These days you can find bottled water at just about any price range. Some cost just a few cents while there are others that go way beyond that. In terms of preference, there are people who like expensive water better than cheap ones because “it tastes better”.
This merits the question is there really any difference and if so, which is better?
Firstly, it’s important to note why store-bought water can get so expensive. Being a packaged beverage, there are expenses that need to be made to ensure its convenience, safety, and quality. This may include any or all of the following: sourcing, testing, bottling, storage, and transport.
In terms of taste and mouthfeel, different things contribute to the flavour of a particular brand of water. One of this is the source of water. Spring water sourced from mountains and other natural areas often taste better for some people. This is because there are salts and minerals like magnesium, calcium, sodium, and chlorides. These minerals add a flavour boost to these brands.
Cheaper water often originates from “municipal” or public sources. It tastes different than expensive water because of the chlorine in the water.
In addition, the way water is filtered also plays a role in its taste. Distillation takes away salts and minerals from the water making it taste flat.
These elements play an important role in determining how cheap or expensive water can be. The answer to the question which one is better boils down to personal preference.