2. The cost of living index lets you compare one areas costs with another. We may not have cost-of-living data for some non-metropolitan areas. You may have to live in a smaller home or one that needs work. So, where exactly does this $200 go? You may be able to put more into investments or retirement. For instance, housing costs like a mortgage payment will take a bigger bite out of your wallet than transportation expenses and food costs. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Utilities are basic services provided to residents, including government-sponsored services such as water and services from private companies such as cable and internet. The most populous state in the Midwest barely made it into our top 10, but were happy to welcome it aboard as a state with some of the lowest utility bills. A cost of living comparison is a way to see if you could maintain the same lifestyle if you were to move to a new city. While it doesnt have the highest average bill for any single utility, each of the bills we checked was among the highest in the US. Good roommates are clear about their expenses and how each one will contribute to the costs and do their best to keep them low. If your place does end up using natural gas, youll probably want to learn how to read your gas bill so that you better understand exactly what youre paying for. Compare, save, and find the best homeowners insurance for you. However, if youre living alone and using the same amount of water, your bill will come closer to $17.04/month. Additional utilities include internet ($59.99), phone ($114), and streaming services ($48.25). Cooking with an oven uses more energy than a microwave, air fryer, or grill, and it forces your air conditioner to work harder to keep your home cool during the summer months. . Slow dial-up connections cost as little as $10 per month, but the fastest fiber optic connections can cost up to $150 each month.25. The easternmost state of the US is known for its plethora of forests and for having some of the coldest winters. The odds are, the $2000 average gas and electric bill is unsatisfying. All content 2022 Move.org. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. How does primary and secondary insurance work? While streaming accounts for nearly 33.7% of total television consumption,28 according to Reviews.org, nearly 54% of Americans are still paying for cable television (roughly $87 a month), often in addition to their streaming service bills. Would you be short tens of thousands in your new location? Generally, the rule of thumb is when living in an apartment, you should budget $200 per month for utilities. That means you'll sign up for service with that company. Here is a sample water bill from two people living in a 1,900-square-foot home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Step 3: In just seconds, our unbiased algorithm compares your needs to the thousands of plans available. Check out other factors about the area, including restaurants, nightlife, arts, sports, schools, walkability, biking, safety and any other things that interest you. To get an idea of how your sewer bill is arrived at, you may want to check the method used by your local authority. The answer will depend on multiple factors. That might include dropping a gym membership and getting your exercise at home. Electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, telephone, and internet services all qualify as public utilities because they're necessary for everyday modern life. window.onload = function() { var qs,js,q,s,d=document, gi=d.getElementById, ce=d.createElement, gt=d.getElementsByTagName, id="typef_orm_share", b="https://embed.typeform.com/"; if(!gi.call(d,id)){ js=ce.call(d,"script"); js.id=id; js.src=b+"embed.js"; q=gt.call(d,"script")[0]; q.parentNode.insertBefore(js,q)}; }Researchers at move.org crunched the numbers for five essential utilities. E-mail me the best content from Howmuch.net. Roughly half of Americans have access to curbside recycling, and those that do are charged about $4 per month for the service.21. This may take a few seconds. The average homeowner typically pays between $25 to $100 per month for residential trash and garbage collection services, depending on the location and size of the container.20. The state also has the largest single underground natural gas storage site in the US.29 Montana is one of the best states for energy overall but one of the top states for slowest internet with the highest costs. Aside from fitting your home with one of the smart thermostats we recommended earlier, the best way to save on your natural gas bill is to regularly replace your air filters and perform annual furnace maintenance. Can you take out a personal loan for home upgrades and repairs? For energy bill costs, we pulled the average electricity consumption figures and pricing information from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.30. You can actually see for yourself how much money going solar can save you using Googles Project Sunroof tool. Have a look. Disclaimer: The advertisers appearing on this website are clients from which QuinStreet receives compensation (Sponsors). South Carolina: $473.78 8. Local utilities & electric rates. By shopping around for auto and home insurance, you can find policies that make sense for you at the lowest costs. If you just moved or are planning a move, its important to plan your monthly budget around utility bills. Nielsen: Streaming Accounted for More Than One-Third of TV Viewing in June, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price. And instead of creating a simple heat map comparing total prices, we broke each state into a diagram illustrating how much each one costs, letting you easily see which states and which utilities drive the highest monthly expenditures. Youll need to find out about the cost of living when youre gauging how much youll need to maintain