“Pay out 30,000 rubles a month”: citizens of Europe and Russia showed housing and communal services bills

Costs for utilities in the Russian Federation are lower than in sixty countries: what’s the catch?

Russians have long been groaning from constantly rising housing and communal services tariffs. But, as it turned out, we should not complain, but rejoice. As follows from the data of the Numbeo platform, Russia is in 62nd place in terms of rent in a list of 99 countries. Residents of Latvia and Austria pay the most for communal services. And, for example, in Switzerland housing payments are three times more expensive than in Russia. But there is a nuance: with earnings levels significantly higher than ours, the Swiss have to pay only 3.55% of their income for utilities per month, while our compatriots spend on average 10.77%. MK compared the amount of utility bills with the average income of the population in different countries and came to disappointing conclusions.

The Numbeo world ranking of consumer prices and living standards allows you to assess which countries have to pay the most for housing and communal services. The rating is based on the monthly payment for electricity, gas, water and garbage collection in apartments with an area of ​​85 square meters. m.

The average salary in Russia, according to Rosstat, is 76,704 rubles. So, an apartment of 85 sq. m costs $84.78 (RUB 8,259 at the Central Bank exchange rate). This means that the share of paying for basic utilities is 10.77% of average income. Let us recall that the government has determined that the maximum share of utility costs in the family budget cannot exceed 22% of the total family income. If they exceed, the family is entitled to subsidies. Regional authorities have the right to reduce this figure. Thus, in Moscow, housing and communal services costs cannot account for more than 10% of the family budget.

Now let’s take, for example, Latvia, which tops the list of utility costs – $321.66 (31,334 rubles). At the same time, according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO), in the 1st quarter of 2023, the average gross salary (what an employee receives before all mandatory deductions) in this country amounted to $1,548 (RUB 150,797). It turns out that paying for utilities for residents of Latvia costs 20.78% of their income every month.

At the same time, residents of Switzerland pay $256 (RUB 24,938) monthly for utilities, which is some 3.55% of their income. In 2023, the average salary in this European country is an impressive $7,203.39 (RUB 701,716). Such data is published by Swiss statistical agencies.

Meanwhile, in Austria, with an average salary of $2,749.19 (267,811 rubles), consumers pay $315 (30,685 rubles) or 11.46% of income for housing and communal services.

“It is extremely difficult to say in general how the payment amounts for housing and communal services differ in Russia and in other countries. Because even in our country, the amount of payments can differ significantly, depending on the place of residence (city or rural area), type of housing (elite class or economy), additional services and much more, says managing partner of B&C Agency Ivan Samoilenko . — But in general, the payment system in other countries is approximately the same as in the Russian Federation. But it is still very difficult to make comparisons in absolute numbers (in the cost of expenses, in rubles or in dollars), because the level of net wages is different everywhere, as well as the amount of taxes.”

Vienna resident Evgeny Valishin told MK that most Austrians save on utilities due to constant changes of providers (service providers), as well as changes in gas and electricity tariffs.

At our request, he calculated the monthly costs of housing and communal services in Vienna for an apartment in a new building with an area of ​​52 square meters. So: rent – 500 euros; maintenance fee – 90 euros; electricity fee – 80 euros; gas cost – 90 euros; heating cost – 200 euros (when heating with energy-saving floors and electricity, bills for older houses can be one and a half to two times higher); the cost of water is 43 euros (1.2 euros per cubic meter, 12 “cubes” per person per month, an average of 3 people in a household); Garbage removal – 5 euros.

Total – about 508 euros (or $537.9, or 52,389.63 rubles) is the average monthly payment for housing and communal services in Vienna. At the same time, let us remind you that according to the Numbeo rating, Austrian consumers pay much less for a “utility” – $315 (30,685 rubles). In general, the rating is a good thing, visual, but, unfortunately, inaccurate. Therefore, Russia’s 62nd place in the ranking of countries with the most expensive housing and communal services is not a reason for pride, considering how much percent of income you have to spend every month.

Countries with the most expensive housing and communal services

Latvia $321.66

Austria $315

Czech Republic $291

Germany $289

UK $256

…

62. Russia $84.78

Source: World ranking of consumer prices and living standards Numbeo