fr.euronews.com
Global Utility Costs Vary Widely: Munich Tops the List
Deutsche Bank's "Mapping the World's Prices" report reveals Munich (€370) as the most expensive city for basic utilities in 2025, while Cairo (€24) is the cheapest, highlighting substantial cost differences across 67 global cities.
- What are the highest and lowest utility costs among European cities in 2025, and what factors contribute to these differences?
- The Deutsche Bank report "Mapping the World's Prices" reveals significant disparities in basic utility costs across 67 global cities in 2025. Munich, Germany, tops the list at €370 per month for an 85m² apartment, while Cairo offers the lowest cost at €24.
- How do utility costs in major non-European cities compare to those in Europe, and what are the implications of these differences?
- European cities dominate the highest utility cost rankings, with Germany particularly expensive (Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin). Conversely, Istanbul and Helsinki represent the most affordable options within Europe, highlighting a significant cost variation across the continent. This variation reflects not just energy prices but also potentially differing building standards and climate.
- What are the potential long-term economic and social consequences of these varying utility costs across European cities, and how might these trends evolve?
- The substantial cost differences in basic utilities across European cities suggest future policy implications. High-cost cities like those in Germany may face challenges maintaining affordability, potentially impacting resident living standards and attracting talent. This underscores the need for energy efficiency initiatives and exploring alternative energy sources.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline and introduction emphasize the high cost of utilities in European cities, particularly in Germany and the UK. While accurate, this framing might create a disproportionate focus on the expensive cities, overshadowing the lower costs found in other European and non-European cities. The report presents cost figures in Euro, which implicitly places a focus on the financial context of European cities.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral and objective, presenting data and comparisons without overtly loaded terms. However, phrases like "dominates the world list" and "the most expensive cities" could be considered slightly sensationalistic.
Bias by Omission
The report focuses on 67 cities globally, but doesn't specify the selection criteria, potentially omitting cities that could alter the overall conclusions. The methodology for calculating average utility costs isn't explicitly detailed, leaving room for questions about data collection and standardization. The article also omits discussion of government subsidies or other support programs that might influence utility costs in different cities.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic comparison between cities, without fully exploring the nuances of cost-of-living differences or the impact of local energy sources and regulations. While it highlights the high costs in some German cities, it doesn't extensively analyze the reasons behind those costs.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights significant variations in the cost of basic utilities across European cities, with some cities experiencing substantial increases. High utility costs disproportionately affect low-income households, hindering their access to essential energy services and potentially impacting their well-being. This directly relates to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.