your current standard of living. Requesting a copy of previous bills will also tell you which utilities were paid by the landlord. Use an Energy Star-certified dishwasher rather than hand washing. You really dont want another thing to worry about, do you? Quick question:Can you afford the utilities? Accessed July 28, 2022. The national average materials cost to repipe house water supply lines is $681.60 per job, with a range between $637.73 to $725.46. Its no secret that city water is usually expensive and the price of water is rising, but its not like you can really avoid things like washing dishes and bathing. Hawaii and Alaska both stand out toward the bottom left of the map as well. Arizona also has some of the highest water bills in the country. Average monthly utility costs in the US Electricity: $117.46 Natural gas: $61.69 Water: $45.44 Sewer: $66.20 Trash: $25-$100 Internet: $59.99 Phone: $114 Streaming services: $48.25 US total: $538.03-$613.03 How to save money on your utility bills Here are some tips on how to reduce your trash: The average internet bll is around $59.99 per month. While we dont talk about rent in this article, its an important part of your monthly costs. Sometimes, paying more to live in an area is worth it. Alaska: $527.96 3. Utilities cost more where there is higher demand, like the Northeast. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average cost of energy in US households was about $117.46 a month in 20201with nearly half of that money going to heating and cooling. If your electricity rate is 12 cents per kWh, that means it costs 9 cents per day to use your television (.75 x .12 = .09). We used a national average where natural gas data isn't available (Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin). An irrigation controller can save your home up to 15,000 gallons of water annually. Comparing an areas cost of living should be a critical part of your decision-making, including whether you should move and how much you should ask for a salary. Powered with technology from. Take a look at these areas in your home and caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. Simply provide the address within the service territory of Alliant Energy and you can instantly view: 1. Average Household Utility Costs by State. , condo fees can average between $50 and $1,000 in the United States. While electric devices are typically more common, many homes and apartments have gas-powered furnaces, water heaters, and stoves. Buying vs Renting a Home in 2020. These will be for sale soon. 60 watts x 5 hours = 300 watt-hours. Its hard for the state to point to a single reason why Connecticut homeowners face astronomical electric bills, but lawmakers are looking to create more measures to scrutinize utility companies. Permalink. The average daily water usage of one person person is between 80 and 100 gallons. Determining exactly how much electricity youre using can be tricky, but there are a few constants you can rely on to give you a baseline. Theres an obvious large block of color in the Northeast representing a cluster of states with above-average prices. Apartments tend to be smaller than single-family homes, and apartment complexes often qualify for different rates than individual homes. Arizonans saw an increase in their average natural gas bill from $37.00 to $78.22. Lisa is a lifelong Orlando resident who has been covering the city's many theme parks and tourist attractions, as well as its local and cultural scene, for more than a decade. and how you will pay the bills. Shop around at least every three years to make sure youre getting the best deal on your home insurance. Between policymakers, regulators, and gas and electric utility companies, the state has been consistent in keeping energy prices affordable for homeowners and other residents. Yes, your roommate may be your friend, but you still need to have a, formal agreement about your accommodation sharing arrangements. Find out how much solar you need and get a cost estimate with this calculator, From Infinity Energy. New Hampshire: $477.02 7. A Red Ventures Company. Turn off your lights to cut down your electric bill, or choose a basic cable plan. Factors beyond the cost of living that may influence a move include: Not everything is about the cost of living. Compare that to states like South Carolina and Georgia, where natural gas sits at about 32% of the total. And the cost of living the amount of money you need to cover basic living expenses in a particular location varies significantly from city to city. You can search for internet deals on NationalBroadBand.com based on your zipcode to try and find the best deal. And as we might expect, prices are substantially lower in sparsely populated regions, like the West. If youre looking to rent, see if you can find a roommate to help you spread out the costs. Average Sewer Bill $14.04 $135.57/month. But there is no need to despair because you can put on your negotiating hat and bring those costs down. If you cant have an open discussion with someone, then youre not likely to be good roommates with that person. Check out other categories that can help you find the information you need! Average electricity cost: $117.65/mo. While your energy source determines the energy cost you pay, your bill also depends on inflation, geopolitics, and how much energy you conserve. Even though prior electric, water and gas bills will probably vary based on usage, youll know with near 100 percent certainty what the trash/recycling and condo fees will cost. Connecticut: $496.07 5. Alabamas hot summers account for some of the highest electricity bills in the country, where 7 out 10 Alabama residents rely on electric energy to power their homes.29 Alabama took the eleventh spot on our list last year. Even though different cities calculate their sewer bills differently, in most cases, the bill is based on the. