Cost of Utilities Comparison by State
Factors considered
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Internet
- Cable
- Water
No matter what you’re saving for, utility bills are a burden we all have to bear. But which states’ residents bear the largest burden?
To calculate electricity and natural gas costs, we multiplied average national consumption rates by the average cost for these services in each state—individual bills may vary depending on actual usage.
When determining internet costs, we look at a service level that included speeds of 60 Mbps, unlimited data, and Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL).
State-by-state information was unavailable for cable and water, so we used the national averages to supply those figures for each state.
National average utility cost
| Utility |
Electricity |
Natural Gas |
Internet
(60Mbps) |
Cable |
Water |
Total Costs |
National Ranking |
| National Average Cost/ Month |
$98.32 |
$100.33 |
$62.33 |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$422.08 |
|
| Idaho |
$98.32 |
$52.89 |
$57.00 |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$343.71 |
#50 |
| California |
$176.26 |
$63.16 |
$58.43 |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$437.85 |
#15 |
| Hawaii |
$300.04 |
$232.40 |
$58.62 |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$730.86 |
#1 |
| New York |
$173.84 |
$102.76 |
$60.71 |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$477.31 |
#5 |
| Florida |
$101.27 |
$135.72 |
$72.00 |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$448.99 |
#12 |
| Michigan |
$143.34 |
$68.93 |
$58.45 |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$410.72 |
#30 |
| Mississippi |
$98.31 |
$89.58 |
$63.57 |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$391.46 |
#40 |
*According to the US Department of Energy, the typical US family spends at least $2,200 per year on energy bills—with nearly half of that paying for heating and cooling. This might seem like a large amount, but these costs all depend on where you live, the size of your house or apartment, and (most importantly) whether you make smart decisions about conserving energy.
The top 10 least expensive states for utilities
- Idaho
- Utah
- Montana
- Washington
- Nevada
- Louisiana
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Arkansas
- Wisconsin
If you’re hoping to save money on utilities, look no further than the Gem State. At $343.71, Idaho’s total average utility bill is the lowest in the country. Natural gas is especially affordable with an average cost of $52.89 per month.