Average Utility Costs in California
Typical monthly utility costs in California are about $578.68/mo, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water (plus sewer and trash where available). Compare California cities below to find cheaper vs more expensive areas.
Average Monthly Utility Costs in California
The average utility bill in California is estimated at $578.68 per month, a typical total assembled from median city estimates for electricity, water, sewer, and trash. To reflect a more typical bill across cities (and reduce the impact of outliers), these "average" values use the median of city estimates.
Assumptions: 1,000 kWh/month and 5,000 gallons/month (where applicable). "Average" values represent the median city estimate; water/sewer/trash medians exclude $0 entries when service or published rates vary by address. Actual bills vary by usage, fees, and provider.
Search by city or county
Utility providers in California
In the cities we cover, electric is provided by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) (San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno); Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) (Los Angeles); San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) (San Diego); and Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (Sacramento). PG&E and SDG&E are investor-owned; LADWP and SMUD are municipal. California rates are among the highest in the nation, with tiered and time-of-use structures common. Our estimates use each utility's published rate at 1,000 kWh. City pages show sources and last-verified dates.
See which electric, water, sewer, and trash providers serve different areas of California, along with typical residential rate information and sources.
View utility providers in California →These rankings are estimates for comparison at 1,000 kWh. For the full breakdown (electric, water, sewer, trash) by city, use the comparison table below.
Cheapest electric rates in California
Top 5 cities with the lowest estimated electric bill at 1,000 kWh. See the comparison table below for all cities.
Most expensive total utility monthly cost in California
Top 5 cities with the highest estimated total (electric + water + sewer + trash). See the comparison table for all cities.
Compare all cities
Estimated monthly costs by city, sorted by total (highest first). Same assumed usage (1,000 kWh, 5,000 gal) everywhere. 11 cities; 10 per page.
| City | County | Electric | Water | Sewer | Trash | Total | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | San Francisco County | $470.00 | $91.66 | $126.65 | $52.75 | $741.06 | View San Francisco details → |
| San Diego | San Diego County | $509.22 | $92.38 | $48.87 | $43.60 | $694.07 | View San Diego details → |
| San Jose | Santa Clara County | $470.00 | $98.55 | $50.42 | $54.51 | $673.48 | View San Jose details → |
| Oakland | Alameda County | $440.00 | $79.55 | $37.15 | $72.55 | $629.25 | View Oakland details → |
| Stockton | San Joaquin County | $440.00 | $57.93 | $52.00 | $48.50 | $598.43 | View Stockton details → |
| Fresno | Fresno County | $470.00 | $25.15 | $25.75 | $35.50 | $556.40 | View Fresno details → |
| Bakersfield | Kern County | $443.60 | $34.21 | $19.92 | $22.00 | $519.73 | View Bakersfield details → |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles County | $314.63 | $73.41 | $56.87 | $36.32 | $481.22 | View Los Angeles details → |
| Long Beach | Los Angeles County | $350.00 | $44.42 | $10.50 | $51.41 | $456.33 | View Long Beach details → |
| Sacramento | Sacramento County | $245.90 | $47.19 | $25.35 | $43.24 | $361.68 | View Sacramento details → |
California counties
View estimated utility costs by county. Each county page lists cities and a comparison table of monthly estimates.
Compare with nearby states
Compare utility costs in California with neighboring states.
Explore further