Romania: The reality of utility costs. Third place in the top of electricity prices and Sixth place in the highest price of natural gas

In the European Union, Romania ranks 20 out of 27 in the accessibility index for paying utility bills, according to the estimated costs for electricity, natural gas, drinking water and waste management, according to data provided by the Numbeo platform for an apartment with a surface of 85 square meters. Thus, the monthly costs for utilities in Romania amount to approximately 134 euros, with an affordability index of 0.14, compared to the average net salary of 977 euros, according to the information provided by Profit.ro.

One of the reasons for this positioning is the fact that Romania has the third highest price for electricity (0.42 EUR/kWh) and the sixth highest price for natural gas (0.14 EUR/kWh) in the European Union, according to official data reported by Eurostat for the first half of 2023.

Compared to Eastern European states, Romania has a better or similar accessibility index: for example, Bulgaria and Hungary are at a similar level, with an index close to 0.12. Conversely, in countries such as Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece or Slovakia, the costs of utility bills are more difficult to bear. At the opposite pole, residents of Sweden, Denmark and Finland face the easiest bill payments and have an affordability index between 0.3 and 0.5, while the continent’s major economies, such as Germany, France or Italy, occupy intermediate positions, with an index between 0.7 and 0.11.