Utility costs, regardless of where you live, can have a huge impact on your budget.
Residents of Raleigh who pay for basic utilities have a monthly utility cost that is less than the national average of $240. The following is a breakdown of Raleigh’s average utility costs:
- Raleigh’s average electricity bill is $152.26.
- Raleigh’s average gas bill is $37.10.
- Raleigh’s average water bill is $41.20.
- Raleigh’s average gas price is $1.35.
- Raleigh’s average total utility costs are $231.91.
Even with reliable statistics, estimating your utility expenditures might be difficult because they vary depending on your lifestyle and personal preferences.
If you wash your workout clothing on a regular basis, you’ll spend more money on your water bill.
When you factor in the costs of your cell phone and internet, estimating your utility bills becomes much more difficult.
However, a single person’s average cell phone cost in the United States is $94. The average internet bill ranges from $30 to $60.
How much does a typical water bill in North Carolina cost?
Every year, Eskaf’s team examines rates from more than 500 water and wastewater companies in North Carolina, which serve more than 8 million people. Residents in North Carolina spend an average of $27 to $41 a month for 5,000 gallons of water, according to a 2018 report.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, how do I pay my water bill?
To use the automated phone system to make a payment, dial 888-905-3169. Please bring your payment method, utility account number, and service address zip code with you. The automated system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Why is my water bill in Raleigh so high?
When any of the following criteria present, no leak adjustment will be granted:
Seasonal usage, such as watering sod, gardening, and washing vehicles, causes usage to exceed the customer’s monthly average.
Customer was alerted by the city of Raleigh of excessive water usage, but no repairs were completed during two billing cycles.
The leak was triggered by a third party and is either reimbursable or insured.
There will be no adjustment for the third and subsequent months if the leak continues for three or more months.
For the same client and property, a leak correction was granted during the last year.
How much does a typical water bill cost?
In July, Auckland water prices will increase by 7%, bringing the average annual household water bill to $1224.
Watercare, the council-controlled organization in charge of the city’s water and wastewater services, authorized the additional rates today.
Auckland Council is also proposing a 6.1 percent rate hike beginning in July, with a climate-action targeted rate of 2.4 percent to fund new and frequent bus routes, native tree planting, and other emissions-reduction measures.
The past 12 months have been difficult for Watercare, according to chief executive Jon Lamonte, with Covid-19 driving up operational expenses and inflation driving up construction prices.
Average Cost of Living in North Carolina: $38,295 per year
Inhabitants of North Carolina will discover that they are not spending much more or less than residents of other states. North Carolina has the 24th lowest cost of living in the United States, according to MERICdata collected in the second quarter of 2021.
How much would it cost you to relocate to the south? South Carolina residents should expect to spend less, as the state ranked three places ahead of North Carolina in terms of the least costly states to live in.
It can be difficult to understand what these rankings signify, so let’s take a deeper look at the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ 2020 data. North Carolina’s total personal consumption cost is $38,295 per year. Here’s how it works out.
Housing Costs in North Carolina
North Carolina has a large number of housing units (4 million, according to 2019 census data), which may explain why housing in the Tar Heel State is relatively affordable. In late 2021, Zillow estimated a typical North Carolina house value of $273,098.
According to the most recent census data, the cost of housing in North Carolina on a monthly basis is as follows.
- The average monthly mortgage payment is $1,314
- The average studio rent is $732.
- Rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $853 on average.
- Rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $878 on average.
- Rent for a three-bedroom apartment is $1,022.
- Rent for a four-bedroom house is $1,333 on average.
- The average gross rent is $931.
Because the location of your property has a significant impact on its price, let’s take a look at the typical home values in 20 major North Carolina cities in September 2021, according to Zillow.
Groceries & Food
Your dietary habits, as well as where you reside, can have a significant impact on how much money you spend on food each month. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average annual food expense per person in North Carolina is $3,470.
Your grocery expenditures may also be affected by where you live in North Carolina. The grocery costs in major North Carolina cities for the second quarter of 2021 were revealed by the Council for Community and Economic Research. From lowest to largest, here are the costs.
Transportation
Getting about North Carolina is expensive, whether you’re commuting to bustling downtown Raleigh or spending a weekend relaxing in the Outer Banks.
The amount of money you expect to spend will depend on the size of your household. From MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, here are a few samples of average transportation expenditures for various family arrangements.
Health Care
The average per-capita cost of health care in North Carolina is $6,250 per year, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Personal Consumption Expenditures by State report from 2020.
