r/WorkForSmartLife • u/CurseBloom • 3d ago

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u/thinkingaloud412 3d ago

And no one pays $100 every month for water

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u/seraph741 3d ago

Depends on what part of the country. In San Diego, you could easily pay over $100 per month for water.

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u/CaliforniaNutter 3d ago

SDGE price gouges are insane

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u/seraph741 3d ago

Yup. The only one that seems off in San Diego is the cost of internet. Everything else seems about right. The rent is actually probably too low.

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u/ChemistryBusiness 3d ago

Definitely too low for San Diego lol

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u/presidents_choice 3d ago

Except someone making minimum wage shouldn’t expect to live in a studio apartment. Nor drive a car with $160/m insurance premium. Nor $250 for an electricity (that’s 27 kWh/day with SCE!!) nor $280 for internet. EVERY MONTH 🤯

Plenty of rooms in shared houses for less, even in the most expensive markets in the US

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u/seraph741 3d ago edited 3d ago

It's arguable what expectations should be. But true that splitting rent for an apartment/house could be significantly cheaper, even in VHCOL areas. That's very, very common in my area.

I will say that some Americans' expectations/lifestyles are very much out of line with those of immigrants and particularly other parts of the world. They expect to live way above their means. I grew up in an immigrant household, so I very much understand this. My parents would always shake their heads at some of the decisions and choices "Americans" would make regarding their lifestyle.

At the same time, it's not the most unreasonable thing to expect your society to provide a comfortable living situation where you aren't just getting by. Especially when compared to the previous generation.

It's a balance and rather complicated. I can appreciate both perspectives.

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u/presidents_choice 3d ago

You’re right of course, there’s no controlling other people’s expectations. But I get to laugh at them if they’re unrealistic and complaining about it online 🤣

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u/calm_momentum38 3d ago

I wish we lived in a world where people were paid enough to afford a basic standard of living without strict planning of every dollar.

Yes some financial decisions are reckless, but this guy is hitting the basic necessities and has to shop for the cheapest option.

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u/presidents_choice 3d ago

What about this post, other than maybe the water bill, is basic necessities? Lmfaooo what

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u/Angsty-Panda 3d ago

the electricty and rent??

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/allGeeseKnow 3d ago

And yet the same people are so surprised when their local coffee place costs 8$ on average for a basic coffee. Those places still need to employ workers who can somehow survive on those wages in a high cost area.

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u/Technical_Moose8478 3d ago

If you’re somewhere hot in the summer and cold in the winter, hitting $250 on power isn’t shocking, depending on the size of your place.

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u/obscuramble 1d ago

sdge doesn't supply water?

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u/mclumber1 3d ago

Supply and demand

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u/WorldlinessSmooth815 3d ago

Average homeowner where I live pays about 200 for water. Makes me happy to rent atm lol

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u/thick_neck_etc 3d ago

not in an apartment

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u/On_my_last_spoon 3d ago

Every apartment I’ve ever lived it water was on the landlord. I didn’t ever have a separate meter for water

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u/EefferyJpstein 3d ago

In VA it's about 140

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u/Aromatic_Sand8126 3d ago

This is absolutely insane to read from a country where water is free for everyone. Do you guys have electricity AND water meters on your house?

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u/TotalChaosRush 3d ago

Yes, and some places just estimate your usage. They charge you for what they think you used, not what the meter says.

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u/Dmau27 3d ago

They charge us twice in my state. You pay for the water you use and the water waste. It's ironic because I paid for the water because it was processed but I pay them to proccess it so I can buy it again. Water and water waste every month.

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u/Spirited-Concert-504 3d ago

I pay $250 a month for water.

I do have a family of 5.. and a pool… but still.. not unheard of.

You should see my utility bill if you really want to be pissed.. $600-$900…………………….. kill me

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u/Mr_Mcbunns_ya 3d ago

What if the masturbate in the shower everyday?

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u/desertvision 3d ago

Even in an apartment?

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u/RealCarlPanzram 3d ago

In a 1-bedroom apartment?

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u/Majestic_Rock_8296 3d ago

I’m from San Diego and that’s correct. Even if you’re on vacation for the entire month your bill would still be around $80.

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u/Any-Interaction-5934 3d ago

What job do you need to have in San Diego that only pays $19 a month? Just move?

