Utility costs in AZ (Mesa, Gilbert: apartment, rent, mortgage)

[traveler26]

My husband and I will be house hunting in AZ in a couple weeks. We are going to be looking at houses in the Gilbert/Mesa/Candler areas and are first time home buyers. I would like to know the average cost of utilities for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house. We rent a very small apartment in the Chicago area currently so our utilities are pretty cheap and I am trying to figure out how much more we should anticipate spending living in AZ on top of mortgage payment. Thanks!

[RCR]

Be prepared for a huge range of prices. A lot will depend on the age of the house which relates to how well it is insulated and the quality of the AC unit. I live with my wife (no kids) in a 2000 sq. ft. 3 bed 2 bath single story with no pool and a gas water heater and here are my averages per month for the year.

Electric - $90
Gas - $50
water - $55

[sablebaby]

The electric will fluctuate a lot. In the winter, my bill will be around $50-75. In the summer, $150- up to 230 in the hottest month. After a year, you can do the equalizer and pay the monthly average. I plan to do that this year and they say it will be $100 per month.

Gas (if you have it), my bill ranges from $29-170/ month. I also plan to do their plan and it will be $60 per month.

My water is usually $55 or more if I water my grass. This includes about half of it for garbage pickup.

[LBTRS]

2700 sq feet built in 2008 and we pay $320 in the summer and around $130 this time of year. Gas is $15 in summer and $60 now.

[homesweetazhome]

Hi traveler26, you will be able to find very, very reasonable homes in the areas you are looking for a 3/2 home.

With mortgage rates below 5% your monthly payment will be amazingly low.

The utilities can be budgeted year round through the electric company so that you can pay the same amount monthly, which for a smaller home would be around $100.

I have a Relocation E-book that is Free on my website that might help you out. Good Luck in your home search.

[w1ngzer0]

I hate being on the low end of the stick. I hope the rates stay that way when we are ready to buy a home. I'm scared it will jump up to something ridiculous in a year or so.

[drb85650]

Do your best to find a house with SRP...Salt River Project utilities. The other company here is APS...Arizona Public Service.
It has always, always been my experience that APS is twice as much or more as SRP.

[military spouse]

We have APS with a 2733 sq. ft. house. Highest bill was $290 in the summer. It is less than $100 during the winter. Water is fairly consistent at $52. Trash 22. Gas varies between about $20-60, depending upon time of year.