Your bottom-line cost is influenced by your location, the type of coverage you have, and how often you require care.
Child Care
North Carolina’s average monthly child care costs range from $1,038 to $1,170 per child.
Child care is a significant but necessary expense for most parents, while there is considerable leeway based on the type of care you require.
If you’re having trouble paying for child care, the Child Care Subsidy program for qualifying families in North Carolina is worth looking into.
Taxes
Because North Carolina has a single rate of 5.25 percent rather than a tiered rate, determining what you’ll owe in state income tax is rather simple.
North Carolina’s rate of 5.25 percent isn’t particularly high or low when compared to other states’ rates, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2021. The top marginal tax rate in California is 13.3%, although some states, such as Florida, have no state income tax at all.
Miscellaneous Costs
It’s understandable if you want to reward yourself after you’ve paid all of your bills. Some of these cheap delights could weigh in if each North Carolinian spends roughly $20,732 per year on personal expenses (costs correct as of Nov. 3, 2021):
- A day at the North Carolina Zoo will set you back $11 for children and $15 for adults.
- Chimney Rock State Park entrance fees range from $0 to $17, depending on age.
- The “Full Breakfast” at the famed Biscuit Head eatery costs $10.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences offers free general entry to museum visitors.
What is the minimum salary required to live in Raleigh?
The typical income in Raleigh is $61,500, while the income required to “live comfortably” is $81,542 for homeowners and $80,486 for renters.
Is living in Raleigh or Charlotte less expensive?
The cost of living in Charlotte is 3.3 percent lower than in Raleigh. The cost of housing in Charlotte is 16.5 percent less than the cost of housing in Raleigh. In Charlotte, health-care costs are 7.3 percent higher.
How do people in the United States pay their power bills?
Other than mailing a physical check or paying over the phone, American consumers and businesses can pay their bills in a variety of ways: In person or at a branch of their financial institution. Many individuals (and many more small businesses) still pay their bills in person or visit a bank branch, believe it or not.
Who is in charge of Wake Forest’s water system?
This page was developed to keep Wake Forest residents up to date on issues, programs, and services that may impact them as City of Raleigh water customers.
Contact Raleigh Water (previously City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department) at 919-996-3245, if you have any questions or issues regarding your water or sewer service.
The water and sewer systems of the Town of Wake Forest and the City of Raleigh were integrated in July 2005. The City of Raleigh accepted entire responsibility for operating, maintaining, improving, and expanding the water and wastewater collection system that serves the Town of Wake Forest in line with the regional utility plan. Since then, the two cities have collaborated to develop a plan for upgrading and improving Wake Forest’s water and sewer system.
The water and wastewater system that provides service to people within the urban service area designated for the Town of Wake Forest is owned and operated by the City of Raleigh. Subject to the terms of the inter-local agreement, the town retains control over when and where new water and sewer services can be extended to accommodate growth and development within its planning and zoning jurisdiction.
The utility merger was part of a larger plan to combine central and eastern Wake County utilities. The utility mergers were intended to give the towns’ consumers with the benefits of economies of scale associated with being a part of a much bigger system, as well as appropriate water and sewer capacity to support continuing economic expansion.
Project Share
The Project Share Contribution Program gives emergency cash to utility customers who are unable to pay their water, solid waste, recycling, or stormwater bills due to a financial hardship. It is supported by donations from individuals and businesses. 100% of the cash donated to Project Share stay in the Raleigh, Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon service region to support customers.
Automatic In-Ground Irrigation Systems
The Town of Wake Forest’s Board of Commissioners approved in 2012 to enable the granting of new permits for the building of manual or automatic in-ground irrigation systems. The ruling reversed a 2008 ban prohibiting the connection of all manual or automatic in-ground irrigation systems to Raleigh’s public potable water system. Call the Inspections Department at 919-435-9530 for further information, or go to their permitting website.
Utility Payments
Utility Payments – The City of Raleigh bills all water and sewer accounts that were formerly billed by the Town of Wake Forest on a monthly basis. Except for the Town of Wake Forest service region, all other City of Raleigh water and sewer accounts are billed every other month. Payments to the City of Raleigh should be sent to the address listed on the bill. Residents of Wake Forest, however, can pay their water and sewer bills in person at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.
Water Conservation & Efficiency
The City of Raleigh has launched a number of programs to help customers learn about the most water-saving technologies and the city’s obligatory water conservation and efficiency measures.