How much are utility bills in San Diego?
Utilities: Monthly utility costs for a standard apartment in San Diego can range between $100 and $150, covering electricity, water, heating, and cooling. It's worth noting that air conditioning costs may be higher due to the region's warm climate.
While housing in San Diego is far more expensive than other parts of the United States, utilities are more in line with the national average. You can expect to pay an average of $130 to $138 per month for electricity, water, garbage and natural gas.
How much is the average monthly electric bill in San Diego County? If we just use the published rates for SDG&E and multiply by the average monthly electricity usage per household, the average San Diego County household's monthly electric bill in 2021 was approximately $179.
Cities with the highest average bills are Boston ($211), Kansas City, Mo. ($143), and San Diego ($131). While bills in general have risen, some carriers have launched plans that enable some users to reduce their overall charges.
The cost of living in San Diego, CA is 3% higher than the state average and 42% higher than the national average. San Diego, CA housing is 116% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 6% pricier.
This means the average family monthly bill will jump from $81.06 to $93.67 by the start of 2024, and then $100.75 in early 2025. To estimate how much your bill will change, use the calculator here.
SDG&E electric rates range from 12 cents to 68 cents per kWh, depending on the pricing plan, month, and time of day. The average price of electricity in San Diego was 47.7 cents per kWh as of November 2023, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was the highest rate of any US metro.
As demand goes up and supplies go down, the price of energy itself goes up. The more we use individually, the higher our bills. Increased use of appliances during colder weather affects your bill. Some appliances, like electric heaters, use a lot of energy.
- 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%
The average SDG&E natural gas customer had a bill of about $225 during the first month of last year. That average fell by more than half to about $96 in January 2024. SDG&E's 1.4 million electric customers are also getting an 11% reduction — about $14 — on a typical bill. “That savings stems from two things.
What is the average water bill in California?
| 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 |
It's more than almost any other state. The average household in California spends roughly $1,200 a month on groceries — or nearly $300 a week, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the most recent data released from the Household Pulse Survey, American households spend an average of $270 on groceries a week ...
According to data from the Save on Energy Electricity Bill Report, Californians consume an average of 542 kWh per month (down from 572 kWh in March 2022). They pay an average of 24.46 cents/kWh (up from 23.22 cents/kWh), resulting in an average monthly electricity bill of $132.57 (up from $101.49).
The data used in the study analyzed the cost of living in each city as of 2022. For California cities like Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Diego, a single person must make more than $76,000 to “live comfortably,” the data shows.
High demand: San Diego's climate, job opportunities, and lifestyle make it a desirable place to live, driving up demand for housing. Cost of construction: The high cost of labor and materials also contributes to the high home prices.
A new SmartAsset study shows it requires $79,324 after taxes to live comfortably in the San Diego metro area. "America's Finest City" ranks second on the list of the 25 Largest Metro Areas.
Monthly electric bills are a product of how much electricity you use per month and your electric rate. In San Diego County, CA, the average monthly electric bill for residential customers is $312/month, which is calculated by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electric rate: 729 kWh * 43 ¢/kWh.
SDG&E is familiar with explaining why it costs so much to build and maintain San Diego's energy grid. The utility spent billions to protect its poles and wires against wildfires since the 2007 fires that ravaged parts of San Diego and blamed in part on SDG&E equipment.
| 01/01/24 Rate | |
|---|---|
| Base Sewer Fee for Two Months | $30.58 |
| Sewer (rate per HCF**) | $5.17 |
| New Customer Fee: Base + Sewer *** | $123.64 |
| Maximum Fee: Base + Sewer (fee capped at 20 HCF/month) | $237.38 |
- East County.
- Point Loma Heights.
- Mira Mesa.
- South I-15 Corridor.
- Scripps Ranch.
- Midway District.
- Hillcrest.
- Uptown San Diego.
Is San Diego more expensive than LA?
San Diego is the most expensive place to live in the U.S., according to a new analysis from U.S. News and World Report. Los Angeles ranks second, followed by Honolulu, Miami and Santa Barbara, Calif.
In general, off-peak hours are all hours outside of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Various energy pricing plans can have “super off-peak” time periods that offer even lower prices.
- Raise your central A/C's thermostat setting four to six degrees.
- Run major appliances before 2 p.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Unplug chargers and power strips.
- Turn off your pool pump between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
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.
- Cooling and heating: 47% of energy use.
- Water heater: 14% of energy use.
- Washer and dryer: 13% of energy use.
- Lighting: 12% of energy use.
- Refrigerator: 4% of energy use.
- Electric oven: 3-4% of energy use.
- TV, DVD, cable box: 3% of energy use.
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