NEVADA (KTNV) — Unless you live off the grid in a lakeside cabin, you need to plan your monthly budget around utility bills for electricity, gas, water, internet, and cable.
In the US, people who rent apartments should plan to spend $100–$150 per month for utilities, according to a recent study on move.org, with homeowners budgeting closer to $400 a month.
The company said it looked into the average utility costs in individual states and Nevada residents have the 12th least expensive utilities in the US - averaging $371.99 per month.
Hawaii tops the list with the highest average utility cost at $587.79 per month, compared to New Mexico, which has the lowest average cost at $344.55.
The study said overall, the average monthly cost of utilities in the US is $398.24.
On average, residents pay $110.76 for electricity, $72.10 for natural gas, $70.39 for water, $85 for cable TV, $60 for internet, and $14 for trash and recycling.
However, the report also shared how to save money on your utility bills with a handful of following tips:
- Replace your old thermostat with a smart thermostat.
- Swap out your lightbulbs with energy-efficient replacements.
- Replace your curtains with insulated curtains.
- Unplug all your electronics when you’re not using them.
- Get solar panels for your house.
- Replace your water heater if it’s more than 10 years old.
- Replace your furnace’s air filter once every three months.
- Use less water for tasks like showering and brushing your teeth.
The full study is available here along with more ways of how to cut down on those utility costs.