Athens is among the most expensive cities for basic monthly utilities relative to the average monthly salary, according to the Deutsche Bank study “Mapping the World’s Prices” presented by Euronews.
The study, which examines the main cost of basic utilities for 67 cities around the world, including 28 European cities, revealed Athenians had to spend one-fifth of their monthly wages to cover costs, making the Greek capital the 3rd worst on the list, with Manila and Rio de Janeiro being worse off.
The monthly basic utilities include electricity bills, heating, water consumption, cooling, and garbage collection costs for an 85 m² apartment.
The total cost for Athens stands at €197, the same as in Dubai. Also among the 10 most expensive cities are Warsaw (€327), Vienna (€304), Prague (€286), Amsterdam (€275), and Oslo (€271).
Overall, the monthly cost of basic utilities ranges from €24 in Cairo (the cheapest) to €370 in Munich (the most expensive). In Europe, the cheapest city is Istanbul, where utilities cost just €68, while within the EU, Helsinki is the most affordable at €115.
Tel Aviv (12th place, €245) and Hong Kong (19th place, €211) are the only two non-European cities in the top 20.
Among all cities, Montreal has the lowest share of net salary spent on utilities at 2.6%, while Manila has the highest at 25.9%, with more than a quarter of income going toward basic utility services.
In Europe in 2025, Swiss cities have the highest average monthly net salaries: €7,307 in Geneva, followed by Zurich at €7,127. Istanbul has the lowest average salary at €855, while within the EU, Athens ranks among the lowest with €1,044.
