How much does it cost to maintain a home in different countries?

Housing expenses: what do they consist of and how are they distributed?
Comparison of utility prices in Europe
Taxes and housing maintenance in Europe
Utility payments in different countries: analysis and comparison

Housing expenses

Housing expenses are formed from several key dependencies, which account for a certain percentage of the total cost of housing. These include utilities, property taxes, management company fees, and insurance. On average, these expenses amount to about 3-4% of the housing cost. In different countries, these expenses can vary significantly.

Distribution of expenses

Specialists note that the lowest housing maintenance costs are in Latvia, Turkey and Bulgaria, while the highest costs are in Germany and Italy. Bulgaria, while the highest costs are in Germany and Italy. Expert Georgi Kachmazov emphasizes that the cost and quality of housing services depend on the general standard of living in the country.

Utility payments

Utility payments depend on various factors, such as resource consumption, the presence of meters, tariffs, and the area of the property. The total expenses for utilities in European countries amount to approximately 1-2% of the housing cost. The most expensive utilities are typically found in Italy and Germany, while lower costs are characteristic of Latvia and Bulgaria.

Prices for water and gas

In Germany, the price of water is one of the highest in the world: 1.9 euros per cubic meter. In Turkey, there are issues with gas, which forces property owners to use electric heating or buy gas cylinders. A similar situation is observed in Montenegro, where there is no gas supply. A family of four usually manages with one gas cylinder for 3 months, costing between 30 to 60 euros.

**Prices for utilities in different countries in Europe**

The cost of utilities varies greatly across different countries. In Italy, the highest gas rates are observed, reaching €0.07 per kWh per year. At the same time, Latvia and Bulgaria offer significantly lower prices of around €0.04 per kWh per year. However, for electricity, Turkey and Germany have high prices, while Montenegro is the most affordable.

Information on the cost of utilities

BulgariaWater — 0.500 euros/m³, Gas — 0.043 euros/kWh per year, Electricity — 0.082 euros/kWh per year.
GermanyWater — 1.900 euros/m³, Gas — 0.057 euros/kWh per year, Electricity — 0.254 euros/kWh per year.
SpainWater — 1,000 euros/m³, Gas — 0.052 euros/kWh per year, Electricity — 0.195 euros/kWh per year.
ItalyWater - 0.799 euros/m³, Gas - 0.070 euros/kWh per year, Electricity - 0.203 euros/kWh per year.
LatviaWater - 0.135 euros/m³, Gas - 0.039 euros/kWh per year, Electricity - 0.118 euros/kWh per year.
TurkeyWater - €0.595/m³, Electricity - €0.355/kWh per year.
MontenegroWater - €0.065/m³, Electricity - €0.013/kWh per year.

Real estate tax

The property tax rate depends on the assessed value of the property. In Germany, the tax rate ranges from 0.98% to 2.84%, with an average of 1.9%. In Bulgaria, all property owners are taxed at a rate of 0.10% to 0.45%, with possible exemptions for residents. In Spain, there are two taxes: a standard tax (0.4% for urban areas and 0.3% for rural areas) and a temporary additional tax (from 0.2% to...

Property tax in Germany

The property tax rate in Germany is only 0.1% of the property's value.

Sale flat in Sarafovo 49 350,00 $

Bulgaria,Sarafovo

2 Bedrooms

62 м²

Sale house in Kavac 177 450,00 $

Montenegro,Kavac

4 Bedrooms

100 м²

Sale flat in Saint Vlas with sea view 50 925,00 $

Bulgaria,Saint Vlas

2 Bedrooms

60 м²

Sale flat in Denovici 42 525,00 $

Bulgaria,Denovici

2 Bedrooms

75 м²

Sale villa in Camajore 2 940 000,00 $

Italy,Camajore

8 Bedrooms

8 Bathrooms

470 м²

Sale flat in Sunny Beach 37 800,00 $

Bulgaria,Sunny Beach

2 Bedrooms

55 м²

However, apartment owners also have to pay fees for the maintenance of common areas. These payments, which amount to about 20-35 euros per month, are mandatory for all community members. Management companies responsible for building maintenance provide a wide range of services, including round-the-clock security, cleaning of the premises, gardening, and building maintenance.

Comparison with other countries

Compared to Germany, such services are much more expensive in Bulgaria. For example, the cost of maintenance for a 40 m² studio is 1,300-1,500 euros per year, which is 3.0-3.5% of the value of the dwelling. of the cost of housing. In Spain, owners of villas with a pool and garden also turn to management companies. Weekly cleaning costs about 60 euros, maintenance of the pool - about 800 euros per month, and the services of a gardener - the same amount. and the services of a gardener for the same amount. Thus, the maintenance of the villa per year has to spend several tens of thousands of euros. thousand euros.

Important aspects of taxation and servicing

Obligation of tax:Property tax is also mandatory for all owners in Italy and Turkey, while in other countries it is at the discretion of each individual.
Contribution size:The amount of contributions depends on the value of the property, its location, age, degree of wear and tear and other factors. For example, in Italy such costs can reach 1-2% of the total value of the property. of the total value of the property.

Energy-saving technologies

Some countries, such as Germany, actively use various energy-saving technologies to reduce energy consumption and lower property maintenance costs. For example, many buildings in Germany are equipped with modern solar panels to enhance energy efficiency.

Different amounts of utility payments in different countries

Additionally, you can significantly reduce heat loss by installing wooden blinds on the windows. You can also save water by using a dishwasher. Let's take a look at the annual costs of maintaining an 85 square meter apartment in different countries.

Utility payments in Bulgaria

Total utility payments: 843.6 euros
Taxes: 83.8 euros
Management company fee: 850.0 euros
Insurance:212,0 euros
Total: 1989.4 euros

Utility payments in Germany

Average utility bills: 1633.3 euros
Taxes: 1744.2 euros
Management company fee:330,0 euros
Insurance: 300.0 euros
Total amount: 4007.5 euros

Utility payments in Spain

Utilities:1080,0 euros
Taxes: 408.0 euros
Management company fee: 1105.0 euros
Insurance: 300.0 euros
Total: 2893.0 euros

Utility costs in Italy

Utilities:1800,0 euros
Taxes: 1047.6 euros
Management company fee: 300.0 euros
Insurance: 2125.0 euros
Total: 5272.6 euros

Utility payments in other countries

We also analyzed data on Latvia, Turkey, and Montenegro. The results of the study clearly show that average utility costs can vary significantly between different countries, which should be taken into account when planning a move or investing in real estate abroad.