Written by Power Mango
October 07, 2026
October 07, 2026
Average Electric Bill for an Apartment: What Should You Expect to Pay?
The average U.S. residential electricity bill was $150.79 a month from January through June 2026, based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This average includes apartments and houses of all sizes, so it gives you a general reference.
In Europe, 300 kWh of monthly use would cost about €86.88 at Eurostat’s EU average household electricity rate of €0.2896 per kWh for the second half of 2025. Your actual bill will vary by country and electricity use.
Bills also change with the seasons. The U.S. residential average fell from $175.11 in January to $127.71 in April, then rose to $170.65 in June as summer arrived. Your apartment’s heating and hot-water systems, local rate, and utilities included in rent all affect what you pay. Below, we look at how costs vary by apartment size and location, how to estimate your monthly bill, and practical ways to reduce it.
What Is the Average Electric Bill for an Apartment?
Monthly electricity costs can range from about $59 for a studio to $133 for a three-bedroom apartment, based on ElectricityPlans’ apartment-size estimates. These estimates use apartment floor area to calculate electricity consumption and apply a rate of 18.44¢ per kWh.
Average Monthly Electricity Cost by Apartment Size
|
Apartment type
|
Estimated monthly electricity cost
|
Estimated monthly usage
|
|
Studio apartment
|
$59
|
318 kWh
|
|
1-bedroom apartment
|
$78
|
423 kWh
|
|
2-bedroom apartment
|
$105
|
569 kWh
|
|
3-bedroom apartment
|
$133
|
723 kWh
|
The figures are rounded budgeting estimates. Electric heating, hot water, and frequent air-conditioning can raise your costs. Gas, water, trash, and internet may be billed separately.
How the Estimate Works
Multiply your monthly electricity use by your local rate, then add any separately billed charges:
Monthly electricity cost = electricity usage (kWh) × local electricity rate + additional charges
For example, if your apartment uses 500 kWh a month at $0.20/kWh, the electricity usage cost is $100.
Check whether your rate includes delivery charges and taxes before adding them. If your property manager handles billing, also check for service, submetering, or shared-utility fees.
How Do Apartment Electricity Costs Compare in the U.S. and Europe?
The same apartment can have a different electric bill in another state or country because the rate per kWh is different.
The U.S. figures below are residential benchmarks that include apartments, houses, and other homes. The European figures use household electricity prices and apply them to typical apartment usage. In both cases, your own bill will also depend on heating, hot water, fixed charges, and what your rent includes.
How Do U.S. State and European Country Prices Differ?
The same amount of electricity can cost very different amounts depending on where you live. Local rates affect the price of each kWh, while climate and heating systems influence how many you use.
Electricity Costs in the United States
Based on EIA residential electricity data, average monthly bills ranged from $91.60 in Utah to $222.45 in Hawaii among the states below during January through June 2026.
|
State
|
Average monthly residential bill
|
Average electricity rate
|
|
Hawaii
|
$222.45
|
45.95¢/kWh
|
|
California
|
$152.55
|
33.17¢/kWh
|
|
New York
|
$164.75
|
29.26¢/kWh
|
|
Florida
|
$158.34
|
15.36¢/kWh
|
|
Texas
|
$160.50
|
16.11¢/kWh
|
|
Washington
|
$140.55
|
14.35¢/kWh
|
|
Utah
|
$91.60
|
13.17¢/kWh
|
These averages include apartments and houses of all sizes. A lower electricity rate does not always mean a lower bill: Texas had a much lower rate than California, but its average monthly bill was higher because households used more electricity.
Electricity Costs in Europe
Among the countries below, household electricity rates ranged from €0.2561/kWh in France to €0.3869/kWh in Germany, according to Eurostat’s second-half 2025 price data.
The monthly estimates multiply each rate by 300 kWh, so you can see what the same electricity use would cost in different countries.
|
Country
|
Household electricity rate
|
Estimated cost at 300 kWh
|
|
Germany
|
€0.3869/kWh
|
€116.07
|
|
Italy
|
€0.2966/kWh
|
€88.98
|
|
Spain
|
€0.2669/kWh
|
€80.07
|
|
France
|
€0.2561/kWh
|
€76.83
|
|
EU average
|
€0.2896/kWh
|
€86.88
|
At 300 kWh a month, electricity costs about €116 in Germany and €77 in France, including taxes and levies. That is a €39 monthly difference for the same electricity use, showing how much your local rate affects your bill.
Using less electricity reduces your bill, but fixed charges remain. In Great Britain, 300 kWh over a 30-day month costs about £95.49 at Ofgem’s July through September 2026 average Direct Debit rates. Of that total, £17.16 is a standing charge that stays the same regardless of how much electricity you use.
What Affects Your Apartment Electricity Bill?
Your heating and cooling systems, hot water, and daily routines all affect how much electricity you use. Two apartments with the same floor plan can have very different bills if one has electric heating or stays occupied throughout the day.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Heating and air conditioning are among the largest uses of household electricity. During a heatwave or cold spell, longer running hours can raise your bill even when your other habits stay the same.
Insulation matters too. Drafty windows and poorly insulated walls let heat move in or out more easily, so your system has to run longer to maintain the temperature you set.
Hot Water
If your apartment has an electric water heater, showers, baths, and hot-water use add to your electricity bill. More occupants or longer showers can increase that cost without any change in apartment size.
If hot water comes from a gas heater or a shared building system, the cost may appear on a separate bill or be included in rent.
