A study carried out by Deutsche Bank has revealed a dramatic rise in utility costs or nebenkosten in Berlin. According to the study, the German capital is leading the race for the most expensive utility costs worldwide.
Wibke Werner, managing director of the Berlin Tenants’ Association, views the figures critically: “A global comparison of utility costs is difficult because they are not structured the same way everywhere.” However, the Berlin Tenants’ Association has also observed that utility costs have increased in recent years.
The study showed that the average nebenkosten in Berlin for an 85 m² apartment were just €121 in 2012, compared to today’s €353 for the same apartment. The study converted international utility prices to euros and compared them to Berlin’s. Berlin stood in first place, just above Tel Aviv-Jaffa in second and Oslo in third.
Two other German cities made the top 10, Munich in sixth place and Frankfurt in seventh.
