Your Guide to Estimating How Much it will Cost for Apartment Utility BillsYou’ve been on the hunt for an apartment. Perhaps you’ve even found the perfect apartment and are considering putting in an application. Show
But one question has given you pause for concern…How much are utilities in an apartment? You’d be right to use caution here. Every landlord and property management company operates on their own terms. Because of this inconsistency in operations, you’ll need to figure out what utilities (if any) are covered as part of your apartments monthly rent, and which you are responsible for. You’ll also need to ‘guesstimate’ how much you could expect to pay for these utilities so that you can appropriately budget ahead of time. In some cases, the added expenses of utilities cost may make an otherwise affordable rent for an apartment out of reach. Knowing this ahead of time can save you time, energy, and frustration. But don’t fret. In this guide, we’ll help you figure out what apartment utility bills you might expect to pay for in addition to rent, how to find out which ones are your responsibility, and how to estimate your energy costs so you won’t get hit with a surprise energy bill that your wallet can’t cash. Quick Facts About Apartment Utility Bills
What Utilities are Included in my Lease?When on the hunt for apartments, one of the things on your list of questions, should be to ask the property manager for details about the utilities prior to signing on the bottom line. The last thing you want to do is accidentally get in over your head financially and then have to break the lease, likely incurring even more penalties. Utility Costs Landlords (might) CoverBefore we can estimate the average cost of your apartments utility bills, we need to first establish which energy bills you’re actually responsible for. Despite what you may have been told verbally if it’s not in writing on a legally binding agreement, it doesn’t count. Review your Lease or Rental AgreementStep one is to get out the apartments lease agreement and READ IT CAREFULLY. There should be a section labeled “Utilities” or similar. This section should define what is and is not included in your monthly rent payment. Most apartments include water and trash in the rent, however, this may not always be the case. Often a tenant will be responsible energy bills like gas, electric, and any other optional utilities. If something is unclear, or if certain utilities are not listed at all on the apartments lease agreement, always ask to get it in writing as to who is responsible for what energy bill. What are The Typical Average Utility Costs?We’ll get down and dirty with the details in the next part of this guide. But for now, let’s take a look at the average utility bills for apartment renters across the United States. According to a 2016 report by the United States Energy Administration, the average monthly energy bill an apartment renter could expect is $112. However, this last report was compiled in 2016 (yikes). Energy costs have increased substantially since then, especially in certain parts of the country. Depending on where you live (region, state, city) and on the type of energy consumed (gas, electric, etc.), renters could expect to pay an average of $150-$200+ per month on utilities not included in the rent. Below is a Brief Breakdown of an Apartments Average Costs Based on Utility Type:
A Closer Look at Apartment Utility BillsFactors that Can Impact How Much You’ll Pay:
Renter’s InsuranceBut doesn’t the property management company or landlord already have insurance on the property? They do, but here’s why that doesn’t help you. If disaster strikes, your landlord’s property policy won’t protect you or your belongings in your apartment. Renter’s insurance provides protection for all of your assets in the apartment building. It offers insurance in the event of theft or vandalism, or damage from water, fire, smoke and more. Make sure to do your homework and get renters insurance quotes from many different companies. Although some landlords or apartment companies require that you obtain renter’s insurance, here are a few good reasons to get it even if they don’t:
How Much is the Average Electricity Bill?No matter where you live, at least part of your apartment will be powered by electric, making it one of the most necessary, as well as expensive, energy bills. Presuming you are renting a 1-bedroom apartment, with no electric powered heat or cooling, you can expect to pay an average of $30-$50/month. How Much is the Average Air Conditioning Bill?Air conditioners are energy power hogs. Be it electricity or gas, these machines take a lot of energy to keep you feeling crisp and cool no matter the season. Because of this, costs can add up quickly depending on where you live and how much you need to use it. Typical costs for an apartment can be as much are an average of $45-$95 per month. How Much is the Average Gas Bill?Finding an average for your gas bill in your apartment can be tricky. In some areas of the country, gas is cheaper than electric (such as in some east coast states). In other areas, such as the Midwest, electric can be far cheaper than gas energy. Always ask which of the apartments appliances run on gas vs electric and what type of gas is used so you can look up local costs in the area to evaluate how much you might be spending monthly. How Much is the Average Heating Bill?The cost of heating for an apartment may be billed separately and will vary throughout the year. The biggest factors impacting cost are the size of the apartment, the height of the ceilings, and the type of energy used. Overall the monthly cost for apartments is an average of $40-$150+ How Much is the Average Cable and Internet Bills?Cable and Internet is one of the most often overlooked bills you’ll encounter when renting an apartment. VERY few apartment complexes include cable or internet in your rent. This may be a relevant time to re-evaluate