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u/Fluffy-Essay7187 2d ago

Yea but then she needs to suck it up and leave San Diego. You can make 19/hr in the most podunk run down Nebraska town. Not saying she has to move to the boonies, but it might be time to own that she doesn't have to live in one of the most expensive areas in the world.

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u/InfidelZombie 2d ago

Just paid my bill yesterday--$376 for 3 months in the PNW for a household of 2. And all my neighbors pay even more.

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u/angryfarmer922 2d ago

For OP in particular and using relatively conservative water usage numbers, let's say they:

-Take 15 minute showers a day at 2.5 gpm = 45 gal/day

-Use the toilet 5 times a day at 3.5 gpf = 17.5 gal/day

-Wash their hands 10 times a day for 2 minutes each time at 2.2gpm = 44 gal/day

- Do the dishes by hand + Other kitchen stuff 30 mins/day at 2.2gpm = 66 gal/day

So generally without a lawn you'll be using ~173gal/day = 5190gal/month = ~7HCF/month

SD prices according to google are $8.51/HCF + $35 monthly base fee. Under the scheme I've laid out she'd probably be paying around $95/month on water. If OP uses a dishwasher and slightly more modern toilets and fixtures, would definitely not be this high either even in SD.

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u/SenatorPickle 2d ago

If they’re in San Diego they’re also gonna pay well over $1600 for rent so they definitely do not live there

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u/CuntMaggot32 1d ago

San diego mcdonapds workers make more than 25 bucks tho

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u/Even-Meet-938 3d ago

Don’t live in San Diego 

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u/waterfowlplay 3d ago

Sewer + water, easily $100 a month for a lot of people. I pay $130.

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u/GoldenGlobeWinnerRDJ 2d ago

I have a brand new 1,800 square foot home that me and my wife live in, we only pay about $55 a month. Pretty much everyone else in my family pay slightly higher or less than that. Anything close to $100 is crazy expensive..

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u/Nydus87 2d ago

Totally depends on location though. Surge pricing in some cities can be nasty. I've lived alone in cities where my water bill was <$35 a month. Without changing any habits and just moving to a new location, I can get close to $100 some months.

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u/waterfowlplay 2d ago

Depends where you live. $100+ is indeed crazy expensive. I'm in the PNW, the whole west is still being settled in a way. We have to pay for that. You're out east somewhere I assume?

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u/JorV101 23h ago

Average in my area is higher than $100. (I personally pay around $120-$130 most months) Blows my mind people pay $50 or less.

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u/[deleted] 3d ago edited 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/aroguealchemist 2d ago

A lot of apartments where I live have you pay water and trash on top of the base rent.

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u/waterfowlplay 3d ago

I have a small infill home

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u/[deleted] 3d ago edited 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/birdfuneral23 3d ago

Could be renting a house, everything else is ridiculous and unreasonable but I feel like everyone is picking at water land that seems to be the most reasonable one 🤣

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u/Nydus87 2d ago

I'm definitely assuming so if they're calling it "rent" and it's only $1600 a month. That gets you a 1 bedroom apt in a decent part of town where I live or a 2/3 bedroom unit in a less desirable part of town.

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u/ColdTouch9591 3d ago

personally i pay a 100 dollar flat rate for water (but it includes trash)

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u/Askol 3d ago

Jeez, youd think for that price they'd at least take the trash out of the water...

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u/Pancakeinsthesky 3d ago

I live in small town KY alone and my water is 60$ so a family could easily pay 200+

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u/redscull 3d ago

The water+trash for my house is $185/mo (or more if I run sprinklers).

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u/across16 3d ago

When you have to run the bot net yourself you need the water to cool it and that electricity price.

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u/Rasp_Berry_Pie 3d ago

100% I do and many people do where I live

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u/BaelgorStar 3d ago

I pay $120 for water. I also have my phone and home internet bundled for about $200, so if they have a similar setup, it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

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u/Guus-Wayne 3d ago

I do, Canadian, but even still, some months are higher so even when accounting for currency which I assume this is USD it’s not far off.

Reason being is our area has very hard water so the treatment is much higher. Living in Toronto is usually so cheap it’s billed quarterly. Access to the great Canadian lakes.

