Lowest average tap water prices worldwide 2021, by select city

Of the selected global cities shown, many of the lowest tap water prices are in Asian cities. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia had the lowest average tap water price in 2021, at just 0.04 U.S. dollars per cubic meter. The Egyptian capital of Cairo had the second lowest water price, where 1,000 liters of tap water cost 0.08 U.S. dollars. The northern Italian city of Milan has one of the lowest tap water prices in Europe at 0.49 U.S. dollars per cubic meter.

Most expensive water prices

The price of water varies around the world, with some of the highest found in Europe. In Oslo, Norway, citizens pay an average of 6.69 U.S. dollars per cubic meter, making it one of the most expensive cities in the world for tap water. In the United States, cities with high levels of water stress – such as Los Angeles and San Diego – also pay high prices for tap water. The cost of water in many U.S. cities has been increasing in recent years, with water bills in San Diego having increased by 531 U.S. dollars between 2010 and 2018.

Water consumption

Globally, per capita water withdrawals are highest in the U.S., with the average American withdrawing 1,207 cubic meters of water a year. This is roughly twice the per capita withdrawals in Japan, and four times more than in Germany.