The price of tap water in the United States varied greatly from city to city in 2021. One of the most expensive cities for tap water in the U.S. is San Francisco, where one cubic meter costs an average of 6.07 U.S. dollars per cubic meter. In comparison, citizens in the Arizona state capital of Phoenix paid, on average, 0.96 U.S. dollars per cubic meter. This is roughly 63 percent lower than the U.S. average.

Rising water bills in the U.S.

Over the past decade, water bills in the U.S. have increased considerably in a number of major cities. In Austin, Texas, water bills rose by 869 U.S. dollars between 2010 and 2018, an increase of 154 percent. The sharp rising costs has left many in the United States with unaffordable water bills, especially in low income areas in cities such as New Orleans, Cleveland, and Santa Fe.

U.S. water crisis

One of the reasons for the rising water bills in the U.S. is the aging and deteriorating water infrastructure. In addition to rising bills, outdated treatment plants with leaking pipes have resulted in harmful toxins and chemicals contaminating drinking water. A number of highly populated cities in the U.S. have been found to have high concentrations of PFAs in tap water, exposing millions of people to potentially unsafe drinking water.

Of the selected cities shown, many of the lowest drinking water prices are in Asia. Mumbai, India had the lowest average tap water price in 2021, at just 7.02 U.S. dollars per 100 cubic meters. The capital city of the Indian state of Karnataka, Bangalore had the second lowest water price, where 100 cubic meters of drinking water cost 8.83 U.S. dollars. The city of Miami in the US American state of Florida has one of the lowest tap water prices outside Asia at 50.64 U.S. dollars per 100 cubic meters.

Most expensive water prices

The price of water varies around the world, with some of the highest found in Europe. For example, in Oslo, Norway, citizens pay an average of 478 U.S. dollars per 100 cubic meters. 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.

China Usage Price: 36 City Avg: Tap Water: Industrial Use data was reported at 4.830 RMB/Ton in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 4.830 RMB/Ton for Feb 2025. China Usage Price: 36 City Avg: Tap Water: Industrial Use data is updated monthly, averaging 3.870 RMB/Ton from Jan 2001 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 287 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.830 RMB/Ton in Mar 2025 and a record low of 1.480 RMB/Ton in Mar 2001. China Usage Price: 36 City Avg: Tap Water: Industrial Use data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Price Monitoring Center, NDRC. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Price – Table CN.PA: Price Monitoring Center, NDRC: 36 City Monthly Avg: Transaction Price: Production Material.

Of the selected European cities shown, the Norwegian capital of Oslo had the most expensive tap water in 2021, averaging 6.69 U.S. dollars per cubic meter. This was followed by Germany's manufacturing hub Stuttgart, where 1,000 liters of tap water cost 5.67 U.S. dollars. Europe has some of the most expensive tap water prices worldwide.

Russia Avg Producer Price: OKPD2: Drinking Water data was reported at 23.470 RUB/Cub m in Jan 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 23.430 RUB/Cub m for Dec 2018. Russia Avg Producer Price: OKPD2: Drinking Water data is updated monthly, averaging 22.320 RUB/Cub m from Jan 2017 (Median) to Jan 2019, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.470 RUB/Cub m in Jan 2019 and a record low of 21.060 RUB/Cub m in Jan 2017. Russia Avg Producer Price: OKPD2: Drinking Water data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Prices – Table RU.PB024: Average Producer Price: Electricity and Thermal Energy.

China Tap Water Production & Supply: Profit to Cost Ratio data was reported at 6.477 % in Oct 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.925 % for Sep 2015. China Tap Water Production & Supply: Profit to Cost Ratio data is updated monthly, averaging 0.635 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to Oct 2015, with 83 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.477 % in Oct 2015 and a record low of -8.196 % in Feb 2009. China Tap Water Production & Supply: Profit to Cost Ratio data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Utility Sector – Table CN.RCA: Financial Data: Water Production and Supply: Tap Water Production and Supply.

Of the selected cities shown, many of the highest tap water prices in 2021 are in European cities, with the most expensive in Moscow, Russia at 684.4 U.S. dollars per 100 cubic meters. This was followed by Vancouver, Canada where 100 cubic meters of water costed 623.2 U.S. dollars.