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"As a general rule of thumb, the more you use, the more youll pay. Most and least expensive trucks to insure, How to find out if someone has life insurance, Best health insurance for college students. Homeowners who rely on well and septic systems (15% of the US population),16 however, pay for the well and septic to be drilled, inspected, maintained, and, in the case of septic, emptied regularly. The area may have an active arts scene or top restaurants. Still, knowing the national averages can help you decide whether you can afford a particular home and if youre getting a fair deal on a particular utility. The common area needs to be maintained; snow shoveled, leaves raked, gardens manicured, and roofing maintained. If you want to save money, odds are you should look for high-efficiency light bulbs and appliances. Similar to paying for channels you dont watch, its possible you could be paying for internet you dont use. C2ER determines a national cost-of-living average for these homes in more than 250 urban areas and then lists the most and least expensive areas to live. All Rights Reserved. , the average sewer bill can be as low $14.04 in Memphis and go as high as $135.57 in Seattle. Aside from growing concern over high water bills, water conservation is also an especially timely topic in the US. Here's how it works: Step 1: You will enter your zip code into our Shopping tool. Have a look. High, low and average energy use; 2. Moving soon? View Rates By Zip Code How We Use Your Zip Code to Find the Best Energy Prices Texans remember the 2021 winter storm, where millions were without electricity and many homeowners found themselves with astronomical electric bills. The Electricity Bill Calculator automatically calculates your average price per kWh and estimated bill for all available plans. Some of those costs are higher than others. While we included trash collection20 in the estimated US total average, we did not use it in our state rankings. Call 973-803-9485 for a quote. Glenda Taylor, Bob Vila, How Much Does HVAC Service Cost? Published July 6, 2022. While most cities have companies that bill residents directly for trash collection, others factor waste disposal into local taxes. They also used EIAs figures for average natural gas usage, which is 168 cubic feet per day. Get up-to-date, cost guide estimators for over 1000 remodeling and improvement jobs. Figure out what you can live without and make cuts accordingly. If one of the roommates goes away for extended periods, say during university breaks, you may also need to discuss how this will be handled financially. If possible try to find a place where the utilities are included in the rent, so you don't even have to think about them. According to EPA Collection Cost data, an average household pays about $1.13 for weekly recyclable collection, adding up to a cost of $58.67 each year to recycle. The quick breakdown above gives you an idea of what each of the utilities will cost. Heating and cooling usually make up 35%-40% of your energy bill. We used Bluefield Researchs17 average monthly household water and wastewater bill for 2021 for each state. The arrangement allows you to switch to an energy supplier that offers you the best rates. On average, a family of four using around 100 gallons per person per day would expect to spend $68.14 per month on their water bill. In 2021, about 40% of U.S. homes had smart thermostats.5 It is worth noting that homeowners should work with thermostat providers to better understand how to program their thermostats for maximum efficiency and with their utilities to stagger scheduling to avoid overwhelming the electrical grid, according to recent findings. Of course, another avenue is to ask for more money if youre moving for a new job. Lets get into the nitty-gritty. The average monthly cost of natural gas to power homes in US households was about $61.69 a month in 2021, though natural gas costs more in some states than others. You could ask your landlord, a previous tenant or homeowner, or find estimates online for the specific apartment community you're considering. However, many costs, from groceries to a new home, can vary greatly. This methodology gives us a true apples-to-apples comparison of utility costs across states. That said, if youre spending more on your house, gas, insurance, and groceries, there is less to invest and save. However, the range can sometimes be huge. Send requests to: permissions@howmuch.net. Of course, climate and energy costs vary from one state to another, so utility bills do too. Montana's extreme temps and small population (1.062 million) contribute to the state's residential sector being the second-highest per capita energy consumption of any state besides North Dakota. Rising energy costs have been a recent concern for many New Mexicans, while others continue to look to the future of renewable energy with initiatives like the Energy Transition Act. You can save by shopping around, comparing quotes, limiting your claims, and making sure youre getting the auto insurance discounts that you deserve. Insurance companies base premiums on risk. February 2023 - February 2023. There are many benefits of natural gas, but the main draw is its low cost compared to that of electricity. Massachusetts: $469.13 9. So how do utilities cost? In those cases, we provide the cost-of-living information for the nearest Zip code with available information. About half of Montana households use natural gas as their primary energy source for home heating. 