What are utility costs like in Seattle? (sales, apartment)

[sstockdale]

We live South of Atlanta and are paying an average of $280/mo for power, gas, water, garbage, internet. If you subtract the internet it's $230. Our home is 1590 sq/ft. We're looking for a place (apt, condo, home, etc) with 1000-1200 sq/ft.

Trying to find some room in our budget- if you would just tell me how much your costs are/were that would be great.

Also we spend close to $500 every month on gas and oil changes. If we lived near the city would our transportation costs be less than this?

Thanks.

[sstockdale]

I wonder if anyone has moved to Seattle recently, and can tell me the difference?

[Hemlock140]

We have 3 cars but I usually only drive to the park & ride and take the bus, 23 miles to work in Seattle, and it costs me about $40 every two months for the gas. My employer pays for the bus pass. The bus will be $2.25-3/ride within Seattle.

Our house is 3,000 sf and gas/electric runs $150 June-September, going up to $300 mid winter when it gets well below freezing. Water/sewer for 3 people is running us about $60/month, but Seattle prices for utilities, especially sewer are higher. Garbage is under $20/month. Internet can be as little as $20/month, we pay $140 with cable TV and land line phone with the internet. Sales tax is 9.5%, but no state income tax.

[shaylahc]

We moved from NC in July. I think utilities are higher here. For one, we pay $40 a month for trash, which was free in NC. Water is about $60 a month, same as NC (we have 4 kids). Right now we have combined gas/electric which is $200 a month. I think it's WAY high considering we don't have A/C nor have we turned on the heat. We don't have a landline and our cell plan runs us $150 a month. Cable & Internet runs $100 a month, I'm sure it will go up once the promotional offer is up. My car insurance went up about $30 a month.

ETA we are renting a 3000 sq ft house, and we're a family of 6.

[spotlesseden]

I recently moved to eastside.

750 sq/ft, My bill is
$90-120 on oil gas
$28-30 on electricity + gas
$40 on Internet
$50 on Water/sewer + Garbage (fixed rate, everybody in that building pays the same amount)

[sstockdale]

Okay so I guess it would be similar. We're looking to rent an apartment; would an apartment be lower on utilities? i just know they tend to be smaller and some places cover water or trash.

spotlesseden, what do u mean by "eastside" ? What's rent like there? We need a 2 bedroom.

[mrman78]

My apartment on QA hill includes WSG in the rent and my electricity has been about $25 every two months so far...