your specific needs. How much time you’ll be spending at the apartment, whether or not you’re a homebody who enjoys streaming more digital media, or whether there are some things you could cut back on. Typically depending on your usage an average Cable and Internet bill can cost from $75-$180 a month. In some cases, cutting the cable bill altogether might be the right more. With the likes of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon prime, you might have everything you need elsewhere (and for cheaper). Similarly, is your cell phone capable of being a hotspot for free? If so, do you even need the internet in your apartment? Ways to Lower Your Apartment Utility BillsAll this talk about money have you feeling nervous? We get it. Energy Bills can add up fast, and unless you’ve hit the lotto, you’re likely on a tight budget like the rest of us. Below are a few quick and easy ways to save on your apartment utility bills. After all, who doesn’t like saving a few bucks and making their hard-earned green go further? Tips to Save Money on your Gas BillOptimize Your ThermostatIf its possible, see if you can have a smart thermostat installed. Although you’ll incur an initial cost here buying a new thermostat, these intelligent thermostats use everything from the projected weather report, to your personal preferences on comfort and even when you’ll be away at work to optimize temperature settings throughout the day. Can’t install a smart thermostat in your apartment? You still have options without upgrading your thermostat. According to Energy.gov estimates, lowering your temperature by 7-10 degrees for ONLY 8 hours a day can save residents 10% or more on your gas bill yearly. Similarly, setting and leaving your thermostat at 68 degrees during the summer and winter can offer a perfect blend of cost savings on your gas bill and moderate comfort no matter the season. Turn Down the Heat on the Water HeaterDid you know that the hot water heater accounts for up to 16% of energy costs in an apartment? If you have access, see if you can turn it down, this is a good way to save on your gas bill. Most hot water heaters are set too hot anyway. You want to find a temperature that is hot enough to be comfortable but not scalding. As a general rule, 120-degrees Fahrenheit is a good starting temperature to test. And don’t worry about your dishwasher. It has its own internal heating element to heat up water when needed. Tips to Save Money on Your Electric BillConsider Smart or Energy-efficient light bulbsYou might not realize it, but lighting costs account for up to 12% of the energy used in apartment life. This can really add up over time. Smart bulbs are more expensive, but over time can save you big on your energy costs. Not only are they LED and energy-efficient (using an average of 75% less energy when ‘on’), they also know when to turn off, making sure the rooms are only lit when they need to be. Can’t afford smart bulbs? Stick with LED energy efficient ones and you’ll still save an average of 75% when in use. Shop Utility Providers (and/or negotiate)If you are allowed to choose who you purchase your utilities from, you may have several options to choose from in that neighborhood. Once you find out who the gas and electric providers are, call them, get a quote from each and then tell each what the other offered and try negotiating for the lowest energy price. Similarly, cable and internet can almost always be negotiated for a better rate. Not very good at negotiation? There are services online that will negotiate your cable and internet bills for you (for a small fee). As a renter, it can be easy to forget about the additional costs of apartment life, including utilities. Even seemingly small utility bills can quickly add up, representing a significant portion of your disposable income. One of the best things you can do when apartment hunting, is to pre-emptively research the cost of utilities in each neighborhood. Once you’ve done this you can work out a rough estimation of how much it would cost to live there. Use this sum and add it to your allotted budget for each neighborhood. Doing this (arguably tedious) yet highly valuable exercise, will help you find apartments that not only meets your needs, but won’t have you living paycheck to paycheck. It’ll also help save you time and aggravation, wasting your energy on apartments that only meet your requirements at the surface but are later found out to be too expensive. We hope you enjoyed this guide and learned a few things about how you too can effectively plan for utility bills at your next apartment. Don’t forget to tell us about what you did with all of that extra money! Looking for more information about renting apartments? Read our Blog article about How to Rent an Apartment. About the Author How much electricity does a single person use?With an average electric bill of $117.65/month and an average household occupancy of 2.63 people in the United States, you can determine that the average electricity cost for one person in the United States is $44.73/month.
How much electricity does a 2 person household use?Naturally, the more people that live in a home, the more energy is used. On average, one person uses 909 kWh per month. If you have at least two people living in the home, that equals 1,818 kWh per month. The average American household contains four people, which equals 3,636 kWh per month or 43,632 kWh per year.
What is the average electric bill for a 1 bedroom apartment in Florida?The average electric bill for a 1 bedroom apartment per month is about $50-90, depending on where you live. It will increase for larger apartments and households, and vary depending on your lifestyle. Your electric bill is likely to account for the highest expense on your monthly utility bill.
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How much is electricity per month for one person apartment
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