As housing costs continue to price out many people from possibly ever owning a home, other day-to-day expenses are also shooting up in price. Depending on where you live in the country, utilities can be an especially concerning expense. According to Move.org’s analysis of data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Reviews.org, and HighSpeedInternet.com, Americans pay $611 per month on average to cover utility expenses — an increase from 2024’s average of $583.
Move.org’s overall estimate factors in the cost of internet, television streaming, and phone services. Removed, Americans pay nearly $401 each month to cover electricity, trash removal, gas, water, and sewer payments. These are typically considered the most essential utility services, as they contribute most directly to household functions and necessities. However, perceptions about which utilities are non-essential could be changing. Data from a Pew Research survey found that at least 90% of respondents use the internet and own a smartphone. Given that, as of 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports more than 35.5 million Americans work remotely, it’s clear that communication utilities are essential to the day-to-day lives of many people.
Taken together, these utilities power our homes, keep us connected, and help us earn a living. Depending on the region, some utilities are essential for living safely in extremely hot or cold weather. As such, high utility bills can be a headache, and some Americans find themselves paying eye-wateringly high rates for their services. Below are U.S. cities with some of the highest utility costs in the entire country.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Few U.S. residents can say they pay more for their monthly utility bills than people in New York City. Yet, this was the reality of those living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in both 2022 and 2023. A utilities study by Doxo found Milwaukeeans paid $538 monthly in 2023, and there seems to be no relief in sight for city residents: A Sierra Club press release later reported that Milwaukeeans endured repeated utilities price hikes in the years since the Doxo study…