Typical Utility Costs in Boston

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Typical Utility Costs in Boston

Staff Writer · Apr 15, 2010

It’s best you monitor your utility costs in Boston carefully, as it’s one of the more expensive places in the country for renters to live. For example, a one-bedroom apartment can range from around $1,000 to $1,800 per month while a two-bedroom rental can be leased anywhere from around $1,500 to $2,500 monthly. Even if you share an apartment, the cost of renting doesn’t seem to go down too much, as average rental rates for roommates range from about $700 to $1,000 per month. Therefore, you have to budget appropriately for utilities. Major utilites in Boston include electricity, natural gas, the Internet, phone and Cable TV.

Electricity

The cost of electricity in Massachusetts has caused many manufacturers to close their doors. Therefore, it’s important to watch your own usage of this utility in Boston. Typically, electricity runs around $50.00 per month, with rates leaping to over $100 at hotter and colder times of the year.

Natural Gas

Generally, Bostonians, during the coldest months, pay on averge $160 for natural gas. Of course, the cost can plummet to a more liveable $15.00 in the warmer months to offset the higher amounts assessed during the colder times of the year. When it comes to the price of heating then, save your pennies in the summer so you can pay for the fuel when you need it. To reduce both gas and electricity consumption, keep your thermostat in the coldest months set at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day or around 60 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at work, away from home, or before you go to sleep.

Connecting to the Internet

For you to be a part of the online community, it roughtly takes about $30.00 per month to maintain your connection to the Internet – a small price to pay to stay connected.

The Cost of a Landline Phone

If you maintain the use of a landline telephone in your home, then such usage can run somewhat high. Keeping in touch with friends and family by using of a landline phone can run you around $45.00 per month. To reduce the cost of this utility, it might be best to consider only using your cell phone for your telecommunication needs.

Cable TV

Of course, it’s almost impossible to think of living without cable TV, so the expense for this utility is definitely justified. However, cable TV in the Boston area can cost you as the monthly average runs around $65.00 per month. Therefore, make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Besides your rent, plan on typically paying around $250 per month for your utilities in the spring and fall, and around $330 for such expenses in the hotter months or the coldest months of the year. Conserving fuel costs, as indicated, entails monitoring your thermostat and making sure it’s set at a cost-saving and energy-saving temperature. You can also control costs by installing insulation around the windows in your apartment. Be mindful of your utility usage in Boston. It’s a nice, although expensive city in which to live.

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