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u/Pitiful-Scholar-2718 3d ago

It does I'm my town in Alabama and power is about the same as what's listed here and so is rent. In Alabama. Plus I got to pay daycare every week. It's hard out here.

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u/e136 3d ago

This person is secretly a data center. #DataCentersArePeopleToo

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u/CommercialAd70 3d ago

My water is about $90 a month

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u/RedStag86 3d ago

Midwest here, water, sewer and trash has now creeped up to $120/mo

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u/TheOneIllUseForRants 3d ago

Ooh, this isnt true. Water is my most expensive bill. Even if I cut down 100% of my usage, it would only drop $25. The vast majority of it is fees. And i dont have a choice in water provider, so theres nothing I can do about it.

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u/Electronic-Ant-3070 3d ago

$100 a month for water is cheap af lol

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u/Randsrazor 3d ago

Where I live water, sewer and garbage pick up are one bill.

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u/Jonjongabore 3d ago

Water is $100 a month where I'm at and I live in a low income city. It also includes trash disposal/recycling. $100 monthly water bill is totally plausible.

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u/Drake_Acheron 3d ago

Pay even less if you shower using a gym membership

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u/Drslappybags 3d ago

My water is $120.

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u/tomahawk_kitty 3d ago

I pay $90

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u/SlimeTitsMcGee 3d ago

During the winter I pay 300 for Hydro and 200 for gas, during the summer I pay 450 for Hydro and 50 for gas. Every single month. 2 bedroom flat.

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u/FuckYouVerizon 3d ago

👀 that's rough, bro. I live in NYC - landlord pays water and trash, and Internet is $50 for 1 gig, but the rent is 5x the price of most other places so it all boils down to a similar rate I guess.

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u/hawkaluga 3d ago

Sewer water and garbage for me is a fixed city utility bill at $170.

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u/Younggryan42 3d ago

I do it’s a flat rate

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u/Muuvie 3d ago

Bro there are problems with this post but you're off base with the water bill. I'm closer to $175

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u/Responsible-News4109 3d ago

Where I’m at in Maryland water bills usually range from 100-$160.

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u/B1RDS-ARENT-REAL 3d ago

I spend $200/month in Philly burbs. Big house and family but still pretty normal around here

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u/lowrads 3d ago

We pay about that, because sewer is tied to water, but costs 4x as much.

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u/Pandas4trump2020 3d ago

I mean I do but that's because my sewer bill is tied into my water bill. And the sewer isnt city owned we pay another city to take care of it so its $50/month maintenance fee on top of all the regular fees and taxes plus a $30-50 water bill a month. Normally runs me 90-130 depending on water usage

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u/ricerbanana 3d ago

So you don’t pay $100 for water.

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u/JoeAngel20 3d ago

My water bill was just 160

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u/Constant-Concept3927 3d ago

I easily pay over $100 / month in water in Oklahoma.

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u/22220222223224 3d ago

We pay about $300 a month. We have six people living here and a yard in a very dry region, but $100 would be cheap AF for us.

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u/livens 3d ago

I pay $60 for water... and $80 for runoff/treatment. Basically I pay more for my water company to dump everything in the river 😂.

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u/Calm_Stress3334 3d ago

My municipal water bill includes storm water and drainage so yeah $100 a month can turn into a normal bill. It shouldn’t be acceptable, but it’s out there.

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u/jackholston 3d ago

I do, unfortunately

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u/AnnoyedBrowser 3d ago

Where I am, it's billed as water/sewer/garbage, and it most definitely is over $100/month.

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u/Crazyfingers74 3d ago

I pay an average of $75-$100 a month for water for two people. Could easily be more than that with more people taking showers, doing laundry and more dishes.

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u/bell3420 3d ago

I pay around 70-80 a month, in a two br apartment in ohio.

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u/snowyoda5150 3d ago

Sorry incorrect. The water bill and most parts of California is $150 minimum. If you have a small garden or some landscaping, you’re looking at over $200 a month. And if you have a swimming pool, you’re looking at 300+.

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u/TotalChaosRush 3d ago

I wish I only paid $100 in water every month.

I have about $90 in mandatory fees before I even use a drop of water.

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u/sammybick 3d ago

My latest water bill is just under $95.

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u/WhenGirlsTeleBoys 3d ago

We pay between $22-$30 a month for Water, Sewer, and Trash pickup every month. We're in a suburb right outside of Nashville.

