How much are utility bills in California?
Take electricity, for example. According to the Save on Energy November 2023 report, the average electric bill in the United States is $142.73. In California, this is $159.64, which puts California 42 in the national cost rankings.
Electric rates in California
The average residential electricity rate in California is 30 ¢/kWh, which is 65% higher than the national average rate of 18 ¢/kWh.
California has the highest monthly water bill at $77 and Wisconsin and Vermont tied for the lowest at $18. Iowa has the highest monthly internet bill at $50 and the states of Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Virginia tied for the lowest at $20.
In 2024, the average electricity bill in California is $186, which is over 29% higher than the average U.S. residential bill of $144. California electricity bills have never been higher, mostly due to huge increases in electricity rates approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
The cost of living in California is 38% higher than the national average. Housing is 97% higher than the national average, while utilities are 22% higher. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 10% higher than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs 10% higher.
California already faces some of the most expensive utility rates in the country, and many residents have quickly come out in opposition to the upcoming price hike.
Los Angeles area households paid an average of 29.1 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity in March 2024, higher than the 26.9 cents price per kWh paid in March 2023. The average cost of utility (piped) gas at $1.688 per therm in March was lower than the $1.768 per therm spent last year.
| Utility | Average bill amount in California |
|---|---|
| Water | $77–84 monthly |
| Electricity | $160 monthly |
| Gas | $409 monthly |
| Cable and internet | Costs can start from $9.99 monthly |
| Utility | Average California Bill |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $124 |
| Gas | $63 |
| Cable & Internet | $117 |
| Water | $76 |
The average monthly cost of living in California is $3,886, which is $46,636 per year.
What runs your electric bill up the most?
- Heating and cooling: 45-50% The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. ...
- Water heater: 12% ...
- Lighting: 9-12% ...
- Refrigerator: 8% ...
- Washer and dryer: 5% ...
- Electric oven: 3% ...
- Dishwasher: 2% ...
- TV and cable box: 2%
California energy prices have been higher historically than the rest of the country because of the challenge of building and maintaining power infrastructure across a large area (PG&E serves 70,000 square miles, which is bigger than most states) that includes the steep and rugged Sierra Nevada.
Energy consumption in California is dominated by transportation, due to the high number of motor vehicles and long commutes. California also is responsible for about 20% of total jet fuel consumption in the United States.
Overall, SmartAsset found that to live comfortably in any major city, you need to make about $96,500 annually, up immensely from the nearly $68,500 it estimated last year. A family of four would need to make much more at $235,000 to avoid living paycheck to paycheck.
However, the salary requirement is higher in cities like Sacramento, Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego. To live comfortably, people in these areas should make over $104,000. The study found that 7 of the 10 cities with the highest salaries needed to live comfortably are in California.
But just how much does a single person in California need to make to live comfortably? A new study from Smart Asset determined that a person must make at least $ 89,190 to get by comfortably.
Water bills in California tend to be higher than in many other states. In a report released last year by the State Water Resources Control Board, researchers examined the rates of more than 2,100 California water suppliers and found the average monthly bill for a household using a typical amount of water was $65.85.
The analysis found that, on average, U.S. households spend $270.21 per week on groceries, or about $1,080 every month. In the Golden State, however, the average weekly grocery spending is $297.72. That's nearly $30 more than the national average.
Hawaii is the state with the highest cost of living in the US, with a cost of living index of 184.
A pipeline explosion in 2021 had already reduced capacity to move gas from Texas and neighboring states, where much of California's supply comes from. Additionally, the past few months in California have been especially cold, creating an unusually high demand for heating.
Why is gas $2 more in California?
But, it is actually the State of California which is driving up the price of gasoline through taxes, regulations and inducements to refiners to produce biofuels. California cannot use fuel from other states because it requires special gasoline to be used, which is more expensive to produce.
What is the average electric bill for a 3-bedroom house in California? With average rates of 29.49 ȼ per kWh, a three-bedroom house in California pays an average of $182 per month.
How much does it cost to buy a house in California? The median price for a single-family home here is $843,340, according to September 2023 data from the California Association of Realtors (CAR). That's more than double the nationwide median of $394,300.
- The top ten ways to save money and lower monthly utility bills. ...
- Get a home solar panel system. ...
- Get a storage battery. ...
- Get an energy audit. ...
- Get energy-efficient appliances. ...
- Cool your jets (and water temperature) ...
- Wash clothes or dishes at night. ...
- Weatherstrip doors and windows.
What's The Average Monthly Spend On Gas? An average American spends between $150 to $200 on gas every month. It, of course, varies and depends on the state, lifestyle, and driving habits.
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