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Old 03-19-2020, 09:52 PM
 
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Single mom of 2 from Seattle area hoping to move Livingston County area or nearby. We're terribly overpopulated here in Seattle. Both housing costs, drugs and crime are skyrocketing. Hoping to find a small home on 2 or more acres with good schools.
My question is, what can I expect to pay for utilities in SE MI? What does it cost to heat a 1500-1800 sq ft home? What are water bills like for a family of 3? Cost for high speed internet? Just want to be prepared as I know your winters are much longer than ours. Thanks in advance for your insight.
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Old 03-20-2020, 07:19 AM
 
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In Robert half’s index, Detroit is a 1.0 cost of living index. Seattle is 1.25.
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Old 03-20-2020, 12:45 PM
 
Location: 5,400 feet
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I recommend that you repost your question in the Michigan forum. I've been away from there too long to answer your question.

Parts of Livingston County are served by Consumers Energy for both electric and gas, other parts have Consumers for gas and DTE for electricity. I suspect you can find detailed info on their web sites.
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Old 03-22-2020, 07:52 PM
 
Location: S-E Michigan
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We have a 1700-1800 sq ft home in SE Michigan. Our utilities are DTE for both gas and electricity. We use the Budget Plan for Nat Gas (same amount every month) and our Gas Bill is approximately $75 each month.

Electricity varies monthly because of A/C and our pool pump. Maybe $60 in Spring and Fall, maybe $120 in Summer.

Water is generally inexpensive but rates are set by each locality. Ours is around $80 for two months.
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Old 03-30-2020, 02:31 AM
 
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Thank you to the folks who replied. I appreciate it.
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Old 03-30-2020, 05:56 AM
 
Location: Ann Arbor MI
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I live in a 1400 sq ft ranch. Just my wife and I. Kids are grown. Our gas bill on the budget plan is $54 a month. But I dial down 62 at night 66-67 during the day. Electric ranges from $67 in winter to $110 in summer if AC is on. But I turn lights off and most all bulbs are LED. Ann Arbor has our own water system whereas much of SE Michigan is on Detroit's water. We pay quarterly...every 3 months. Our 3 month bill is about $145 give or take. But as pointed out above water bills are set locally.
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Old 03-31-2020, 05:17 PM
 
Location: Grosse Ile Michigan
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Heat is really not very expensive. WE live in a 3000 + s.f. house that is 188 years old. You would expect our heat to be insane. Combined gas and electric is $450/ month on average,but the gas part of that is only about $100. Gas is cheap. Propane is more expansive and oil is very expensive.
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Old 04-03-2020, 07:35 AM
 
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We live in a 1800 square foot 10 year old home in a small town. Our gas runs between $75-150/month, with the higher end being in the winter since we have a gas forced air furnace. Electric is separate and runs between $85-175/month, but that runs higher in the summer because of running the air conditioner pretty much 24/7 since we don't yet have mature trees in our neighborhood.

Water varies greatly depending on where you live. In our town it is pretty expensive, and our bill for two empty nesters runs anywhere from $200-250 every three months. One thing I want to say about water though, is that if you're looking to have a house on 2 acres or more, it is very possible that your property would have a well, and in that case you don't have a water bill per se, it is replaced by the cost of well maintenance and maintaining a leach bed septic system in place of city sewers. We have had that option in the past when we lived on five acres and it is cheaper in the long run, with the main costs being replacing your well when it goes bad, which doesn't happen very often, having the septic tank emptied when it fills with sewage from your home, again not that often, and possibly needing a water softening system. A lot of well water in SE Michigan has a high iron or sulfur content so most people I know who have well water also have a water softening system to prevent iron or sulfur taste in the water or rust stains in sinks, tubs, and laundry. Even with the water softening system in place, having a well is still usually cheaper than having city water.
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Old 04-03-2020, 08:11 AM
 
Location: Central Mass
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On 2 acres in Livingston or Washtenaw county will probably have a well and septic.
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Old 04-04-2020, 03:31 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seekaterun View Post
Single mom of 2
Yeah, you'll like Ann Arbor better.
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