The 5 Cheapest and 5 Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Monthly Utility Bills

Housing prices dominate cost-of-living discussions, but recurring utility bills such as electricity, water, sewer, and trash add up. Where you live can mean the difference between paying $125 or $741 per month for the same usage.

Using compiled rate data from municipal utilities and public providers, we analyzed typical residential utility costs across 312 U.S. cities with a standardized consumption model. Here’s what the data shows.

Standard Assumptions for All Estimates

To allow apples-to-apples comparisons, we use consistent assumptions across every city:

• Electricity: 1,000 kWh per month
• Water: 5,000 gallons per month
• Sewer and trash: Included where applicable, using typical residential service charges

Actual bills will depend on home size, occupancy, appliance efficiency, and seasonal demand. We also do not include natural gas or other heating fuels. Many homes in colder climates heat with gas, so electricity use can run lower in winter while gas bills add to total energy costs. In warmer regions like Florida, electric heat pumps or resistance heat are more common, which tends to push electricity use higher. Real total energy costs depend on each household’s heating and fuel mix. These figures represent a standardized comparison, not individual outcomes. For city-level breakdowns and methodology, see our methodology page.

The 5 Cheapest Cities for Utilities

These cities rank among the lowest combined electricity, water, sewer, and trash costs in the country under typical usage.

1. Williston, North Dakota — $125.33/month

Williston tops the list on the strength of Montana-Dakota Utilities’ low electricity rates (~5.9¢/kWh at 1,000 kWh) and the City of Williston’s municipal water, sewer, and trash—all from confirmed 2025 rate schedules. Western North Dakota winters are harsh, but our fixed 1,000 kWh assumption keeps the estimate low; many local homes heat with gas, so actual winter electric use may be lower than our benchmark while gas bills add to total energy costs. See Williston’s city page for the full breakdown.

2. Chesapeake, Virginia — $151.36/month

Chesapeake is served by Dominion Energy Virginia (~7.2¢/kWh at 1,000 kWh) and the City of Chesapeake Public Utilities for water and sewer. Our data uses confirmed water and sewer rates as of early 2026. At roughly 250,000 residents, it is one of the largest East Coast cities with among the lowest utility costs in our dataset. Chesapeake details.

3. El Paso, Texas — $157.17/month

El Paso Electric’s residential rate (~9.2¢/kWh) and El Paso Water’s combined water, sewer, and solid-waste billing keep total costs low in our model. El Paso sits in the Chihuahuan Desert, where summer cooling demand is high; our fixed 1,000 kWh assumption understates typical summer use but allows consistent comparison across cities. El Paso rates.

4. Roanoke, Virginia — $158.58/month

Roanoke is served by Appalachian Power (~10.7¢/kWh), the Western Virginia Water Authority for water and sewer, and City of Roanoke solid waste. Our estimate reflects confirmed electric and water rates; at about 100,000 residents, it is a mid-sized city in Virginia’s Appalachian region with utility costs among the lowest in our dataset. Roanoke utilities.

5. Idaho Falls, Idaho — $163.15/month

Idaho Falls Power, the city’s municipal electric utility, offers some of the lowest energy rates in our dataset (~7.1¢/kWh after power cost adjustment). Combined with City of Idaho Falls water, sewer, and sanitation, total costs remain among the lowest nationwide. Idaho’s abundant hydropower helps keep municipal electricity affordable. Idaho Falls rates.

Bottom line: All five fall far below typical U.S. utility spending for comparable usage, offering substantial long-term savings.

The 5 Most Expensive Cities for Utilities

At the other end of the spectrum, some cities face sharply higher costs due to energy pricing, infrastructure demands, and climate.

1. San Francisco, California — $741.06/month

San Francisco leads by a wide margin. Our estimate is driven by PG&E’s tiered electric rates (~47¢/kWh at our 1,000 kWh benchmark), the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s water and sewer charges, and Recology’s franchise trash hauling—all from official rate schedules. The combined effect produces a monthly bill more than five times higher than the cheapest city. San Francisco rates.

