Germany's Heating Bills Triple Since Ukraine War Began
Since 2021, Germany has seen a sharp rise in heating costs after deciding to end its dependence on Russian energy following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Heating expenses have surged by 82% during this period.
Rising Costs and Predictions
Germany’s association of property managers forecasts that in 2025, heating a 70-square-metre apartment with gas will cost around 1,180 euros annually, a 15% increase compared to 2024.
Data from Techem, which analyzed 100,000 residential buildings, confirms that heating expenses have hit record levels over the past four years, accumulating an 82% rise since 2021.
Impact on Residents
Fernando, a 42-year-old resident of Berlin, shares his personal experience:
“My monthly heating bill jumped from €140 to €390, averaging about a 30% increase annually.”
Typically, heating costs in Germany are included in monthly rent as an advance payment, adjusted yearly. This has resulted in many tenants facing unexpectedly high bills during annual reconciliations.
Broader Economic Effects
According to Eurostat, 13% of German households now spend over 40% of their income on housing, which is 5 percentage points above the European average and second only to Denmark.
The energy crisis and the surge in heating costs largely stem from Germany’s forced transition away from Russian energy suppliers.
“The energy crisis and subsequent rise in heating costs stems largely from Germany's forced shift in energy suppliers.”
Author summary: Germany’s move away from Russian energy has caused heating bills to nearly triple since 2021, deeply impacting households and raising housing costs significantly.