Average Utility Costs in Tacoma, WA

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

Average monthly utility costs in Tacoma, WA are about $294.28, 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

$294.28

Data freshness: last verified 2026-02-11
  • Electric $115.71 (39%)
  • Water $51.87 (18%)
  • Sewer $66.72 (23%)
  • Trash $59.98 (20%)

Utilities here are about 5% lower than the Washington city average, driven mainly by sewer.

  • City-provided trash is billed at a monthly fee ($59.98 in our estimate).

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
Tacoma Power (TPU)
Base charge
$28.30/mo
Energy rate
$0.0874/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$115.71
mytpu.org· verified 2026-02-11

Tacoma Power and Tacoma Water are municipal (TPU). Flat energy rates; water seasonal. Pierce County sewer; city trash includes recycling and food/yard waste in one fee.

Water

Confirmed
Provider
Tacoma Water (TPU)
Base charge
$31.97/mo
Volumetric rate
$3.98/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$51.87

2026 inside Tacoma: 5/8" base $31.97/mo. Usage: winter $2.977/CCF; summer T1 $2.977, T2 $3.721/CCF. 1 CCF = 748 gal. At 5,000 gal (6.68 CCF), winter: $31.97 + $19.89 ≈ $51.86/mo.

mytpu.org· verified 2026-02-11

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$66.72

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

Pierce County Chambers Creek: residential single-family $66.72/mo (effective Jan 1, 2026). Cascadia/Tehaleh area $73.92. 2027 rates increase to $69.87.

piercecountywa.gov· verified 2026-02-11

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$59.98

60-gal garbage: $59.98/mo (includes recycling and food/yard waste). 30-gal $30.03; 45-gal $44.99; 90-gal $89.97. One free container exchange per year.

tacoma.gov· verified 2026-02-11

Total estimated monthly utilities

$294.28

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 39% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $8.74.
  • Water increases by about $3.98 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 Washington

Washington utility costsPierce CountyElectric providers in Washington

FAQ

In Tacoma, sewer is billed in tiers based on usage, so the rate per gallon changes with volume. Our estimate uses the rate structure from Pierce County – Sewer Rates (Chambers Creek, 2026) at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month. Your bill will vary with actual usage.
Trash in Tacoma 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 Tacoma – Residential Curbside Collection Rates.
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. Washington is a regulated electric state; our estimates use the serving utility's tariff at 1,000 kWh 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 Tacoma with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.