Utilities are a burden for everyone to bear. Utility bills are a monthly expense that is a large part of a location's overall cost of living and needs to be factored into your monthly budget, whether you live in an apartment, condo, townhome, or house. Those living in apartments should budget around $100-$150 per month for utilities, and those who own homes should budget around $400 for utilities.
Utility bills include the cost of electricity, gas, water, internet, and cable. Utility costs vary greatly by state. The most expensive utility bills can be found in Alaska, with an average cost of $496 per month. New Mexico has the lowest average cost of $232 per month.
Utilities such as water, sewage, and garbage are often factored into a rental property's monthly rent. The average person uses about 85 gallons of water per day, split between showering, the toilet, washing machine, dishwashing, hygiene, and outdoor use. If the water bill is paid separately from the rent, one can expect to pay about $35 on average.
There are several ways to reduce your monthly water bill, including taking shorter showers, turning off the water when you brush your teeth or shave, running only full loads of dishes and laundry, and avoiding hand-washing dishes.
Cost of Water Bills by State
The water portion of a utility bill is typically smaller than electricity, gas, cable, and internet, with exceptions. Using about 100 gallons per person per day, an average U.S. family four paid about $72.93 for water every month in 2019. According to data collected by RENTCafé, the least expensive cost of water in any state is in Florida, where the average cost of a water bill is $6. Wisconsin and Vermont follow, with average water costs at $18.
Alaska has the most expensive water costs of any state at $95 per month, followed by West Virginia at $72. The ten states with the least expensive water prices are: Florida ($6), Wisconsin ($18), Vermont ($18), Maine ($19), North Carolina ($20), Arkansas ($22), District of Columbia ($22), Mississippi ($23), Nebraska ($23), and South Dakota ($24).