(NEXSTAR) — Although the recommendations can be somewhat unclear, it’s generally advisable to drink water consistently throughout the day. There isn’t much of a wrong choice regarding the source of that water, whether it’s from a trendy Stanley, a cup from your faucet, or a bottle.
How much you pay for the latter, in particular, is also entirely up to you.
You might be surprised at the cost of bottled water, especially at events. For example, at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, a bottled water costs between $5.49 and $10.49, according to an online menu.
If you’re a water connoisseur, however, paying more than $10 for a bottle may feel like getting a deal.
Remarkably, purchasing bottled water can sometimes feel akin to buying a bottle of wine, complete with steep price tags and intricate beverage descriptions.
A report from 2024 by Svalbardi, a company specializing in iceberg water, indicates that the most expensive bottled water would cost at least $1,390 per liter. What makes this water so unique, you might wonder? The company behind it, Fillico, markets it as “Jewelry Water,” selling it in a bottle adorned with crystals and filled with water from the springs of Kobe, Japan.
The specific bottle highlighted by Svalbardi seems no longer available on Fillico’s website. However, the Japan-based company does offer a leopard Jewelry Water for ¥49,500, equating to about $335. You’re also cautioned not to let the jewel-encrusted bottle become wet, as the decorative stones might discolor.
There must be more expensive water, you’re probably thinking. And you’d be correct.
Fine Liquids, an international water retailer based in Germany, is currently selling what it claims to be the “last bottle available worldwide” of Svalbardi: Arctic Glacier Water (indeed, the same Svalbardi previously mentioned).
The water is sourced from icebergs in Kongsfjord, Norway, with the ice “gently melted in a specially designed machine and bottled by hand” in a vessel made of high-quality glass. The Svalbardi water is described as having “a slight bite and a touch of sweetness,” and says drinking it is “an experience for the palate, much like a fine wine.”
Ready to snag the last bottle in the world? It’ll cost you €9,999, or about $11,810, before shipping.
Believe it or not, more expensive water has existed. In 2010, a glass bottle complete with 24-carat gold sold for roughly $60,000 at auction. According to Guinness World Records, the funds raised at the auction where the glass-and-gold bottle was sold benefited an organization focused on global warming.
Other high-end bottles of water on Fine Liquids come in far under that price point. For €4,999, or about $5,800, you can snag a 3-liter bottle of NEVAS water, specifically its Jeroboam Club Edition, which is sourced from two different natural springs. For about $1,100, you can purchase a bottle of Bling H2O, which is “made from pure spring water and enriched with natural minerals” with “a touch of Hollywood glamour” — crystals are used to create the “bling” logo on the front.
Like an expensive bottle of wine, you don’t necessarily need to seek out these high-priced bottles of water daily. Martin Riese, one of the world’s only certified water sommeliers, said in a 2017 interview that, on a daily basis, your cheap water is fine.
“It doesn’t need to be expensive at all,” he explained. In the same video, Riese noted that certain waters can pair well with certain foods: a water with a higher level of sodium goes great with dishes like steak and barbecue, or a salty prosciutto, for example.
Your $6 water at the ballpark, meanwhile, we’ll likely pair just fine with a hot dog or some peanuts.
