Average Utility Costs in Detroit, MI

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

Average monthly utility costs in Detroit, MI are about $257.84, 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

$257.84

Data freshness: last verified 2026-02-05
  • Electric $161.30 (63%)
  • Water $28.73 (11%)
  • Sewer $46.14 (18%)
  • Trash $21.67 (8%)

Utilities here are in line with the Michigan city average.

  • In Michigan, heating and cooling often makes electric the largest share of the bill.
  • City-provided trash is billed at a monthly fee ($21.67 in our estimate).

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
DTE Electric Company
Base charge
$8.50/mo
Energy rate
$0.1528/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$161.30
dteenergy.com· verified 2026-02-05

Water

Confirmed
Provider
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)
Base charge
$28.73/mo
Volumetric rate
$0.00/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$28.73
detroitmi.gov· verified 2026-02-05

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$46.14

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

detroitmi.gov· verified 2026-02-05

Trash

Estimated
Monthly fee
$21.67

Residents pay ~$260/year (≈$21.67/mo); annual increases planned.

detroitmi.gov· verified 2026-02-05

Total estimated monthly utilities

$257.84

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 63% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $15.28.

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 Michigan

Michigan utility costsWayne CountyElectric providers in Michigan

FAQ

In Detroit, sewer is billed in tiers based on usage, so the rate per gallon changes with volume. Our estimate uses the rate structure from DWSD – Water and Sewer Rates 2024-2025 Detroit (effective July 1, 2024) at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month. Your bill will vary with actual usage.
Trash in Detroit 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 Detroit – Solid Waste Collection (fee + planned annual increases).
We use base charges and per-unit rates from official provider pages. Electric = base + (rate × assumed kWh); in Michigan we use DTE or Consumers Energy published rates (including time-of-use blends where applicable). 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. Michigan utilities offer time-of-use and standard rates, so your plan affects your bill. Our estimates use fixed assumed usage (e.g., 1,000 kWh, 5,000 gal) for comparison.
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 Detroit with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.