What is the average utility bill?
What is the average utility bill?
$500 – $600 average cost of utilities per month
$6,000 – $7,200 average cost of utilities per year
Average utility bill
The average cost of utilities in the U.S. is $500 to $600 per month or $6,000 to $7,200 per year, including electricity, gas, water, sewer, phone, internet, and streaming or cable TV services. Utility bills depend on your location, home and household size, individual utility usage, and your home's efficiency.
| Utility | Average monthly bill | Average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | $115 – $160 | $1,380 – $1,920 |
| Natural gas | $35 – $200 | $420 – $1,600+ |
| Water | $40 – $60 | $480 – $720 |
| Sewer | $60 – $90 | $720 – $1,080 |
| Trash / recycling | $25 – $100 | $300 – $1,200 |
| Phone | $115 – $125 | $1,380 – $1,500 |
| Internet | $55 – $95 | $660 – $1,140 |
| Cable TV | $30 – $100 | $360 – $1,200 |
| Streaming services | $25 – $60 | $300 – $720 |
(Data sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, American Gas Association, Statista, Bluefield Research, Doxo.)
What is a utility bill?
A utility bill is a monthly statement showing the amount owed for essential services that keep your home functional, livable, and comfortable. Common utilities include electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, trash collection, phone, and internet. Most households also pay monthly bills for cable TV, streaming services, or both.
Average cost of utilities by state
Where you live has a significant impact on your monthly utility bills. Local fuel prices and availability, infrastructure, and state taxes and regulations all affect utility costs. In addition, energy bills are typically lowest in areas with temperate climates where homes require less heating or cooling.
Total household utility costs are highest in Connecticut, Hawaii, and Alaska and lowest in New Mexico, Utah, and Wisconsin. The table below shows the average monthly utility bills for each state.
| State | Total cost per month* | Electric | Water | Gas | Internet | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $532 – $602 | $172 | $30 | $60 | $71 | $119 |
| Alaska | $618 – $688 | $139 | $68 | $124 | $88 | $119 |
| Arizona | $530 – $600 | $149 | $64 | $49 | $69 | $119 |
| Arkansas | $505 – $575 | $136 | $26 | $79 | $65 | $119 |
| California | $570 – $640 | $155 | $77 | $57 | $82 | $119 |
| Colorado | $487 – $557 | $99 | $39 | $75 | $75 | $119 |
| Connecticut | $675 – $745 | $214 | $69 | $113 | $80 | $119 |
| Delaware | $554 – $624 | $148 | $46 | $84 | $77 | $119 |
| District of Columbia | $527 – $597 | $112 | $59 | $72 | $85 | $119 |
| Florida | $513 – $583 | $169 | $33 | $39 | $73 | $119 |
| Georgia | $529 – $599 | $150 | $28 | $82 | $70 | $119 |
| Hawaii | $651 – $721 | $218 | $64 | $77 | $93 | $119 |
| Idaho | $484 – $554 | $112 | $38 | $59 | $76 | $119 |
| Illinois | $525 – $595 | $114 | $26 | $107 | $79 | $119 |
| Indiana | $520 – $590 | $142 | $30 | $80 | $69 | $119 |
| Iowa | $497 – $567 | $117 | $32 | $80 | $69 | $119 |
| Kansas | $514 – $584 | $126 | $27 | $93 | $69 | $119 |
| Kentucky | $540 – $610 | $137 | $49 | $83 | $72 | $119 |
| Louisiana | $485 – $555 | $142 | $21 | $51 | $72 | $119 |
| Maine | $579 – $649 | $160 | $24 | $114 | $82 | $119 |
| Maryland | $576 – $646 | $161 | $46 | $89 | $81 | $119 |
| Massachusetts | $602 – $672 | $170 | $34 | $114 | $85 | $119 |
| Michigan | $516 – $586 | $122 | $29 | $91 | $75 | $119 |
| Minnesota | $509 – $579 | $113 | $28 | $93 | $76 | $119 |
| Mississippi | $515 – $585 | $159 | $23 | $67 | $67 | $119 |
| Missouri | $553 – $623 | $138 | $39 | $106 | $71 | $119 |
| Montana | $504 – $574 | $113 | $38 | $69 | $85 | $119 |
| Nebraska | $490 – $560 | $118 | $23 | $81 | $69 | $119 |
| Nevada | $527 – $597 | $157 | $26 | $65 | $80 | $119 |
| New Hampshire | $599 – $669 | $176 | $27 | $111 | $86 | $119 |
| New Jersey | $566 – $636 | $121 | $72 | $92 | $82 | $119 |
| New Mexico | $464 – $534 | $93 | $32 | $59 | $81 | $119 |
| New York | $538 – $608 | $132 | $30 | $97 | $80 | $119 |
| North Carolina | $512 – $582 | $142 | $20 | $75 | $76 | $119 |
| North Dakota | $514 – $584 | $123 | $31 | $86 | $75 | $119 |
| Ohio | $544 – $614 | $135 | $27 | $112 | $71 | $119 |
| Oklahoma | $537 – $607 | $142 | $35 | $89 | $72 | $119 |
| Oregon | $550 – $620 | $120 | $76 | $74 | $81 | $119 |
| Pennsylvania | $570 – $640 | $155 | $31 | $102 | $83 | $119 |
| Rhode Island | $600 – $670 | $165 | $32 | $126 | $78 | $119 |
| South Carolina | $515 – $585 | $153 | $33 | $56 | $74 | $119 |
| South Dakota | $489 – $559 | $130 | $26 | $64 | $70 | $119 |
| Tennessee | $521 – $591 | $146 | $43 | $59 | $74 | $119 |
| Texas | $540 – $610 | $169 | $37 | $63 | $72 | $119 |
| Utah | $476 – $546 | $88 | $38 | $72 | $79 | $119 |
| Vermont | $524 – $594 | $118 | $18 | $100 | $89 | $119 |
| Virginia | $555 – $625 | $156 | $36 | $87 | $77 | $119 |
| Washington | $552 – $622 | $111 | $75 | $83 | $84 | $119 |
| West Virginia | $611 – $681 | $151 | $91 | $95 | $75 | $119 |
| Wisconsin | $475 – $545 | $115 | $18 | $73 | $70 | $119 |
| Wyoming | $532 – $602 | $102 | $53 | $97 | $81 | $119 |
(Data sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, American Gas Association, Statista, Bluefield Research, Doxo.) *Includes $20 to $60 per month for streaming services and $60 to $90 per month for sewer bill.
