How much is your utility bill?

[lovegem]

I am trying to calculate the budget to get an idea how much it would cost us to own a house vs. renting per month. We are renting a 550 sq. ft apt now. Other than the rent, all we pay for is the electricity. Electricity is ~$75 per month with A/C, without A/C in the winter it is around $45. Heat, water and gas are inclusive in the rent. So I have no idea how much those would cost us. If you don't mind I ask, how much does utility cost you? It would be nice if you can do a break down. I am mainly looking at electricity, water and gas.

If you are living in PA or NJ, it would be very nice of you to tell me the cost of the property tax? I heard NJ is more expensive. It doesn't have to be on your house, you can just give me a general idea about the property tax in and around NJ and PA. We work in Philadelphia, so we prefer not to drive more than 30 mins to Philly.

Thanks in advance.

 

[D&T]

umm just my last bill for Electricity was $250 on an 1800 square feet two story home, plus Gas which is about $30 water is another $75 a month, Come the winter, it will flip with gas being the highest (for heating) and our electricity should be about $50, water will slightly be less since we won''t be watering our lawn every day. I''m in AZ

 

[audball]

We have a 2500 sq ft, 3 story townhouse.

Utilities:

Electric (kept at 68 degrees AC year round, never change it) $200/month
Cable/Internet Combo for HD TV and 15mbps internet/wireless $120/month
Wate give or take (this includes trash, sewage, etc.) $50/month
No gas bill, all electric.

Other than that we have cell phones, mine is $76/month, SO is closer to $100/month

We live in the bay area, FL

Hope this helps.

 

[monarch64]

I don't know how it is in your area (PA/NJ), but here in IN you can get estimates for a potential address ny calling the utility companies...you may want to do that, if possible, if you've an address in mind you're thinking of moving into. I did that two months ago when I moved into an apt. here, and was given a basic monthly estimate for electric of $92...my first bill with A/C running nonstop was only $72...I have a gas bill (gas is only used to heat the hot water heater) for ~$13, and my landlady pays water/sewer/trash, so I don't know what exactly it runs but I'm estimating based on what other apt. dwellers in close proximity have told me that it's about $25/month. HTH!

ETA: I live in a large, converted, old Victorian with very high ceilings. My apt. is 2 BR, 2 Ba, and is probably ~900 square feet. There are 4 units in the building, so 3,600 square feet total? All 4 units are 2Br, 2Ba. (I think that makes sense, someone call me out if it sounds ridiculous or something!)

 

[bebe]

Electricity typically, in the summer 700- 800.+
( I signed a new contract to get power at 10.5 cents per kilo watt hr. That will lower my bill. My last bill was 527.00

Gas summer 70.00
winter 250.-350.

water 65.00

we had a well drilled after our first year in the house, water bills were over 250.00 because of landscaping needs.
we use the well water only for the lawn and to add water to our pool.
Live in Texas

 

[LGK]

$6200 for two months of water/sewer
$2500ish for two months of electricity

Commercial property. Water bill has, no crap, tripled in the last six months. It's now nearly at what our mortgage payment is. And it's jusssst about at the point where if it goes up much more (each bill, it's gone up a lot), it'll seriously be time to make some tough choices. Since we don't have a leak, it's been a hell of a process trying to figure out what the hell is up with the water issue. City just says "that's what your meter says," and lacking a leak or any change in how we use our water except to install lo-flow fixtures and stuff, it's utterly baffling. And frustrating. We've about exhausted every option except lawyers now.

In our apartment, we pay about $60 / mo for water, sewer and trash, and it's about $100 / mo for electric.

 

[that_someone_special]

A good month is $35 electricity... Higher with AC is $50. (3 beds/ 1 bath condo- built in 1908- 1600sqf)

I'm in MPLS, MN.... we try to turn off the things we aren't using. I really like $35 bills

 

[MichelleCarmen]

In addition to heat, water and gas, you'll also have garbage/recycling/yard waste. I'm pretty sure that for us, we pay around $250+ per month (during the spring - we didn't live here last winter so I do not know the additional expense, and we *do not* use a/c, so that reduces our bill). That's for a 2,400 sq. foot home, four people and a huge yard that has to be constantly watered. The woman who owns the home paid less than half what we're currently paying for water.

 

[lovegem]

D&T, audball, monarch, bebe, littleGreyKitten, swedish bean, and MC thank you all for providing the information.

Monarch, we don''t have a house in mind yet but it is a great idea to call up the utility company to get an idea once we view enough houses.

LittleGreyKitten, have you investigated whether anyone is stealing your water and electricity? I don''t know how people do that, but I''ve heard that it is possible.

MC, do you have to pay for garbage/recycling/yard waste collecting? I thought that''s the city''s job and property tax covers those.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Here where I live (and every city I''ve lived in), garbage, recycling, and yard waste are the responsibility of the home owner/renter (unless the owner includes those costs in the rent). Possibly it''s different where you live. It would be worth taking the time to research the details.

 

[joflier]

2000 sq ft house

water/electric - same bill - $125 in summer - $75 in winter

gas - $10 in summer - $275 in winter (only thing run on gas is the furnace)