-digit increases.

As a result, utilities now average $68.75 (£53.96) a month for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment, which is a sizeable 13.5% of Argentina's typical monthly net wage.

Colombians pay even more proportionally for their utilities, with the average cost per month for a regular two-bedroom apartment 22.1% of the typical monthly salary after tax.

The good news is that the Colombian government is increasingly turning to renewables to bring down energy costs. Plans were recently announced to install solar panels in two low-income neighbourhoods in the city of Cali, which will reduce electricity bills by between 30% and 100% for 2,000 hard-up families.

Russia's bountiful fossil fuel resources and lavish energy subsidies have long translated to cheap bills for the country's households. And in March 2024, domestic natural gas prices were the third lowest in the world. But prices have since risen by 11.2%. State-owned supplier Gazprom suffered its biggest net loss on record last year largely due to the consequences of the war in Ukraine, hence the cash grab.

Electricity has also surged in price, as has water, with Moscow now among the most expensive cities in the world for the essential. Based on the typical monthly cost for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment, utilities now consume 16.2% of the average monthly salary after tax.

Filipinos pay more proportionally for their utilities than any other country in our round-up. Given the nation's average monthly salary minus tax is just $380.30 (£298.47), the cost per month of operating a regular two-bedroom apartment represents a burdensome 27.2% of the typical monthly net wage.

Electricity is the biggest drain as the Philippines doesn't subsidise it and relies on expensive fuel imports to power its plants. In Asia, only households in affluent Japan and Singapore pay more. According to the news site Cebu Daily News, the government aims to reduce costs through the Philippine Energy Plan 2030-2050, which focuses on increasing renewable energy sources and exploring nuclear power.

Utilities are also expensive in South Africa compared to other parts of the developing world. Since 1996, electricity and water tariffs have risen around five times faster than inflation.

Crumbling infrastructure, corruption and illegal connections are among the culprits, though the load-shedding power cut crisis has eased recently. The state energy company, Eskom, has been brought to its knees and wants to raise prices by 36.1% next year. Meanwhile, a new law has given the green light to dismantle Eskom's monopoly and open the market to competition, which should eventually bring down costs.

Chileans pay through the nose for their utilities in a relative sense, too. The average cost per month for a regular two-bedroom apartment comes in at 26.2% of the mean monthly salary after tax.

Electricity prices have increased this year because a price freeze that was introduced following the social protests of 2019 has ended. The increases are being rolled out in stages, and by the next year, prices are set to rise by up to 60%.

Energy prices have spiked of late in New Zealand but the country remains one of the cheapest in the developed world for domestic power. Electricity is particularly economical since 82% of the country's supply is generated from renewable sources. Garbage collection is also affordable compared to other advanced economies, though it too has become pricer in recent years.

Water is relatively expensive. Still, the average cost per month of operating a regular two-bedroom apartment is only 4.7% of the typical net monthly wage.

Energy prices have also increased in Spain this year and are poised to rise further in 2025. The punishing heatwave that hit the country this summer led to a surge in demand for electricity, and, therefore, a spike in prices. Yet by Western European standards, they're still affordable, as are garbage collection and water rates, though costs do vary from region to region.

The typical monthly utility bill for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment is 7.7% of the average monthly wage after tax, lower than the percentages in France, Germany and the UK.

The average cost per month of running a regular two-bedroom apartment in Canada is just 5.2% of the typical monthly net wage. But energy prices in the country have shot up since the pandemic, with lower-income households bearing the brunt. Some provinces now operate time-of-use pricing models, meaning the cost of electricity can fluctuate depending on the time of day it's used.

In fact, around 15% of Canadians have had to reduce or totally cut spending on other basics like food and medicine for at least one month in the past year so they could afford to pay an energy bill, according to research from Statistics Canada.

From a global perspective, utilities in Singapore are far from cheap. The city-state imports a large amount of its energy, and electricity and natural gas prices are the most expensive in Asia as a result. However, bills are actually very affordable when local salaries are factored in.

The average monthly costs for a regular two-bedroom apartment in Singapore amount to only 3.7% of the mean monthly wage after tax, the joint lowest share in our round-up.

Typical monthly utility bills for a regular two-bedroom apartment in Japan cost 8.1% of the average monthly net wage.

That figure would be much higher were it not for the substantial energy subsidies the Japanese government provides for its citizens. The country is dependent on imported fossil fuels for its energy needs, which don't come cheap, especially given the yen's weakness against the US dollar.

