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Hoping some folks will share their average utilities cost with me. We're doing a cost comparison to where we currently live on Whidbey Island, WA.
Example - We are an older 2-person household. Here's our current sewer/water/garbage bill for 31 days:
12/21/2022 - 1/20/2023 Garbage - 35 Gallon Can 1 $23.38 (Weekly service)
12/21/2022 - 1/20/2023 Water Meter Charges - 5/8 " Ready to Serve Charge 1 $26.25
12/21/2022 - 1/20/2023 Sewer - Residential Sewer 1 $118.41
12/21/2022 - 1/20/2023 Storm Drain - Storm Drain 1 $14.58
12/21/2022 - 1/20/2023 Water Consumption Charge - 5/8" Res Water Cons 1 $8.55
12/21/2022 - 1/20/2023 Yard Waste - Yard Waste 1 $4.26
Amount Due: $195.43 And the previous month was $15.00 higher.
We live in a 1500sf 2-level home with natural gas furnace, kitchen stove and fireplace that is rarely used (but pilot light stays on). Pretty much normal electrical use.
Last electric bill was $91.00 and natural gas was $149.00 for 30-day period.
Your sewer charge could be a lot less, about $51 per month in our county. Electricity would be a lot more because natural gas is not available. Heat pumps are your only option. My guesstimate for a 1500 SF house is less than $200/month in the winter months.
The purchase price of a house in New Bern is going to be substantially less than in Whidbey Island.
Last edited by goldenage1; 01-27-2023 at 11:49 AM..
If you are considering moving here, I would not worry too much about utility charges. Your purchase price and property taxes will probably be a lot less than on Whidbey island.
I think you will be pleased with utility/water/sewer/trash costs in New Bern versus what you are paying in Whidbey Island.
I have a similar 2 person, 1500 sq ft home. Our total monthly cost for all of those services combined rarely exceeds $200 a month (only in the hottest months when the Air Conditioning runs 24/7 do we exceed that amount and even then $275 or so is the highest we have ever spent in one month).
Here are my Electric (and water) and gas bills for last five months:
Month Electric/Water Gas
Sep $300.96 $10.70
Oct $245.15 $12.54
Nov $217.06 $22.27
Dec $163.50 $107.10
Jan $157.99 $175.93
Two story, 1912 built home with minimal insulation. Normally two of us, but Dec/Jan reflects an adult guest. Electricity, water and sewer billed by City of New Bern. I never look at the breakout. OBTW we saw huge energy cost reductions after we replaced downstairs A/C and upstairs heat pump. We saw significant further reductions after insulating between the floor joists.
Thank you to everyone for the input! We are being priced out of living in this area. Moved here for work about 13 years ago, and it's just becoming too expensive to live here. Both purchase and rental costs are through the roof.
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