Average Utility Costs in San Diego, CA

Estimated monthly utility costs (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal)

Average monthly utility costs in San Diego, CA are about $694.07, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water, plus sewer and trash fees. See the full breakdown and sources below.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$694.07

Estimated average monthly utilities in San Diego are ~$694.07 (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal assumptions). Average water bill estimate: ~$92.38/mo at 5,000 gallons.

Data freshness: last verified 2026-03-03
  • Electric $509.22 (73%)
  • Water $92.38 (13%)
  • Sewer $48.87 (7%)
  • Trash $43.60 (6%)

Utilities here are about 30% higher than the California city average, driven mainly by electric rates.

  • In California, heating and cooling often makes electric the largest share of the bill.
  • City-provided trash is billed at a monthly fee ($43.60 in our estimate).

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
Base charge
$24.12/mo
Energy rate
$0.4851/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$509.22
sdge.com· verified 2026-03-03

Rates are tiered (baseline vs above-baseline) and vary by season and climatic zone. CARE and Medical Baseline discounts available for qualified customers.

Water

Confirmed
Provider
City of San Diego Public Utilities Department
Base charge
$35.53/mo
Volumetric rate
$11.37/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$92.38
sandiego.gov· verified 2026-03-03

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$48.87

Tiered structure simplified to a representative monthly estimate at assumed usage.

sandiego.gov· verified 2026-03-03

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$43.60

San Diego began charging a residential solid waste fee in July 2025 for the first time in 100 years. Year One (through June 2026): 95-gal trash + 95-gal recycling/organic = $43.60/mo; 65-gal trash = $38.94; 35-gal trash = $32.82. Rates increase in subsequent years (Year Two–Four schedule on source).

insidesandiego.org· verified 2026-03-03

Total estimated monthly utilities

$694.07

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 73% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $48.51.
  • Water increases by about $11.37 per additional 1,000 gallons.

Assumptions

  • Electric: 1000 kWh/month
  • Water: 5,000 gallons/month

What these labels mean

  • Confirmed — From this area's rate schedule.
  • Benchmark — From an official typical (e.g. state commission 1,000 kWh); not city-specific.
  • Delivery only — Regulated delivery charges only (e.g. Texas); supply varies by plan.
  • Estimated — From other or incomplete sources; use as a rough guide.
Sources

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More in California

California utility costsSan Diego CountyElectric providers in California

FAQ

In San Diego, sewer is billed in tiers based on usage, so the rate per gallon changes with volume. Our estimate uses the rate structure from City of San Diego – Wastewater Service Charges (effective Jan 1, 2026) at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month. Your bill will vary with actual usage.
Trash in San Diego is provided by the city as part of municipal utilities and is billed at a monthly fee. Rates and services are set by the local government; our estimate uses the fee from City of San Diego – Solid Waste Management Fee (July 2025).
We use base charges and per-unit rates from official provider pages. Electric = base + (rate × assumed kWh). Water = base + (rate per 1,000 gal × assumed gallons / 1,000). Sewer is either a flat fee or a percentage of water. Trash is a fixed monthly fee. See the Methodology page for full formulas.
Actual bills depend on your usage, seasonal rates, taxes, fees, and provider-specific rules. Our estimates use fixed assumed usage (e.g., 1,000 kWh, 5,000 gal) for comparison. Your home may use more or less.
Each component shows a 'last verified' date. We aim to update from official sources periodically; always confirm current rates on the provider's site before making decisions.

Learn more

For tips on understanding your bill, comparing cities, and how electric and utility rates work by state, see our blog. Compare San Diego with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.