Public Water Systems (PWS) submit their annual reports with rate information using the Electronic Annual Report (EAR) submission process on the Drinking Water Information Clearinghouse (DRINC) portal, which is reviewed, and manually updated into the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). This includes the water rates reported by PWS in the EAR for years 2014 and 2015.

China Tap Water Production & Supply: Cost of Sales: Year to Date data was reported at 81.853 RMB bn in Oct 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 73.249 RMB bn for Sep 2015. China Tap Water Production & Supply: Cost of Sales: Year to Date data is updated monthly, averaging 34.386 RMB bn from Dec 2003 (Median) to Oct 2015, with 97 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.239 RMB bn in Dec 2014 and a record low of 6.302 RMB bn in Feb 2006. China Tap Water Production & Supply: Cost of Sales: Year to Date data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Utility Sector – Table CN.RCA: Financial Data: Water Production and Supply: Tap Water Production and Supply.

Learn about the average cost of bottled water per gallon, factors that affect the price, and how it compares to tap water in terms of cost and convenience. Find out the price range of popular brands, higher-end options, and specialty waters. Consider the variation in prices and factors to make an informed choice. Explore the significantly lower cost of tap water and its safety regulations. Discover the benefits of using reusable bottles and tap water to save money and reduce plastic waste.

China Tap Water Production & Supply: YoY: Cost of Sales: Year to Date data was reported at 5.798 % in Oct 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.139 % for Sep 2015. China Tap Water Production & Supply: YoY: Cost of Sales: Year to Date data is updated monthly, averaging 10.884 % from Jan 2006 (Median) to Oct 2015, with 89 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.310 % in Feb 2009 and a record low of 3.544 % in Mar 2015. China Tap Water Production & Supply: YoY: Cost of Sales: Year to Date data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Utility Sector – Table CN.RCA: Financial Data: Water Production and Supply: Tap Water Production and Supply.

In 2023, the average selling price of industrial tap water in China amounted to ****** U.S. dollars per cubic meter. This was a decrease of *** percent compared to 2021.

When it comes to packaged drinking water, prices can vary depending on various factors such as the brand, packaging size, and geographical location. Learn more about the factors affecting the price of packaged drinking water and why it is important to consider quality standards and certifications when purchasing.

This submission contains a set of U.S.-specific potable reuse capital and operations and maintenance (O&M) cost data ($2020) found in published presentations and reports from engineering consulting firms, utility and water agency press releases or websites, and literature. For any unbuilt facilities, the reported costs found in technical documents are mostly engineer estimates and may be subject to change as construction proceeds. This data set contains a mix of both facility specific and total capital costs, which include conveyance infrastructure. Note that this dataset does not include detailed cost breakdowns for each of the facilities. This submission also contains the sources used to build this dataset in pdf format.

China Tap Water Production & Supply: Selling and Distribution Cost: Year to Date data was reported at 8.063 RMB bn in Oct 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.142 RMB bn for Sep 2015. China Tap Water Production & Supply: Selling and Distribution Cost: Year to Date data is updated monthly, averaging 3.063 RMB bn from Dec 2004 (Median) to Oct 2015, with 96 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.330 RMB bn in Dec 2014 and a record low of 0.442 RMB bn in Feb 2006. China Tap Water Production & Supply: Selling and Distribution Cost: Year to Date data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Utility Sector – Table CN.RCA: Financial Data: Water Production and Supply: Tap Water Production and Supply.

This dataset presents the prices of collective sanitation and drinking water per municipality. The total of the two tariffs gives the total price per municipality, for a standard consumption of 120 m³ per year. Prices are given HT and TTC (from the year 2016).

Operation and maintenance costs of drinking water plants by production volume and main source water type. The unit is dollars unless otherwise noted.

In 2020, the production cost of tap water in Japan stood at 167.8 Japanese yen per cubic meter of water. The figure decreased compared to around 181.1 yen in the previous year.

The tariff paths are an indication of the cost per year for the production and supply of 1 m3 of drinking water to subscribers by each water company. The maximum rates for calculating the drinking water component of the integrated water invoice are determined from this.

Learn about the factors that influence the price of 1 liter bottled water and how it can vary between $0.50 to $2.00. Discover the impact of brand, location, and quantity purchased on the price, and consider alternatives like tap water for cost-saving benefits.