[TinaOz]

I am moving to Tallahassee as a grad student under the "every penny counts" scenario. I want to work out a budget for myself to see what I can afford before signing a lease, so first I need to account for utilities. I expect to rent a 1000-1300sf apartment. I'm not used to Florida heat, so I will probably run the A/C a lot and keep it set around 73°. If anyone can speak to what they pay for any of these utilities within Tally or estimate my costs, I would appreciate it!

• Electricity (a/c + heat?)
• Water
• gas
• cable
• high speed internet

(who are the top cable and internet providers? Do they offer a cable+internet package deal?)

[mango23]

Originally Posted by TinaOz

I am moving to Tallahassee as a grad student under the "every penny counts" scenario. I want to work out a budget for myself to see what I can afford before signing a lease, so first I need to account for utilities. I expect to rent a 1000-1300sf apartment. I'm not used to Florida heat, so I will probably run the A/C a lot and keep it set around 73°. If anyone can speak to what they pay for any of these utilities within Tally or estimate my costs, I would appreciate it!

• Electricity (a/c + heat?)
• Water
• gas
• cable
• high speed internet

(who are the top cable and internet providers? Do they offer a cable+internet package deal?)

I think this might be what you are looking for

Utility Rates - Talgov.com

[ready2move]

My son goes to FSU and lives in a approximately 1300 square foot townhouse with 2 other boys. They keep it rather cool in the summer and their bills split three ways runs about 300+ in the summer. That is with water, sewer and electricity. Tallahassee utilites are about the highest I believe in the state and they tax on the tax. Their comcast bill runs about 120 a month with three boxes in each room and one in the living room that has HBO. I believe their high speed internet is in with that bill.

Oh and if you need a room to rent, my best friends son has a 3/3 townhouse that he and his brother live in and are looking to rent out a room. The older son is a grad student as well. The younger one is a sophmore. The rent on that would be 350.00 plus utilities.

[TinaOz]

Wow... $300? YIKES! Thanks. I am actually married, so looking for a place to ourselves. I am hoping for no frills cable + high speed internet. I prob can't afford premium channels and I only need 1 box. Any ideas of that cost or package deals?

[Denise in Fla]

Try looking on Comcast website.

[grapico]

electric in tallahassee can be 300-400 in the summer for a 3 br house.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by grapico

electric in tallahassee can be 300-400 in the summer for a 3 br house.

Electric is an easy usage to control. What is the actual cost per KWH? When you say summer, then I have to assume you are saying the cost is mostly air conditioning. That is very easy to control and not be wasteful. That kind of usage would not in the least be typical I would not think. It looks wasteful to me.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by mango23

Electric is an easy usage to control. What is the actual cost per KWH? When you say summer, then I have to assume you are saying the cost is mostly air conditioning. That is very easy to control and not be wasteful. That kind of usage would not in the least be typical I would not think. It looks wasteful to me.

4 people in a 3 bedroom house...that is just what it runs. City of Tallahassee utilities is notoriously high. Yes the cost is mostly AC we keep it on 74 and have a brand new thermostat and a/c unit. Also there are 4 people doing laundry, showers, etc. etc. ...very typical for a student living situation.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by grapico

4 people in a 3 bedroom house...that is just what it runs. City of Tallahassee utilities is notoriously high. Yes the cost is mostly AC we keep it on 74 and have a brand new thermostat and a/c unit. Also there are 4 people doing laundry, showers, etc. etc. ...very typical for a student living situation.

There is waste going on. 74 is too low and not typical of what most people keep it set at. Here is what is probably happening. 4 people doing laundry also probably have the dryer running like crazy several times a day with very little in it. Dryers are worse then A/C by comparison. I would guess they also have 3 or 4 TV's on all the time with no one watching along with every light in the house on. Dishwashers using hot water with almost no dishes in them running several times a day. Showers running like crazy with no attempt to conserve a bit. That kind of collage dorm "Who cares waste", is not typical of a normal family living situation. You also said that "Tallahassee utilities is notoriously high"
As compared to what? What the KWA cost in Tallahassee? I do believe they are higher then average because of clean burning but how high?

[weindell]

My husband and I live in a well-insulated three-bedroom, one-story townhouse, with about 1500 square feet. We keep our A/C temp at 78 degrees and we also use ceiling fans constantly in the summer. We're at home pretty much all the time, so the A/C temp never changes. Last month's utility bill was just over $200, and that includes gas for the water heater, as well as water service (and the water for our irrigation system is included in that as well). The stove is electric, and the dryer is electric too.

Our most recent cable bill is $185, and that includes digital cable w/ HD, and it also includes high-speed internet. I think that's too high, but my husband MUST have cable TV, and I MUST have high-speed internet, so there you are.

Utility costs have come down a little in recent months.