Texans are shelling out roughly $605 a month for household utilities, putting the state on the pricey side of the national spread, while New Mexico residents are paying closer to $401, among the cheapest tabs in the country. Across electricity, gas, water and sewer, internet and phone, the U.S. average lands around $611 per month.
Those numbers come from an annual state-by-state analysis that rolls together electricity, natural gas, water and sewer, internet and phone to estimate a typical monthly bill. The study finds the average American utility bill climbed by about $28 in a year and places Texas around 10th-highest, with New Mexico near the bottom of the ranking. According to a report by Move.org, the site weighs both total cost and the share of income spent on utilities when it scores each state.
Local outlets quickly put the findings in context for Texans. The El Paso Times broke down the numbers for readers and highlighted how Texas stacks up against the national picture and the rest of the Move.org list.
Electricity Is The Biggest Driver
According to Move.org, electricity is the costliest slice of a typical monthly utility bill at about $138 a month nationwide, and it is a big reason state totals diverge. The breakdown shows the electricity portion of the bill at roughly $175 per month in Texas, compared with about $93 in New Mexico, which ranks as the second-lowest in the country. Water usually shows up as the cheapest line on the bill. Those service-by-service figures help explain how two states with similar price-per-kilowatt-hour numbers can wind up with very different monthly totals.
Per-Unit Prices Do Not Tell The Whole Story
State retail electricity prices can send a different message than full monthly bills. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s state profile for Texas lists an average retail price of about 9.79 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2024, which is below the national average. That gap suggests that higher consumption, seasonal demand for heating or cooling, and non-electric utility costs help push Texans’ actual monthly payments higher. The EIA data underline that low per kWh rates do not automatically produce low total bills when households use more power or face steeper sewer, water or internet charges.
How To Trim Your Monthly Bill
Cutting a utility bill usually takes a mix of habit changes and relatively small upgrades. Common steps include programming or raising thermostats when you are away, sealing drafty windows and doors, changing HVAC filters on schedule, switching to LED bulbs and shopping around among available electricity plans or vendors. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver guide focuses on practical moves and suggests home energy audits and weatherization for larger savings. Households that qualify should also look into local assistance programs and utility efficiency rebates that can lower upfront costs.
Move.org’s state ranking doubles as a reminder that geography still matters when the bill arrives. Per-unit prices, how much energy a household uses and which services are bundled into a single statement all shape what customers ultimately pay. For both Texans and New Mexicans, the data highlight the value of checking plans, tightening up homes and tapping available savings programs before seasonal demand kicks bills into higher gear.
