Anyone living in Cyprus buys water. That's almost the norm. But have you ever wondered what it really costs you over a year – or five years? And whether there's a smarter alternative?
We've done the maths.
What Does Bottled Water Really Cost?
A 1.5-litre bottle of water costs an average of 0,40–0,60€ in Cypriot supermarkets. Sounds little. But let's do the calculation:
A family of four drinks at least 6–8 litres of water per day. That's about 4–5 bottles per day.
Per month: 4 bottles × 30 days × 0.50€ = approx. 60€ per month
Per year: 60€ × 12 = approx. 720€ per year
Over 5 years: 720€ × 5 = approx. 3,600€
And that's just drinking water – not water for tea, coffee, cooking or the kettle. Anyone who uses bottled water for everything quickly ends up paying double.
Then there are the hidden costs:
- Time – shopping, carrying, returning empties
- Space – storing bottles in the home
- Environment – plastic bottles, transport, CO₂
What Does a Reverse Osmosis System Cost?
At hydrateme.cy, Coway reverse osmosis systems start from 590€ for the entry-level Global P model. Then there are the ongoing filter replacement costs.
Filter replacement intervals for Coway:
- Pre-filter – every 6 months (25€ per unit)
- Post-filter – every 18 months (25€ per unit)
- Membrane – every 24 months (from 75€)
Replacement filters at hydrateme.cy:
- Individual filter from 25€
- Complete filter set from 50€
- Filter set incl. membrane from 125€
Let's do the calculation:
Year 1: System 590€ + 2× pre-filter 50€ = 640€
Year 2: 2× pre-filter 50€ + post-filter 25€ + membrane 75€ = 150€
Average annual maintenance costs: approx. €75–100
Over 5 years total: 590€ + approx. 400€ filter costs = approx. 990€
The Direct Comparison
| Bottled Water | Coway Reverse Osmosis | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ~720€ | ~640€ |
| Year 2 | ~720€ | ~150€ |
| Year 3 | ~720€ | ~75€ |
| Year 4 | ~720€ | ~150€ |
| Year 5 | ~720€ | ~75€ |
| 5 years total | ~3,600€ | ~1,090€ |
Savings over 5 years: over 2,500€
Already in the first year, the reverse osmosis system is cheaper than bottled water – and from the second year onwards, the difference is dramatic.
What About the Rental Option?
If you don't want to buy the system outright, hydrateme.cy also offers a rental model – with a one-time installation fee of just €75. This means you can benefit from clean water immediately without a large upfront investment.
What About Water Consumption?
A common counter-argument: reverse osmosis systems produce wastewater alongside the purified water. Depending on the model, approximately 2–3 litres of tap water are needed for every 1 litre of clean water – meaning slightly higher water consumption.
But: even taking water costs into account, a reverse osmosis system remains significantly cheaper than bottled water. Tap water in Cyprus costs only a fraction of bottled water – approximately 1–2€ per cubic metre (1,000 litres). Even with triple consumption, that's just a few cents per day – hardly worth mentioning compared to 60€ per month for bottled water.
But Is the Water Just as Good?
Even better, actually. A Coway reverse osmosis system filters up to 99% of all contaminants from tap water – limestone, chlorine, heavy metals, bacteria and microplastics. The result is often purer than commercially available bottled water, which can also have quality variations depending on brand and storage conditions.
And another thing: bottled water often sits in the sun for hours or in warm warehouses – which is not ideal for quality. Your reverse osmosis water comes freshly filtered directly from the system.
Conclusion: The Calculation Is Clear
Bottled water in Cyprus is expensive, inconvenient and bad for the environment. A reverse osmosis system pays for itself in the first year – and then delivers clean water for years at minimal cost.
Take a look at our product range at hydrateme.cy – or contact us directly for a free consultation.
support@hydrateme.cy | +357 97 762834
All price information is based on average market prices in Cyprus. Individual costs may vary.