Scouting for a new apartment? You should definitely have a budget or an estimated cost of what you intend to spend on rent monthly. It’s only appropriate that you equip yourself with the knowledge of how much you’d be spending on utilities during rental. Let’s take a look at the list.
Power
Power is one of the most important utility whose payment is non-negotiable. Electricity powers virtually everything in the house; washing machines, electric bulbs, television, cookers, air conditioners, etc. During the winter when you wouldn’t be needing the air conditioner, it is reasonable to pay between $30 to 75 dollars monthly. For an average user, it should cost you about $40, Electricity is a necessity, how much you pay monthly boils down to how much you consume whilst using your appliances.
Cooking Gas
A number of apartments make use of natural gas for cooking and in some buildings they are used for heat too. If the purpose for natural gas is exclusively for cooking, often times it will cost between $10 and $30 monthly. But note this is highly dependent on how much cooking you do at home. In cases where it serves a purpose for heating, the difference is only minimal.
Renters Insurance
A lot of first time apartment renters would prefer the option of forgoing the renters Insurance, but sadly forgoing this is not an option. The renters Insurance serves as a protection for you and your possession. Neglecting this insurance puts you at a disadvantaged position should any eventuality arise. Think of it as you protecting your possessions regardless of whatever happens. It’s cheap and affordable usually ranging from $12 to $15 monthly, but if you go through Lemonade Renters Insurance, it is only $5 a month with $0 deductible. Renters insurance protects your stuff including your laptop, jewelry, bike, art and other personal valuables.
Heating and Cooling
Here, it’s difficult to put an exact figure on how much temperature regulation cost and this is largely due to the different climate change we have. During summer, if you are running on an air conditioner, the cost is generally added to your electricity bill and it could go as high as $60 to $80 during the hot months. It works the same way for electric heaters in the winter except for the fact that heating a room costs more than cooling one. Although we also have the gas heat which is less pricey than the electric source.
If you decide to live in an apartment which has radiator heat, there’s a likelihood you won’t have to pay an extra for heating costs. Usually heating cost is factored into your monthly rent. You could end up paying as much as $100, this is dependent on where you live and the kind of temperature that controls the building.
Water
Some properties sub meter water use while others will charge a flat monthly fee. If you decide on an apartment that is sub metered, the cost per month is based on usage and can range anywhere from $15-$35 a month. Keep the bill down by minimizing the use of the dishwasher, washing machine and shower time.
Internet
The use of the internet has become a huge part of our lives. A few decades ago, people were content with living, working, communicating, entertaining themselves without any need for online connectivity. If you are certain you would not be needing the building’s internet connectivity and that you can make use of your smart device’s data plan, you can leave it out of your budget. If you decide to add internet to your utility, it could cost from $30 to $100 monthly depending on your location, the internet provider and type of internet.