Appliances and Daily Routines
Frequent dryer use, electric cooking, and running a space heater can add up over the month. Working from home may also increase your bill because you use lighting, electronics, heating, or cooling for more hours.
A roommate can bring more laundry, cooking, and hot-water use, so the total bill may rise even if you split it between more people.
Rates and Billing Periods
A higher bill does not always mean you used more electricity. Your rate may have increased, or the bill may cover more days than the previous one.
Compare kWh used, price per kWh, and billing days. If usage rose, look at weather and household routines. If usage stayed similar, check the rate and any new charges.
What Does Your Apartment Electric Bill Include?
Your bill includes the electricity you use, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and may also include delivery charges, service fees, and taxes. If your property manager handles billing, there may be submetering or shared-utility fees.
What If Electricity Is Included in Rent?
Check your lease for which utilities are included and whether usage limits apply. Before signing, confirm:
-
Are electricity, heating, and hot water included?
-
Will you pay the utility directly or through the property manager?
-
Are there any additional billing or shared-utility fees?
Compare rent plus separately billed utilities when budgeting for an apartment.
How Can You Estimate Your Apartment Electric Bill Before Moving In?
The most useful estimate usually comes from the apartment itself. Ask for its recent kWh history, then apply the local rate and add any fixed charges.
Check Previous Electricity Usage
Ask your landlord or property manager for the last 12 months of bills or monthly kWh use. A bill from the same apartment reflects its insulation, appliances, weather, and heating system. If that history is unavailable, ask for a similar unit in the same building and confirm whether it has the same heating and hot-water setup.
Calculate Your Expected Electricity Cost
Once you know the expected kWh and local rate, multiply them to estimate the electricity-use portion of the bill. For example, a one-bedroom apartment using 500 kWh per month at $0.20/kWh would cost about $100 per month before fixed charges and taxes. Add those charges from the utility tariff or a recent bill.
Estimate a Range Instead of One Exact Number
Your bill will change with the weather and your routine. Use the mild-season bill as a lower reference and the highest summer or winter bill as an upper reference. If you only have one figure, add room for air-conditioning, electric heating, or other seasonal use instead of treating it as a fixed monthly price.
How Can You Lower Your Apartment Electric Bill?
Reduce the electricity used by heating, air conditioning, hot water, and frequently used appliances. A few practical changes can help:
-
Adjust the thermostat: Use a slightly warmer setting in summer and a cooler setting in winter, while keeping your apartment comfortable.
-
Wash clothes in cold water: When the care label allows it, cold-water washing and full loads reduce the energy needed for laundry.
-
Reduce dryer use: Air-dry suitable clothes when space allows.
-
Turn off unused lights and electronics: Avoid leaving them running in empty rooms.
If your utility provides hourly or daily usage data, look for peaks that match your heating, cooling, or laundry routine. This helps you identify which changes could make the biggest difference.
Using Solar to Reduce Daytime Electricity Costs
If you have a sunny balcony, patio, or terrace with enough space, our MANGO POWER S PIPV plug-in solar kit can help reduce the electricity you buy from the grid during the day without a rooftop installation.
When the panels are producing, their electricity helps meet your home’s demand, and the grid supplies the rest.
Your savings depend on sunlight, how much solar electricity you use at home, and your local rate. Before installation, confirm building permission and local utility and electrical requirements.
Turn Sunlight Into Savings
An electricity bill of $150 a month adds up to $1,800 a year. That is close to the U.S. residential average discussed above. In Europe, using 300 kWh a month costs about €87 at the EU average rate. And when rates go up, you can end up paying more without using any more electricity.
A sunny balcony or patio could help cover some of that cost. Our MANGO POWER S PIPV plug-in solar kit turns sunlight into electricity your home can use during the day, so you buy less from the grid. Explore our DIY solar systems to find an option suited to your space and local requirements.
FAQs
1. Is electricity usually included in apartment rent?
Sometimes, but you should confirm it before signing the lease. Ask which utilities are included, whether the apartment has its own meter, and whether the property manager adds any utility fees.
2. Why is my first apartment electricity bill higher than expected?
Your first bill may cover a longer billing period or reflect air-conditioning, electric heating, new appliances, or more time spent at home. Compare the bill’s kWh and billing dates with the next month before you decide that your normal cost is too high.
3. How much electricity does an apartment use per month?
A studio may use around 300–500 kWh per month, while a one-bedroom apartment may use around 400–700 kWh. Your apartment may use more if heating, hot water, or cooling runs on electricity.
4. Does electric heating make an apartment electricity bill higher?
Usually. Electric heating adds a large seasonal load to the same electricity account that powers your appliances. With gas heating, the heating cost may appear on a separate gas bill instead.
5. Can you install solar panels or a plug-in solar system at an apartment?
That depends on your outdoor space, building rules, utility requirements, and local electrical rules. A balcony or patio system may be possible in some buildings, but you need approval before installation.
6. Can plug-in solar reduce an apartment electricity bill?
It may reduce the electricity you draw from the grid while the panels are producing power. The result depends on sunlight, panel placement, your local rate, and how much electricity you use during the day.
7. Why does my apartment electricity bill change every month?
Weather, heating and cooling, electricity rates, billing dates, and your routine can all change the total. Compare your kWh first, then check the rate and billing period.
Resources
Don't miss out
Sign up to get email updates
POPULAR POSTS