In contrast, the UAE is a major energy producer, which keeps costs comparatively low for consumers. That said, subsidies are far less generous in the country these days and prices are cheaper in other Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

All the same, the mean cost per month of running a regular two-bedroom apartment is a very respectable 5.6% of the average monthly salary (the UAE doesn't levy income tax). However, it's worth remembering that energy and water usage are extremely high in the country, so in reality, typical bills are probably much higher.

Australians pay even less proportionally: typical monthly utility costs for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment come in at 5.2% of the average monthly wage after tax. But costs are high by international standards. Electricity prices have risen lately, and while gas has become more affordable, it remains pricey.

Water is also costly. According to a global analysis by UK firm Utility Bidder, Australia has some of the most expensive water rates in the world. The vast country has relatively few large sources of water, so the infrastructure costs involved with delivering the essential inevitably impact bills.

Electricity prices have historically been low in France since the country generates most of its supply from nuclear sources. But they have climbed considerably since the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with natural gas prices. France's water rates are also among the highest globally.

Overall, utilities for a regular two-bedroom apartment in the nation typically cost 7.9% of the average monthly net salary.

Energy costs have increased markedly in Belgium. Meanwhile, water bills have shot up since COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, rising last year by 14.5% in the Brussels area. Subsidies are being phased out, driving up consumer costs – and as a result, Belgium is grappling with the highest inflation rates in the eurozone.

As it stands, the cost of running a regular two-bedroom apartment in the country averages 8% of the typical monthly salary after tax.

Americans devote less of their income to utilities. The average cost per month for a regular two-bedroom apartment is just 4.7% of the typical net monthly income.

However,  Americans are paying substantially more for energy post-pandemic and amid the war in Ukraine. Inflation, rising energy demands, volatile natural gas prices, and extreme weather are all contributing factors, while the transition to renewable energy also comes with a cost. Meanwhile, combined water and sewage costs have soared in some areas of the country over the past few years.

Ireland's energy prices have never been cheap since the country relies on imported fuel. Its sparse population, which requires a comparatively large investment in energy infrastructure, also increases consumer costs. Plus, electricity and natural gas prices have risen substantially over the past few years, primarily due to the war in Ukraine – though the Irish government has offered some support to households, including cash energy credits.

Today, utilities for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment over the course of a month cost the equivalent of 7.3% of the average monthly wage after tax.

Switzerland's households pay a premium for their electricity and natural gas. The nation has the most expensive water rates in Europe, and waste collection services are also expensive, partly to encourage recycling.

Yet the average utility bill per month for a regular two-bedroom apartment in the country is only 3.7% of the typical monthly salary after tax, the joint-lowest figure in our round-up and a testament to the wealth of the nation's citizens.

Luxembourg's well-heeled residents also pay less proportionally for utilities than their counterparts in many other nations. Making a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment in the Grand Duchy liveable costs $256.56 (£201.36) per month on average, a mere 4.5% of the typical net monthly wage.

But electricity prices are projected to mushroom in 2025. From 1 January, prices will increase by around 30% as the government's energy cap is withdrawn.

Energy prices have increased in just about every country since the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But some nations have been affected more than others, and Poland has seen prices hit the roof. The typical monthly utility bill for a regular two-bedroom apartment in the country now devours 17.9% of the average monthly wage after tax.

To help households meet these inflated costs, the government recently extended the energy price cap it introduced in January 2023 until the end of September 2025.

The UK has also been more severely impacted than many countries by the global energy crisis of the past few years. Despite government caps, households have been at the mercy of surging natural gas and electricity prices.

Adding to the misery, the nation's water infrastructure is falling apart. Already sky-high, bills could rise by up to 73% between 2025 and 2030 after the industry regulator gave the country's water companies the go-ahead to spend big on upgrades. Council tax, which covers garbage collection, is rising above inflation too. Today, monthly utility bills for a regular two-bedroom apartment in the UK run to 10% of the average net monthly wage.

The war in Ukraine has driven the cost of energy to exorbitant levels in Germany. The country had long been reliant on energy imports from Russia, and electricity has become much more expensive while natural gas bills are up 74% since the start of the conflict, according to energy transition news site Clean Energy Wire.

Germans spend an even larger proportion of their income than Brits on utilities, with the average monthly costs for a 915-square-foot (85 sqm) apartment in the country currently 10.7% of the typical monthly salary after tax.

Austria has the most expensive utility bills among the 97 countries evaluated by Numbeo. Enormously reliant on imported Russian gas, the country – like neighbouring Germany – has been particularly vulnerable to the global energy crisis triggered by the invasion of Ukraine. Natural gas and electricity bills have surged as a result.

The cost of making a regular two-bedroom apartment liveable in Austria now accounts for 13.7% of the typical monthly wage once tax is deducted.

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