Santa Cruz, CA one-bedroom. In the winter it is around thirty and in the summer around fifteen. But back in Sacramento my mom would often pay up to $200 for her larger house. It is a matter of size and habits. In this house we just huddle under blankets in the dark, and the house is so small that running the heater for ten minutes will warm it up for the night.
Just as a warning–and I don’t know if this goes for all people, but it goes for us–a lot of times, useage will be a small chunk of the bill. For example, with gas we have:
Base Charge
Connection Charge
Useage Charge
AGL Charge
It seems like utility bills (esp. electric) are going to vary depending on where in the US you live and who your provider is. I think the best thing to do in this case is ask someone at the apt complex what an average electric (and gas) bill would be for a 1 BR.
I pay a flat rate to Georgia Power of 73 bucks a month, year-round. My apartment is total electric with central heat/air. No pay for water/sewage of trash pickup. It’s a 2 bedroom.
2 bed, 1 bath, $30-40 each month. This with 3 computers on roughly 24/7 and another computer (and two monitors) that are on, I dunno, 5/7. We don’t use the heat (hell, I’ll leave my computer on all day if I need a space heater), so it’s pretty constant throughout the year.
I pay around $30 (many times less) for electricity/gas. Water is included in the rent. It’s a one bedroom, and I’m a tropical girl, so I can live without AC in Florida summers (I do use the fan some evenings).
I live in the LA area (kinda…) Gas and water and trash is paid for. I have a one bedroom, 800/month and my electricty fluctuates between 50 and 150 depending on the time of year.
You picked a bad time of year to move to Newhall. We’re paying close to $200/month by using the A/C (1200 sq. ft condo in Canyon Country). And it’s never cooler than 80F.
Clue: sometimes utilities are paid in some apartment buildings as a convienience to the owner and may be a sign of high turnover, low rates or who knows?
I say, if you like the place, grab it! The numbers probably work out about right in the long run.
Amusing anticdote: The last place I ever rented had elec and water paid. The landlord was a complete asshole. There was a chest freezer in the basement. I did nothing but make ice! I used to throw ice out into the snow to make room to make more!