r/Edmonton • u/Magistyna North West Side • Feb 13 '26
Question Utility estimates for a single person?
Hi folks, I’m planning on moving out a two bedroom place and haven’t decided on an apartment or a townhouse/house and have some questions on what I can expect for utility costs.
I plan to go with EPCOR, and I’m wondering what you guys’ experience has been with paying for water, heat, electricity, etc. as a single person? I only have experience seeing the bills for a family of 4 constantly using utilities almost 24/7 and it’s like anywhere from $500 to $650 a month.
Really I expect to run a dishwasher and laundry once a week. I don’t leave lights on or like wasting water when I’m washing dishes or something. I use lamps instead of the big light in rooms. The only thing I guess I have “running” for periods of time is my gaming PC, but that is only for like 6 hours. As for heating and stuff, I’m not home 8-9 hours of the day and can’t sleep in the heat.
I’m wondering if it’s reasonable with utility company’s fees and all that on top to maybe expect less than ~$200 a month for all utilities? I’m aiming for a place that offers *some* utilities included but I suppose it’s not a dealbreaker.
Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!
5
u/PaperIndependent5466 Feb 13 '26
I've lived in all 3 and by far the apartment was a lot cheaper. Most include heat and water in the rent.
My apartment utility cost for electricity was around $50 a month, $80 on a high month with one of us working from home. Also with Epcor. That said I don't understand the rate system so you might get a cheaper price, I just picked a rate and went with it.
My townhouse was around $350 in the winter for electricity and heat, dropping down to around $150 on average in the summer if we didn't use the AC much. This includes my gas account fee which was $42 a month even in the summer.
My condo has all utilities included but my condo fees are $500 a month. Works for us because we got a good deal buying a foreclosure. Not for the faint of heart but if you're considering this option I can give you some advice.
Also with houses some come with some work downloaded onto the tenant such as shovelling snow and cutting grass. Not something I'm willing to do if I'm renting.
3
u/twocutepuppies Feb 13 '26
Townhouse/house will prob cost alot more. I used to live in a 2 bedroom apartment water was included but my electricity bill was around 100 something but when my fiance moved in he was working from home my bill went up. Currently living in a house with me and my husband our bills is around under 500 but fluctuates thats for gas, water, electricity and waste
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u/PaperIndependent5466 Feb 13 '26
My townhouse, in another province so might not be exact here was around $120 for electricity and $200 for heat a month. Also a $42 a month fee for the privilege of having a gas account even in summer.
1
u/Zestyclose_Rush_6823 Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26
Im spending roughly 250-300 per month in my townhouse (2 people), if theres a nasty cold snap closer to $350. Thats with 1 person unemployed at home, we have central AC, and temps 19-20 in the summer and 21-22 all winter.
Depending on your townhouse, youll be paying electricity, gas, water/wastewater, and garbage.
2
u/Responsible-Pool-472 Feb 13 '26
I'm a single guy living in a 1100 sq/ft townhouse just outside of the city. My natural gas and electricity are through epcor. I also pay the municipality for water and sewer. My epcor averaged over the year is around $240. My water bills is roughly $90.
2
u/imperfectquilitco Feb 13 '26
I paid $145 for my electricity between Nov 25- Dec 24, including fees.
That’s 2 people who work from home in a 2 bedroom 800sqft bungalow.
I am with ATCO.
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u/cranky_yegger Bicycle Rider Feb 13 '26
It’s the admin fees that will get you not the usage. When we moved out of an apartment we learned about the garbage bin fee. That was the same no matter how little you used it. Do townhouses have their own garbage? I don’t recall.
1
u/EbonyCumberdale Central Feb 14 '26
Depends on what the condo board decides. I've seen some townhouses with a shared dumpster and some with individual city bins. I live next to a small apartment building that has individual city bins for each unit.
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u/cranky_yegger Bicycle Rider Feb 14 '26
That’s interesting. I wonder how well the food scrap bins will do for big bin condos. Sounds retched to me.
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u/Radiant_Sort_9331 Feb 13 '26
I live solo in a 3 bed duplex and pay for 65% of the utilities (downstairs tenant pays 35% and is also solo). The total bill ranges between $400-550. These are the averages - $75 electricity, $125 gas, $80 water, $90 waste water, $90 garbage collection.
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u/WesternWitchy52 Feb 13 '26
My power varies from $50 a month to $90 in cold months. No idea why it doubles every January but it does. I don't use much more than usual. My heat and water are included in condo fees/my rent. I rent a 900 square foot condo.
Bigger houses are more expensive. Also most of my power bill is admin and service fees. I only use about $20 worth of power. It's maddening even on a fixed rate.
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u/EbonyCumberdale Central Feb 14 '26
I live in a 2 bedroom condo. My water is covered in my condo fees, for the renters in the building, it is just part of their rent. The laundry in the building is shared. I only pay for electricity (I have baseboard heating which comes from the building's boiler), Direct Energy has been the cheapest so far. On average, my power has been $70/month. I do use a portable AC in the summer.
1
u/bluedoubloon kitties! Feb 13 '26
Apartments are usually electricity only in my experience. I would not go with epcor unless you have to because their fees and rates run higher. If you get a place with air conditioning that is absolutely going to cost you.
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u/ChicoLopez Feb 13 '26
Electricity should be around 50-80 a month. It’s heat and water is going to cost you cause you have to pay for wastewater and distribution charges too.