The bare essentials – electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage collection – are staples we can't do without. But prices for these utilities vary dramatically across the planet, ranging from relatively cheap to eye-wateringly expensive.

The cost of running a home has skyrocketed in many nations since the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Using data from Numbeo, the world's biggest cost-of-living database, we've tracked down typical outlays worldwide based on the average monthly charges for a regular apartment.

Read on to find out what householders are paying in selected nations worldwide, and discover how your utility bills compare. 

All dollar amounts in US dollars.