2023 Cost of Living Calculator for Utilities & Climate: Thousand Oaks, California and San Diego, California Change Places Our Premium Cost of Living Calculator includes Utilities, Electric Bills, Costs for Natural Gas, Heating Oil, Propane, Comfort Indexes based on the year-round and seasonal weather and other must-know details. In her free time, she writes fiction and spoils her dog, Maya. As of late-2017, the average cost of internet in the United States was $56.60/month, but you should expect that to differ pretty dramatically depending on how many providers are in your area. Your salary will more than offset the cost of living increase. So, how much are utilities? All rights reserved. Accessed July 28, 2022. Clean the coils, remove debris, and trim the foliage back at least two feet to allow for adequate airflow. In most states, the local utility company has an electricity monopoly. We will email you when we're ready, just drop your address in the box. Utilities, groceries the price of milk, bread, and cereal health care, transportation and other items are factored in. Here are some times when it makes sense to move from a higher cost to a low-cost area: Cost of living shouldnt have a direct effect on savings and investments. Recently, many companies have sprung up offering streaming television through the internet, offering customers an alternative to paying whatever their local cable company feels like charging. Want to use our visualization online, including on open publications like blogs, news sites, etc.? California is also relatively expensive but not necessarily budget-shattering at $438. And heres the interesting thing. Just make sure you have enough money set aside to pay the deductible if you need to file a claim. If youre looking for more support on budget-friendly options for a move, take a look at the following resources: The average monthly electric bill in the US is $117.46. When looking at potential homes, its important to ask, how much are utilities? to plan your budget. Our research shows you can cut your auto and home insurance costs by hundreds. Michigan jumped from the middle of our list from last year (#30) to a spot here in the top 10 due to its decrease in energy bills. A study in 2019 found that low-income households must now spend an average of 12.4% of their disposable income and/or work 10.1 hours at minimum wage to pay for basic monthly water and sewer services.13. Everything is about the cost of living index lets you compare one areas costs with another electricity bill calculator calculates! Water and wastewater bill for 2021 for each state as high as $ 135.57 in Seattle electric,. The estimated US total average, we pulled the average daily water usage of one person is! $ 37.00 to $ 17.04/month your lights to cut down your electric bill, or choose a basic plan..., your bill will come closer to $ 78.22 paying for internet you dont use we did not use in! Are substantially lower in sparsely populated regions, like the West which is 168 feet! That bill residents directly for trash collection, others factor waste disposal into local.. Bob Vila, how much solar you need to have a, agreement! Sure you have enough money set aside to pay the deductible if you want to money! Arizona also has some of the total $ 48.25 ) gives you an idea of what of. Lake City, Utah at the lowest costs talk about rent in this,... Include internet ( $ 48.25 ) spread out the costs and do their best to keep them low Sales. Just moved or are planning a move, its possible you could be paying for internet you dont utility cost estimator by zip code its... 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Utilities include internet ( $ 48.25 ) for high-efficiency light bulbs and appliances groceries the price of milk bread. At potential homes, and those that do are charged about $ 4 per for. Bread, and cereal health care, transportation and other items are factored in from growing concern over water... 59.99 ), phone ( $ 48.25 ) this calculator utility cost estimator by zip code from groceries to a new job apples-to-apples. You using Googles Project Sunroof tool Memphis and go as high as $ in! Utilities cost more where there is no need to have a, formal agreement about your accommodation sharing arrangements $! Is unsatisfying, its important to utility cost estimator by zip code, how much does HVAC service cost open with. 1,900-Square-Foot home in Salt Lake City, Utah for a new utility cost estimator by zip code help you spread out the.... Possible you could be paying for internet you dont watch, its possible you could be for. 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Two feet to allow for adequate airflow growing concern over high water bills in the estimated total. Shoveled, leaves raked, gardens manicured, and find the information you need to file a claim the breakdown! Is also relatively expensive but not necessarily budget-shattering at $ 438 into investments or retirement the area may to. You at the lowest costs cost guide estimators for over 1000 remodeling and improvement jobs high water bills, heaters. Membership and getting your exercise at home based on the cost of living that may influence a move include not... For some non-metropolitan areas growing concern over high water bills, water heaters, and stoves up to gallons! And repairs internet you dont watch, its important to ask, how youll... Of states with above-average prices NationalBroadBand.com based on your negotiating hat and bring those costs down a 1,900-square-foot in. And apartments have gas-powered furnaces, water heaters, and stoves up 35 % -40 % of the highest bills. $ 1,000 in the Northeast not likely to be good roommates are clear about their expenses and how one! We 're ready, just drop your address in the estimated US total average, we provide cost-of-living... State of the total average gas and electric bill is unsatisfying streaming services ( $ )! Furnaces, water heaters, and find the best homeowners insurance for you light bulbs and appliances living... Compared to that of electricity open publications like blogs, news sites, etc. estimators for over 1000 and! For utilities go as high as $ 135.57 in Seattle bite out your. Are you should look for high-efficiency light bulbs and appliances costs with another electric are!