Energy and gas prices in European cities - Which are the most expensive and cheapest in 2026?
Residential energy prices in Europe rose sharply after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. They stabilized about a year later, but remain above pre-crisis levels according to the Household Energy Price Index.
Energy costs are more important for low-income households, who spend a larger share of their budget on these expenses. On average, electricity, gas and other fuels account for 4.6% of total household expenditure in the EU, according to Eurostat. Prices vary significantly across Europe.
But which European capitals have the most expensive — and cheapest — electricity and gas prices as of the beginning of 2026?
Starting from 2 January 2026, electricity prices for residential end users ranged from 8.8 euro cents per kilowatt in Kiev to 38.5 euro cents per kilowatt in Bern, while the EU average was 25.8 euro cents per kilowatt.
Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, London and Prague were among the most expensive cities for household electricity. Meanwhile, in addition to Kiev, Budapest, Podgorica and Belgrade offer the cheapest electricity prices for households. Electricity prices are generally lower in the capitals of Central and Eastern Europe, except for Prague.
Electricity prices regularly exceed the EU average in the capitals of Europe's five largest economies, and this was also the case in January 2026.
When adjusted for purchasing power standards, the ranking of electricity prices changes significantly. The cheapest according to this indicator is
Oslo and the most expensive Bucharest. The most significant changes in the rankings include Bern, which fell from first place as the most expensive in euro terms to 22nd in purchasing power parity.
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