When you’re looking for an apartment, it’s perfectly understandable you’re focusing on the rent. Of course, you want to be able to find an apartment with rent that you can afford, but you should also keep utilities in mind. After all, you wouldn’t want to scramble around looking for money to pay utilities because you forgot to include them in your budget! Show
Utilities refer to expenses such as gas, electricity, water, heating, and garbage collection. These days, many apartments will also include the cost of WiFi and cable services in your utilities bill, but you should still check your rental agreement to be sure. As a renter, it is part of your responsibilities to pay for your utilities in full and on time. If you’re not sure how much you should spend for your utilities, we’ve got you covered! Read on to find out how much you should spend on utilities on average, how to save on your bills, and other tips about rental utilities. The Average Cost of UtilitiesThe typical American household spends around $2,060 per year on utilities, or around $172 per month. However, this can vary depending on several factors such as the size of your home, the amount of appliances you have, and your living patterns. Take note that the average prices listed here will be for 1-bedroom apartments. Larger apartments such as 2-bedrooms and classic six units will likely cost more. ElectricityAverage cost: $30-50 Electricity usually accounts for the largest portion of your utility bill. The average cost mentioned above discounts any air conditioning or heating. If you include heating and cooling in your electricity bills, it can increase by up to 32%. There are a number of factors that can affect your electricity bill, such as the number of people living in the apartment and the amount of appliances and gadgets you use on a regular basis. The size of the apartment also matters as well; a larger apartment will consume more electricity to cool and heat. Money-Saving Ideas
GasAverage cost: $30-50 Gas bills can range widely depending on how many sources of heat in your home are powered with gas. Some common household utilities include hot water, your stove, and heating. Depending on where you live and your provider, your gas and electricity bills can be lumped together. Money-Saving Ideas
WaterAverage cost: $28 (single) - $116 (family) In the US, water usage and cost are measured per 1,000 gallons. On average, 1,000 gallons cost around $11.48. It is estimated that a single American household uses around 328 gallons of water per day, which amounts to around $3.76 daily. If you have a water bill that is regularly higher than the average, it usually means that you are not using the water in your home efficiently. Money-Saving Ideas
InternetAverage cost: $30-60 The amount of money you’ll spend on your Internet bill will depend on the plan, as well as how much bandwidth you consume. If you work from home or regularly use streaming services, you’ll need to pay for faster services. Money-Saving Ideas
Other UtilitiesOther utilities can include trash collection, cell service, and cable. Generally, these services are separate from your regular utility bills, so you need to check what other utilities you have to pay for on a monthly basis. For phone and cable, look for bundled services if you need them. However, if you have a fast Internet connection, you might not even need to use these services. Trash collection rates are determined by your local government or by private trash collection companies. Ask your landlord how trash collection is handled in your apartment. What Affects the Costs of Utilities?LocationThe location of your apartment will greatly affect your utility bill, especially your electricity and gas consumption. If you’re living in a city with a temperate climate, you won’t need to spend as much compared to living in a city with extreme weather conditions. The location also refers to where your apartment is located within a building. Top floor apartments generally have higher heating and cooling bills because they are more exposed to the elements. Energy EfficiencyCheck the energy efficiency of the apartment before moving in. An apartment with lots of windows and a high ceiling such as a loft will let in more sunlight and air, so you won’t need to heat the apartment as much. However, during colder months, this can also mean a higher heating bill. Size of your RentalObviously, a larger apartment will be more expensive when it comes to power, heating, and cooling. Even the unit’s layout can play a part; it can be more expensive to heat and cool an apartment with an open floor plan than one with delineated rooms. You only need to heat and cool the areas where you’re staying. TipsAsk Current TenantsIf you are unsure about utility costs, you can ask current residents how much they spend on utilities before moving in. Just be sure to phrase the question politely since it can be a bit of a personal question. Always Check the Energy Efficiency RatioBefore buying any appliance, check the energy efficiency ratio (EER). This ratio tells you how well the appliance uses electricity to function. A higher EER means that an appliance has been rated as energy efficient. Use Natural Heating and CoolingWhenever possible, use your apartment’s natural heating and cooling. Open the windows during the summer to let in cool air so that you don’t need to spend as much on cooling. During the winter, use furniture to block windows to prevent drafts. It all depends on how creative you can get! Final ThoughtsIt is important to know the average utility bill in your apartment for several reasons. First, of course, is to save money. Second, you can find out where you can cut back on energy consumption so that you can be more environmentally-friendly. Finally, saving money on utility bills means that you’ll be able to budget your finances better. How much is the average utility bill for a 1 bedroom apartment UK?The average electricity bill per year for 2021 (Opens in a new window) was £764, based on annual consumption of 3,600 kWh/year. That's £64 per month, an increase of 7.5% on 2020. In total that brings the combined average gas and electricity bill to £1339 per year.
How much is monthly expenses in Singapore?What is the monthly cost of living in Singapore? The monthly cost of living in Singapore is roughly S$1100-1400 or INR 60,000-75,000 (approximately) excluding rent. This can shoot up to approximately S$4,400 per month for a family of four people or roughly INR 2.46 lakh.
How much is Utilities in Singapore?Average Cost of SP Bills
Combining this data with the household data from Singstat, we were able to estimate that the average monthly SP bill in Singapore for a 4-room HDB flat is about S$140.
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.
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