Written by Jolene Baijot, Designated Broker
When people are figuring out what they can afford in a new home, the mortgage payment usually gets most of the attention. But that is not the only number that matters every month.
Utilities can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of owning a home, and what you pay can look very different depending on where you live.
That is especially important if you are comparing a move to Washington with another part of the country. We have relatively affordable electricity here, but some of our other utility costs may surprise you.
So I took a closer look at 2026 utility costs across the USA, including which states are the most expensive, which are the least expensive, and how Washington compares.
What Is the Average Utility Bill in the USA in 2026?
The average American household is spending about $594 per month in 2026 when electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, trash, internet, phone, and streaming services are combined.
That is roughly $7,128 a year.
Here is how the average monthly costs break down:
Electricity is still one of the biggest pieces of the monthly utility bill, followed by natural gas.
But this is where I think the national average gets a little misleading.
Where you live matters. A lot.
Two households can use utilities in very similar ways and still end up with very different monthly bills simply because they live in different states.
Which States Have the Highest Utility Bills in 2026?
The difference between the most and least expensive states is bigger than you might expect.
West Virginia comes in at the top of the 2026 data with average combined utility costs of about $715 per month.
| State or District | Average Monthly Utility Cost |
| West Virginia | $715 |
| District of Columbia | $674 |
| Alaska | $647 |
| Missouri | $631 |
| Oregon | $628 |
| Hawaii | $616 |
| New Jersey | $613 |
I always like to turn monthly numbers into annual numbers because that is when the difference really becomes clear.
At $715 a month, you are looking at approximately $8,580 a year.
And utilities are only one part of the cost of owning a home.
When I work with buyers, especially people relocating from another state, I encourage them to look beyond the purchase price. Property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance and even the type of heating system can change what a house actually costs to live in every month.
Which States Have the Lowest Utility Bills in 2026?
Now look at the other end of the list.
New Mexico has the lowest combined utility average in this comparison at about $384 per month.
| State | Average Monthly Utility Cost |
| New Mexico | $384 |
| Wisconsin | $418 |
| South Dakota | $428 |
| Nevada | $430 |
| North Dakota | $443 |
| Minnesota | $451 |
| Illinois | $457 |
That puts the difference between West Virginia and New Mexico at $331 every month.
Over a year, that is nearly $4,000.
That is not a small difference when you are building a household budget.
It is also a good reminder that comparing home prices between two states doesn’t necessarily tell you which place will actually cost less to live in.
What Is the Average Utility Bill in Washington State in 2026?
This is the part I was most interested in.
Washington households average approximately $570 per month in combined utility costs, compared with the national average of about $594.
So overall, Washington comes in a little below the national average.
But the individual numbers tell a much more interesting story.
| Utility | Washington Average | U.S. Average |
| Electricity | $127 | $141 |
| Natural gas | $95.24 | $89.62 |
| Water | $84 | $48 |
| Sewer | $83 | $67 |
| Trash | $62.50 | $62.50 |
| Streaming | $69 | $67 |
| Internet | $53.48 | $61.81 |
| Phone | $58 | $58 |
Electricity is one of Washington’s advantages.
Our access to hydroelectric power helps keep residential electricity costs relatively low. Washington households average around $127 per month for electricity in this comparison, versus $141 nationally.
If you are moving here from a state with high electricity costs, that can be a nice surprise.
Water and sewer are another story.
Washington’s averages are about $84 for water and $83 for sewer, both higher than the national figures in this comparison.
So while our total utility bill comes in below the national average, it is not because everything is cheaper.
What I Tell Buyers Moving to Bellingham
If you are moving to Bellingham or Whatcom County, I would use these numbers as a starting point, not as a prediction of what your particular house will cost.
This is one of those areas where the property itself really matters.
A home inside Bellingham connected to city water and sewer is different from a property farther out in Whatcom County with a well and septic system.
An older Bellingham home can have a completely different heating bill than newer construction with modern insulation and an efficient heat pump.
The size of the house matters. The windows matter. The heating system matters. Even how much sun the house gets can matter.
And if you are looking at acreage or a more rural property, I would want to know about the well, septic system, propane or natural gas availability and other property-specific costs before making assumptions based on a statewide average.
That is why I don’t like looking at the purchase price of a home in isolation.
The better question is: What is this particular house actually going to cost me to own?
Why Do Utility Costs Vary So Much?
There isn’t one simple answer.
Climate is a big part of it. Homes in areas with long winters need more energy for heating. Homes in extremely hot climates can spend heavily on air conditioning.
Energy sources also make a difference. Washington is a perfect example because hydroelectric power helps keep our electricity costs relatively low.
Then there is the house itself.
A 2,000-square-foot newer home with good insulation and efficient windows may perform very differently from a similarly sized home built decades ago.
Household size matters too. More people generally means more showers, laundry, hot water and electricity use.
Local infrastructure is another piece people sometimes overlook. Water and sewer rates can vary from one community to another depending on the utility provider, infrastructure and how those services are delivered.
What Can You Do to Lower Utility Costs?
I wouldn’t rush out and replace everything in a house because of one utility bill.
Start with the simple things.
Look for drafts around windows and doors. Check insulation. Use a programmable or smart thermostat. Switch older lighting to LEDs. Run full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. Fix leaking faucets and toilets instead of letting them quietly waste water month after month.
If bills are consistently high, then it may be worth looking at the bigger items such as windows, insulation, appliances, heating systems, heat pumps or solar.
The right improvement depends on the house.
The Bottom Line
The average utility bill in the USA is about $594 per month in 2026, but the state you live in can move that number considerably in either direction.
Washington averages about $570 per month, with one of our biggest advantages coming from relatively affordable electricity. At the same time, Washington homeowners can pay more for water and sewer than the national averages shown here.
For me, the bigger takeaway is that the cost of a home doesn’t stop at the sale price or mortgage payment.
If you’re buying a home in Bellingham or Whatcom County, look at the whole picture.
Ask about the heating system. Find out whether the property is on sewer or septic. Look at the age of the windows and insulation. If utility costs are important to your budget, ask the seller for actual bills when appropriate.
Those details can tell you far more about what it will really cost to live in a home than a statewide average ever will.
If you’re considering a move to Bellingham or Whatcom County and aren’t sure which areas or types of homes fit your budget, Josh and I are always happy to help you look at the bigger picture.