2. San Diego, California — $694.07/month

San Diego is served by SDG&E, whose Schedule DR residential rates are among the highest in the country. Our estimate uses confirmed CPUC-effective tariffs and includes the city franchise fee for San Diego city limits. Southern California’s elevated electricity pricing drives most of the total. San Diego breakdown.

3. San Jose, California — $668.53/month

San Jose shares PG&E’s high electric rates with San Francisco, plus the City of San José Municipal Water System, sewer, and garbage services. Dense urban infrastructure and California regulatory costs contribute to total utility expenses. Our estimate reflects confirmed water, sewer, and trash rates from city sources. San Jose utilities.

4. Fairbanks, Alaska — $617.38/month

Fairbanks faces some of the highest utility costs in our dataset: GVEA electric rates (29¢/kWh) combined with Golden Heart Utilities’ water ($122/mo for unmetered residential) and sewer (~$153/mo) push the total far above Lower 48 norms. Extreme winter temperatures and remote delivery add to costs. Fairbanks rates.

5. Badger, Alaska — $584.38/month

Badger sits in the Fairbanks North Star Borough and shares GVEA electric rates with Fairbanks. Water and sewer depend on whether the home is served by Golden Heart Utilities or a private well; many residents use wells, which our estimate does not model. Our figure applies GHU rates where applicable; actual costs vary by service area. Badger utilities.

Bottom line: High utility costs cluster in regions with expensive electricity, extreme weather demands, or both. One silver lining: expensive, sunny areas like California often see the fastest payback from solar panels and battery storage—higher electricity rates mean each kWh you offset saves more.

Use our solar payback calculator to estimate payback for your location and usage.

Why Utility Costs Vary So Much

Several factors drive what households pay each month:

• Regional energy markets and fuel sources — Where power comes from (natural gas, hydro, coal, renewables) affects prices.
• Climate — Heating and cooling demand shape both usage and infrastructure costs.
• Infrastructure — Population density, system age, and upgrade needs influence rates.
• Water supply — Availability, drought, treatment needs, and desalination costs vary by location.
• Regulation and policy — Environmental programs, franchise fees, and municipal decisions add to bills.
• Distance from supply — Remote or rural areas often face higher delivery costs.

We go deeper on these factors in a separate post.

The Annual Impact

Under our standardized usage model, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive cities exceeds $7,000 per year.

Over time, those differences can rival major housing expenses and materially affect affordability. For retirees, relocating households, or anyone budgeting for the long term, utility costs deserve close attention.

Important Caveats

These figures are standardized estimates, not guarantees. Actual bills depend on:

• Home size and insulation
• Appliance efficiency
• Occupancy and usage habits
• Seasonal weather patterns
• Tiered or time-of-use pricing
• Service territory (some cities have multiple providers)

Use these rankings as a starting point, then compare cities side-by-side or drill into individual city pages for detailed rate breakdowns and source citations.

Limitations

Our estimates cover electricity, water, sewer, and trash only. We do not include:

• Natural gas or propane — Heating fuel prices fluctuate frequently with commodity markets and seasonality, making stable, comparable city-level estimates difficult.
• Internet — Plans, speeds, fiber availability, and bundling vary widely by provider and address; there is no standard “typical” usage that translates cleanly across locations.

Both can materially affect household budgets and should be factored in when evaluating cost of living or planning a move.

Takeaway

Utility bills are a recurring expense that often goes overlooked in cost-of-living comparisons. Many people focus on mortgage or rent when deciding where to live, but property costs are only part of the picture. Electricity, water, sewer, and trash never stop—and as this analysis shows, they can vary by hundreds of dollars per month depending on where you live.

Over 10 or 20 years, the gap between low and high utility cities can add up to tens of thousands of dollars, rivaling the impact of a modest difference in housing costs. For relocation planning, retirement budgeting, or long-term financial planning, understanding local utility costs provides crucial insight into true affordability.

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Data and methodology

Estimates derived from compiled municipal and provider rate schedules. Standardized usage: 1,000 kWh electricity, 5,000 gallons water, plus sewer and trash where applicable. View our methodology and compare cities by state.