Energy costs in the United States are about two times lower than in Europe.

Omissions

• The 'two times lower' ratio is an approximation that varies by energy type: for industrial electricity the EU is over twice US levels (IEA 2026), for household electricity the EU is roughly 1.8 times US levels, for natural gas the EU is 3–5 times more expensive, and for petrol the EU is only about 1.7 times more expensive (EU average €1.79/L vs US €1.06/L).
• The Bruegel figure (industrial electricity 158% higher and gas 345% higher in the EU than the US) refers to 2023 and is therefore older than the most recent 2025 data.
• US retail electricity prices vary widely by state; the comparison uses national averages.

Sources

• PrimaryIEA – Electricity 2026, Prices (Analysis)EU electricity prices for energy-intensive industries stayed elevated in 2025, again averaging over twice US levels and nearly 50% above those in China.
• PrimaryEurostat – EU household electricity prices stable in 2025In the second half of 2025, average electricity prices for households in the EU remained largely stable, with a slight increase to €28.96 per 100 kWh.
• PrimaryEurostat – Electricity price statistics (Statistics Explained)The downward trend continued in 2025, reaching €0.2075 per kWh in the first half and €0.2059 per kWh in the second half. Electricity prices including taxes for households... (EU household average around €0.29/kWh in H2 2025, while US residential average is roughly $0.17/kWh).
• SecondaryEurelectric – US vs EU: the ultimate power prices showdownEurope's lack of natural gas resources and reliance on imports makes gas three to five times more expensive than in the US.
• SecondaryBruegel – Decarbonising competitiveness: four ways to reduce European energy pricesIn 2023, industrial electricity and gas prices in the European Union were 158 percent and 345 percent higher than in the United States.
• Secondaryfuel-prices.eu – Europe vs USA Fuel PricesCompare fuel prices across all 27 EU countries with the United States. EU average Euro 95: €1.790/L vs US: €1.057/L (+69.3%). Diesel: €1.928 vs €1.204.