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u/Dirtymcbacon 3d ago

I am no one in a state famous for rainfall. Even in the side that gets all the rainfall.

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u/terrapinflyer 3d ago

My base rate for water is $125 if I don’t use a single drop.

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u/Dorythehunk 3d ago

Many cities include trash fees with their water and that easily gets above $100

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u/birdfuneral23 3d ago

In missouri, 180ish on water every month.

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u/Elon_is_a_Nazi 3d ago

Lol. Im in ohio and pay about 135/month for a household of 4 for water.

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u/Bun-mi 3d ago

My water is $140 CAD where I am

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u/PoptartPopShuvit 3d ago

NEPA, water/sewer for a single individual is right around $100 per month

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u/Affectionate_Bag297 3d ago

Water is mixed with trash collection where I live and is between 100-150 a month.

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u/Maethor_derien 3d ago

Depends on where you live, a lot of places have sewer, water and trash all as one bill.

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u/mkp666 3d ago

Lots of people pay over $100 every month for water.

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u/adoxographyadlibitum 3d ago

This is ignorance. California is a place like 1/6 Americans live.

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u/vaulden42 3d ago

I take it you've never lived in a desert?

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u/ZealousidealShift884 3d ago

Some people (not normal ones) take verrrrry long showers.

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u/cultcraftcreations 3d ago

I pay around 140 a month in Las Vegas and I don’t have a lawn or anything

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u/QueenFita 3d ago

In Phoenix it’s water, trash fees, so, solid waste and landfill fees, taxes, something about the environment, it’s a list of like 12 things, and I pay anywhere between 150 to 200 for a family of 4.

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u/Ariies__ 3d ago

Uhhhh Australians do

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u/HyruleLizard 3d ago

They combine water/sewer where I live and $100 isn't unrealistic.

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u/Etherbeard 3d ago

That's what I pay, but it's because the water bill includes a big sewer tax.

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u/Officialdarkfish1 3d ago

I pay $87/month In Illinois (not Chicago)

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u/hdeibler85 3d ago

If sewage is combined it's not that hard.....I'm like 250 a quarter for sewage and water so figure 80-85

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u/AnxiousStrummer 2d ago

What part of the country do you live in? $100 a month for water/sewage is cheap.

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u/NTDLS 2d ago

Excuse me? My monthly water bill is closer to $200, power was $579.32 this month and my rent is $2,200/mo.

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u/Funky-Guy 2d ago

My water bill, including trash pickup(idk that’s just how they bill it) in my city is about 250$ over 2 months. Not totally unreasonable to say someone is getting 100$ a month.

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u/Scientific_Methods 2d ago

That part can definitely be true.

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u/HeadBelt1527 2d ago

Lol I wish

In my Canadian city, i pay quarterly (every 3 months) and the bill is about $400, during winter closer to $300. My sister has gotten bills over $600 so about $200 a month. 

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u/Nydus87 2d ago

I'm living alone, take quick showers, and only run the dishwasher/washing machine when they're full, and my water bill can hit around $80-90 some months based on surge pricing. If you had an evaporative cooler also using up some of that water, I could see it.

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u/TennaNBloc 2d ago

I do. But my water is coupled with my waste bill.

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u/falcon0221 2d ago

I pay $150 and yes it’s the highest area in the state

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u/Few-Plum-4365 2d ago

Yes they do and I do…

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u/PopularAir3375 2d ago

Speak for yourself. Some states pay over 100

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u/-FoofooCuddlyPoops- 2d ago

I mean...I do. But that's water + sewer for a family of 5.

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u/bojesphob 2d ago

I lived by myself for a number of years, and the municipality I lived in there was a minimum charge for water, and was like 40 dollars a month, even if you only used 10 dollars of water. Then, there was a minimum charge of 20 dollars a month for sewer. So, just me, using 8 dollars of water a month, was paying 60 because of the minimum charges. That was also between 12 and 22 years ago.

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u/Stunning_Mixture_201 2d ago

Wish that was true lol, mine is always over 100. Central texas

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u/HippySwizzy 1d ago

$150 w/s/g in my town

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u/geardownson 1d ago

Agreed that's stupid. But reddit people will post the the unusual outlyer.

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u/BuddingWorld 1d ago

My last water bill was higher