Monthly Utility Costs In The U.S. By State (2024)

FAQs

How much do utilities cost per month in US states? ›

Americans spend a monthly average of $429.33 per month on utilities, according to Forbes figures. That comes out to Americans spending about $5,151.96 per year on utilities, or 10% of their yearly income, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

California currently has some of the highest electricity costs of any state, according to a report that suggested the income-based model. California's electricity prices range from one and a half times to double the national average.

The typical U.S. family spends $2,060 on average per year for home utility bills, according to EnergyStar.gov. What you pay depends on several factors, including the size and quality of your living space, the surrounding climate, and your usage patterns.

Monthly cost of utilities by state

The total monthly bills for cable-TV, electricity, internet, natural gas and water in the United States vary widely depending on where you live. Hawaii is the most expensive, and Utah has the lowest costs. Hover over a state to see its average utility costs.

In 2021, the average U.S. household spent $122 per month on electricity, with the average U.S. resident consuming 892 kilowatt-hours per month, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Average electric bill costs differ by state, and some states are more affordable than others.

As of February 2023, the average residential electricity rate in the U.S. is about 23 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Importantly, electricity rates can vary widely based on where you live. Rates vary from a low of 10.35 ¢ / kWh in Idaho to a high of 28.38 ¢ / kWh in California.

Vermont was the lowest energy-consuming state in 2015 at about 132 trillion Btu; it was the only state with a lower consumption level than the District of Columbia's 179 trillion Btu. Historically, Vermont has used less energy than any other state since 1961.

How the states stack up. Texas produces the greatest share of the country's electricity, accounting for 12.3% of all energy production in the U.S.

Monthly electric bills are a product of how much electricity you use per month and your electric rate. In Florida, the average monthly electric bill for residential customers is $243/month, which is calculated by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electric rate: 1,509 kWh * 16 ¢/kWh.

How much is water bill per month in US? ›

The average American water bill is $45.44 per month. And Americans use an average of 82 gallons of water a day at home. The best way to see how much water you're using is to look at the breakdown of charges on your water bill.

The cost of living in America varies dramatically between each state. From Mississippi being the cheapest state to live in with a median household income of $46,511 to Hawaii being the most expensive state with a median household income of $83,173.

Mississippi. Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the United States. With a cost of living index of 83.3, expenses are nearly 17% less than the national average. Mississippi's housing costs are the lowest in the nation.

Federal agency confirms San Diego has the highest electricity rates in the country.

What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.

So California's rising prices can be traced to higher energy procurement costs, increases in transmission, and most significantly, distribution costs.

The five cheapest countries in terms of the average cost of one kWh are Libya (USD 0.007), Angola (USD 0.013), Sudan (USD 0.014), Kyrgyzstan (USD 0.017), and Zimbabwe (USD 0.021).

How much electricity does a TV use? ›

Key Takeaways About TV Wattage

Generally, TVs use 106.9 kWh of electricity per year, costing you around $16.04 annually. The best way to save on electricity costs is to use solar energy to run your TV; it can be a solar powered TV or solar generator option.

Almost one-quarter of 2022 power outages occurred in California. The state of California also came in first for the most power outages overall in the last 20 years: 2,684.

Texas produces the most renewable energy of any state, but it also generates an outsized amount of electricity from fossil fuels. So renewables only account for 26% of the state's total electricity production. In 2021, 44% of Texas's electricity came from fossil gas, also known as natural gas.

Hawaii is the U.S. state with the highest household electricity price. In September 2022, the average retail price of electricity for Hawaiian residences amounted to roughly 45 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. New Hampshire followed in second, with 30.4 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.

The Average Electricity Rate in the U.S. is 15.85 cents per kilowatt-hour. Hawaii has the highest average electricity rate of 44.25 cents per kilowatt-hour.

In 2021, the industrial sector accounted for 35% of total U.S. end-use energy consumption and 33% of total U.S. energy consumption.

In fact, the top five energy-producing states overall (Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and West Virginia) are also the top five fossil energy-producing states. The combined fossil energy produced by these five states combined accounts for more than 42 percent of the total energy produced in the U.S. each year.

Massachusetts is the most energy efficient state and South Carolina is the least, according to new data analysis from WalletHub. The personal finance web site examined home and vehicle energy consumption data from government sources for its analysis.

Florida Bills Lower Than National Average

Among the 500 biggest community water systems surveyed around the country, the average water bill was $337.60. While customers in Charlotte County paid the most money for water in Florida in 2015, customers in Miami-Dade enjoyed the lowest water bills.

Why is electricity so expensive in Florida? ›

The rising costs of natural gas – the main source of where Florida utilities get their power– has been identified as the main culprit for higher electricity costs.

The average household natural gas bill is about $56 a month. Review your past statements to get a better estimate of how much you typically spend and how much to budget going forward. See if your provider offers a “level payment” plan that gives you a set payment amount each month to help with budgeting.

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.

Average Utility Costs in Virginia: $393 per month

For most of us, a house isn't a home until it's got water and electricity flowing through its pipes and wires — and internet to boot. Here's how much it costs to get your household up and running in Virginia, on average.

Texas is actually one of the more affordable states in the country. Compared to national averages, living expenses here tend to be cheaper — though how much cheaper varies based on where you choose to live in the state.

The most common household utilities include everything you need to run a comfortable home such as electricity, water, gas, internet, and waste pickup—cable TV optional.

Air Conditioning & Heating

Your HVAC system uses the most energy of any single appliance or system at 46 percent of the average U.S. home's energy consumption. Depending on the efficiency of your unit, in a 24-hour period, your HVAC could use around 28-63 kWh, resulting in about 850-1,950 kWh in a month.

According to Move.org, the average cost of utilities each month per U.S. household comes out to about $370.16.

Key Takeaways

The average monthly cost for utility bills in Texas is around $396/month. Many factors impact your utility bill, including the size of your property, the number of people living with you, how often you use your appliances, and your Internet/cable plan.

What utilities are paid in USA? ›

The average American household spent $66,928 in 2021, or $5,577 a month. Three months of expenses would suggest having a rainy-day fund of $16,731.

Enter Your Monthly Income

50% of your net income should go towards living expenses and essentials (Needs), 20% of your net income should go towards debt reduction and savings (Debt Reduction and Savings), and 30% of your net income should go towards discretionary spending (Wants).

The average expenses for a single consumer unit in one month in 2021 were $5,577. Meanwhile, average spending per year came out to $66,928. Keep in mind that the cost of living can vary by region -- some cities are cheaper to live in and others are more expensive.

Fuel costs account for one-third of Florida electricity bills, and the cost of those fuels has tripled since 2020. Year after year, the state's power companies have raised electricity rates for customers as the costs of fuel rise. In 2023, Floridians have faced massive jumps in their energy bills.

Mississippi. Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the United States. With a cost of living index of 83.3, expenses are nearly 17% less than the national average. Mississippi's housing costs are the lowest in the nation.

Monthly electric bills are a product of how much electricity you use per month and your electric rate. In Wisconsin, the average monthly electric bill for residential customers is $157/month, which is calculated by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electric rate: 893 kWh * 18 ¢/kWh.

The average cost of utilities in Michigan is about $342.68, not including the average monthly trash bill.

U.S. residential retail price of electricity 2022, by state

Hawaii is the U.S. state with the highest household electricity price. In September 2022, the average retail price of electricity for Hawaiian residences amounted to roughly 45 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.

What is the biggest utility provider in the US? ›