What is your utility bill?

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Roccaluma

Denver was 240 a month for everthing, which is very reasonable. That covers electricity, phone, gas(propane), cable, and internet. That is very reasonable. Denver gets me a good figure for the winter, I dont know if it really gets hot enough in Denver to run the ac all the time in the summer. Dallas was $340 for its average. However those figures average in very large homes with smaller ones so I am thinking that my utility bill electricity and gas(propane) in Kansas for a small home might be at most $120 in the summer.

Yes, it gets hot enough in Denver to run the A/C day and night . Our average high in July/August gets up to 89. Our last electric/gas bill was $195 for a 2100 sq. foot house. That was running the A/C the entire time, other than maybe one day where it was cool enough to turn it off. Still, it's probably cheaper than KC or Dallas because it gets down into the 60s at night, even when it's mid 90s during the day.

[Roccaluma]

I was origonally freaked out by someone who mentioned a $600 a month utility bill. I see it is reasonable. I mean if I fix the house right and even have the place chilly in the summer I shouldnt be paying more than $70 or $80 for my share.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by Roccaluma

I am considering a move from where I am, in California. When homes are 500k for a junky small lot home and mobile home parks charge $700 a month for space rent, that is the time for me to leave. I have lived in Kansas in the past. To get a better idea of costs, what does it cost in the winter and summer for heat and ac. I imagine getting a house with 800 sq feet. I would run the ac enough to be very comfortable as well as heating it to be comfortable. So could you please tell me the sq footage with your monthy cost?

It will depend on where you live and how well insulated it is. For $500,000 you can get a VERY nice home in Kansas, a new home that is well insulated and energy efficient. I live in a 50+ year old house 1300 sq feet upstairs and a 1000 sq foot finished basement, and on average I figure $150 a month for heating and cooling, with usually a month or two in the fall and spring where the temperature is moderate enough to not need to use the heat or air much, if at all.

This year and last have the summer has been less hot than normal. Right now, for example, I have the windows open, air off. It was only 76 or something like that today. Unheard of for August in Kansas City. Normally August is the hottest, most humid month and it hasn't been like that this year.

But when summers and winters are normal, I figure $150/month average for either gas for heating or electricity. That is in addition to electricity that we use every day anyway and gas to heat water, etc. Electric bill might right $200 to $250 in the summer, gas bill might run $200 to $250 in the winter, just depending. That would be in the coldest and hottest months.