What impacts your utility bills?
The following factors impact your average household utility bills:
Location & climate: Your location, climate, and seasonal changes all affect your home's heating and cooling needs, which have a major impact on gas and electricity usage. Running the furnace on cold winter days or the air conditioner on hot days consumes more gas or electricity.
Household size & utility usage: The more people in your household, the more water, electricity, and gas you'll use, resulting in higher bills. However, your household's habits—such as your shower length and thermostat settings—also affect your utility usage.
Home size & layout: The larger your home, the higher your utility bills will be. For example, utility bills for an apartment are typically considerably less than bills for a house. In addition, homes with open floorplans typically cost more to heat and cool.
Home energy efficiency: Your home's overall efficiency has a huge impact on your utility costs. These aspects affect a house's energy efficiency:
Non-energy-related utility bills
In addition to the cost for electricity and gas, most households also have monthly bills for these non-energy-related utilities.
Water & sewer: The average water bill is $40 to $60 per month, depending on your household water usage and local rates. The average sewer bill is $60 to $90 per month. Many cities bundle these two utilities in one bill.
Internet: The average internet bill is $55 to $95 per month, depending on the plan and location. Prices for plans offering higher speeds can reach $200 per month. Rates per Mbps are typically higher in rural areas.
Cellphone / landline: The average household cellphone bill is $115 to $125 per month, depending on the plan, number of lines, and service provider. Fewer than 30% of U.S. households have a landline, with most service plans ranging from $20 to $45 per month.
Streaming services: The average total streaming bill is $25 to $60 per month, depending on the number of subscriptions. More than half of all households subscribe to at least three separate services. Households that subscribe to streaming service plans without ads often pay more.
Cable TV: The average cable TV bill is $30 to $100 per month, not including internet service. Approximately 46% of U.S. homes still subscribe to cable or satellite TV.
Trash collection & recycling: The cost for trash and recycling pickup ranges from $25 to $100 per month, depending on the location.
How to lower your utility bills
Making these simple upgrades or changes to your household's habits can lower your utility bills:
Unplug: Many devices and appliances draw "phantom power" even while off or in standby mode. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, standby power accounts for 5% to 10% of home energy use. Unplugging devices and small appliances when they're not in use can save the average household up to $100 per year.
Upgrade to efficient lighting & appliances: Replace old, inefficient appliances with newer Energy Star-rated models. Swap old light bulbs for LED bulbs, which are up to 90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs. Turn off lights when not in use.
Adjust your thermostat: Heating and cooling account for more than half your home's total energy consumption. Save up to 10% per year on energy bills by lowering the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for 8 hours per day in the winter and raising it by the same amount in the summer.
Install low-flow toilets & shower heads: Replace old toilets and shower heads with low-flow models to save 12,700 to 22,000+ gallons of water per year, reducing your water bill. Look for products with the WaterSense label, which certifies the product uses at least 20% less water than regular models.
Take shorter showers: Reducing the length of your showers will save 2 to 4 gallons per minute and cut down on water heater usage, lowering your water bill and gas or electric bill at the same time.
Insulate & seal your home: Inadequate insulation forces your home's heating or air conditioning system to work harder, increasing your energy bills. Improving your home's insulation, weatherstripping around doors and windows, and air sealing the attic can save you 10%+ on energy costs.
Replace old windows: Replacing old single-pane windows with double-pane or triple-pane windows significantly improves your home's energy efficiency, cutting your energy bills and reducing exterior noise.
Go solar: Though the upfront cost to install solar panels can be high, the investment usually more than pays for itself in the system's lifetime.
For more ideas about energy efficient home improvements that reduce your utility bills, check out our home energy efficiency guide.
To learn more about how to lower specific utility bills, check out these other guides:
For maximum savings, get a home energy audit to identify areas of your home that are wasting energy and causing high utility bills. A home energy audit costs $200 to $600, and this expense is eligible for the federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement tax credit.
Who helps with utility bills?
If you're struggling to pay your utility bills, contact the local offices for these programs to see if you qualify for assistance. Eligibility is based on your income.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps people pay their heating or cooling bills or get emergency services during an energy crisis.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps low-income households reduce their utility bills by providing free home improvements that increase energy efficiency. Participating households save $250 to $350+ per year.
Lifeline is a federal program that provides eligible consumers with discounts of up to $9.25 per month on phone and internet bills.
Call 211, the United Way's helpline, or visit the 211 website for assistance paying electric, gas, water, or internet bills.
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.