Nebenkosten by Cost Type: What Electricity, Heating, Water and Waste Each Cost

A Nebenkostenabrechnung (utility cost statement) often reads as a single, large total, but behind it are several separate cost types with very different amounts and calculation methods. Knowing the individual line items makes it much easier to judge where your own spending stands.

Heating and hot water

Heating and hot water are usually the largest single item. According to the current Betriebskostenspiegel from the Deutscher Mieterbund, they average €1.32 per square meter monthly nationwide, with peaks up to €2.18 in older, poorly insulated buildings. Because a significant share of this cost must be billed based on consumption under the Heizkostenverordnung, your own heating habits directly affect how much you pay.

Water and wastewater

Nationwide drinking water consumption averages 121 liters per person per day according to the BDEW, which works out to roughly 3.7 cubic meters per person a month. The largest share goes to bathing, showering and personal hygiene, followed by flushing the toilet. Water and wastewater are usually billed either per registered occupant or through an apartment-level water meter.

Waste collection and building cleaning

Waste collection is usually billed based on the number of residual waste bins in a building, then split among tenants by living space or occupant count. Cleaning of stairwells and shared areas also falls under cold operating costs, and tends to be a comparatively small but steady item on the annual statement.

Electricity: the big exception

Unlike the items above, electricity for your own apartment use almost never counts as Nebenkosten — it runs through a separately arranged contract with a provider you choose yourself. According to data from the Stromspiegel, an initiative from the non-profit organization co2online, a two-person household in an apartment without electric hot water preparation uses on average about 1,900 kilowatt-hours a year. Only electricity for shared areas, like stairwell lighting, counts toward the chargeable operating costs.

Why the breakdown helps when comparing apartments

If two apartments have a similar Warmmiete but list different Nebenkosten, it's worth looking at the individual cost types. An apartment with lower heating costs but a similar total might have higher cleaning or elevator costs instead, which can point to the building's overall standard of upkeep.

If you want to know how landlords are legally allowed to split each of these cost types between tenants, see our guide on distribution by square meter or person. For how household size specifically affects your electricity and water usage, check our Nebenkosten examples by household size. And if your own costs look unusually high once broken down this way, our guide on how high Nebenkosten can legally run explains what's actually excessive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is electricity part of Nebenkosten?

Usually not. Electricity for your own apartment use is billed separately through a provider you choose; only electricity for shared areas counts as Nebenkosten.

What's the average water consumption per person?

According to the BDEW, around 121 liters per day, or roughly 3.7 cubic meters a month.

Why are heating costs the largest single item in Nebenkosten?

Because heating and hot water average €1.32 per square meter according to the Betriebskostenspiegel, close to half of the overall Nebenkosten average of €2.67 per square meter.