Average monthly utility bill
What a person, a couple and a family pay each month for electricity, gas, water and phone, and how to split and trim the total.
Checked October 22, 2026
The BLS asks thousands of households what they spent each year. Its group “utilities, fuels, and public services” is the closest thing to an average utility bill. Note that it includes phone service, which many people count as a separate bill. We divided the yearly averages by 12.
What is the average cost of utilities per month
| Utility | All households | 1 person | 2 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | $153 | $100 | $157 |
| Natural gas | $41 | $27 | $41 |
| Fuel oil and other fuels | $10 | $6 | $14 |
| Water and other public services | $69 | $44 | $70 |
| Telephone services | $122 | $71 | $121 |
| Total utilities, fuels and public services | $395 | $248 | $403 |
These are averages for every household, in every climate, whether or not they have each service. A household that has no gas bill pulls the gas average down. A home that heats with electricity pays more than the electric line shows.
Average yearly cost, by household size
| Household | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| All households | $4,736 | $395 |
| 1 person | $2,978 | $248 |
| 2 people | $4,837 | $403 |
| 3 people | $5,573 | $464 |
| 4 people | $6,180 | $515 |
| 5 or more people | $6,737 | $561 |
Utilities are about 6 percent of what households spend in all, for one person and for two.
Average water bill per month
The BLS group is called “water and other public services,” so it may include more than water and sewer. Nationally it comes to about $69 a month, or $826 for the year. By household size:
| Household | Water and other public services, per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $532 | $44 |
| 2 people | $846 | $70 |
| 3 people | $972 | $81 |
| 4 people | $1,040 | $87 |
How a couple might split utilities
Utilities are the bills most couples share, because you both turn on the lights. A household of two people averages about $403 a month. Two ways to split that:
- 50/50. About $202 each. Easy to explain, and it works well when your pay is close.
- By income. If one of you brings home 60 percent of the household's pay, that person pays about $242 and the other about $161. It keeps the lower earner from giving up a bigger slice of what they have.
Neither is the right one. Put your two pays into the fair split calculator, or read how to split bills by income. Phone plans are often easier to keep separate, each paying for their own line. Utilities that move with the seasons are easier to handle as a fixed monthly share, with the difference settled once a year.
Ways to bring the number down
- Look at the last 12 bills, not the last one. Winter and summer can differ by a lot, and the yearly total is what you plan around.
- Ask your utility about a levelled monthly bill. If it offers one, it spreads the year across twelve even payments. It does not lower the total, but it takes away the surprise.
- Check your phone plan. Phone service is $122 of the average $395, the second biggest line. Look at what you actually use.
- Take on the big users: heating and cooling, the water heater, and the dryer. Moving a thermostat a couple of degrees is free.
- Fix leaks. A running toilet or a dripping tap is on the water bill every month.
- Call about a bill that jumps. A bill much higher than usual can be a meter or a billing error.
Utilities are one line of the whole picture. See the average monthly expenses for one person and a couple.
Questions people ask
What is the average monthly utility bill?
$4,736 a year, about $395 a month, for the average U.S. household in 2024. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, phone service, water and other public services in that total.
What is the average cost of utilities per month for one person?
For a household of one person, $2,978 a year in 2024, about $248 a month: $100 electricity, $27 natural gas, $44 water and other public services, and $71 phone.
What is the average water bill per month?
The BLS reports $826 a year for water and other public services in 2024, about $69 a month. For a household of one it is $44 and for two people $70. It is a national average, and local rates vary a lot.
What is the average water bill for 2 people, or a family of 4?
Households of two people spend $846 a year, about $70 a month, and households of four spend $1,040, about $87 a month, on water and other public services.
What is the average electric bill per month?
$1,833 a year, about $153 a month, for all households in 2024. A household of one spends about $100 a month and two people about $157.
How should a couple split utilities?
Pick one rule for the whole list. 50/50 is simple when you earn about the same. Splitting by income keeps the lower earner from carrying a bigger share of their pay. If only one name is on the account, the other can send their share on a set day.
Sources
2 sources · read October 22, 2026
Every number on this page comes from bls.gov. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
Wonderful gives general information. It isn't a financial or tax advisor.