Hello everyone.
What’s the average total utility bill (including electricity, water, trash, Wi-Fi, etc.) for everyone here? I’m trying to see if I’m paying too much.
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Water averages about $35 a month.
Electricity varies from around $70 in July/August to about $30 or less in the winter.
Gas ranges from $25 in the summer to $75-$80 in the winter, though it spiked to around $120 during the Russian invasion and price increases.
Sewer costs around $30 and is managed by a private company.
Trash service is through the HOA and is also about $30.
I live outside city limits.
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I use a well for water and take my own trash to the dump, costing about $8-12 a month. For propane, I buy 1,000-2,000 gallons per year (mainly for cooking and some heating), which averages out to a monthly cost based on current prices.
Solar and batteries offset my bill by about $80-$120 a month, but I could potentially go off-grid using propane generators if needed. The biggest expense is internet, including several streaming subscriptions for my kids, which totals around $120 a month.
Cell phone plans for the family are around $275 a month, but that’s not a utility. I built my home 20 years ago on owned land, so it’s mortgage-free. The solar system, geo heating & cooling, and concrete construction were significant investments.
I’m still calculating if I’ll ever break even on these investments, as the solar system needs upgrading due to aging, though newer systems seem more efficient. The home is just under 6,000 square feet, with additional power and water for a 1,000-square-foot casita and a barn.
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You’ll likely always overpay for internet due to the limited number of providers, but regularly negotiating can help a lot. For example, we reduced our Xfinity bill from $97/month to $66/month.
City water, sewer, and trash costs about $70/month, doubling in the summer due to our garden. Gas, our primary heating source, ranges from $20 in the winter to $200 during colder months because our house is old and poorly insulated.
We use grid-tied solar, so our electricity costs are not a good comparison, but if the electricity is used for heating, it can get pricey. Best of luck!
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My studio’s electricity bill was $230 last month. Since the place doesn’t have AC, I had to get a portable, energy-intensive unit. People used to tell me, “You don’t need AC in Santa Fe; it’s always pleasant.” Well, that hasn’t been my experience.
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