What is the average utilities bill between two people?

[Cressida]

I live in a 1184 sqft / 110 sqm condo (sorry I got the measurement wrong before). 3 bedrooms (1 being rather small and unused)

There are only 2 of us but my flatemate abuses the AC, watches TV regularly, leaves the hospitality lights on at night and frequently uses the washing machine and drier to wash just one flannel. I am not home much, just late at night and try to be environmentally friendly.

Our bills over 5 months are $239 on average which I think is way higher than it should be. I was paying $90 on average per month living on my own and back then I spent way more time chilling in the apartment. Statistically, splitting bills is normally cheaper between multiple persons as opposed to one person absorbing the full amount.

She is expecting me to pay half of that and explaining that the first second bill of the month is an estimation which can inflate the price. She also said that the apartment is "big so absorbs more electricity." We only use AC in our average sized bedrooms. I don't think that either argument stands.

Anyhow, what do you think the average SP bill is between two people in an apartment (any kind, HDB or condo.) All quotes appreciated.

[PNGMK]

$140 to $160 was my norm in a similar situation.

Now in a 4 bedroom 1500ft2 apartment with two aircons at night (only) we pay about $230 a month. We don't have a dryer and we wash clothes every second day at most (usually every 3rd). We have four people in the house using hot water.

Aircon has a HUGE effect as well as hotwater heaters (and dryers).

The age and style of the aircon units may also be ineffecient.

Your flat mate is extremely wasteful IMO but she's unlikely to give up her Singapore birthright to sleep with aircon on. Try to get her to turn it off in the day at least and use fans.

[Cressida]

Thank you that was extremely helpful The more replies the merrier! Keep them coming please everyone!

[bgd]

$120 on average here. In a 3 bed condo, never use aircon and don't have a dryer.

Had a guest staying for a while and the bill went up by about $50 a month, occasional aircon I guess.

[Steve1960]

$200 average 5 room HDB

Living room air con unit running 15 hours a day, bedroom 1 unit running 10 hours a night, occasional use of the home office bedroom unit.

Air con system is new, bills before it was replaced averaged $280 so as has been said above the age of the air con system plays a big factor.

[taxico]

~$275 - we have the air-con turned on at least 18 hours each day. just my wife and i live in a 3-bedder. we don't cook.

i don't use hot water, but my wife does. she takes 2 showers a day, ~25 minutes in total.

we use the washer and dryer (full load) at least once a week. perhaps a half load once or twice a month.

among the other usual electrical appliances, we also have a hot/cold water dispenser, laptop + printer and 3 full-sized plasmacluster units that are left on 24 hours/day.

we also keep a few lights turned on 24 hours a day.

[Sergei82]

Now in a 4 bedroom 1500ft2 apartment with two aircons at night (only) we pay about $230 a month.

Same 1500 sq feet for me. 250+-50 - I use aircon a lot (there is a Persian cat with me).

Cressida, 184 sq ft condo - are you sure its not 1840 sq ft condo?

[Girl_Next_Door]

Mine is a 3 bedroom and there is just myself and my husband. 2 of the bedrooms are barely used, unless we have visitors. I cook regularly (3-5 times a week), and we uses the washer/dryer (around 10 loads of clothes a week) and dish washer (twice a week) regularly. In addition, we turn on the air-con (set at 26 degrees) and a fan at night. The rest of the time, its just one air-con in the living room. Our bill ranges from $130 - $200/month, depending on how frequent we are traveling and if we have visitors.

[Beeroclock]

Ours used to average $150-200/mth when it was just the two of us and low to moderate aircon usage.... nowadays with two plus two plus a helper and indiscriminate aircon, we are up around the $300+

[Sergei82]

Ours used to average $150-200/mth when it was just the two of us and low to moderate aircon usage.... nowadays with two plus two plus a helper and indiscriminate aircon, we are up around the $300+

Don't forget to mention the size of the flat is sq feet.

[x9200]

Family of 3, 3+1 BR condo, one small aircon ca 10h a day at 27 deg setting, washer, drier, big fridge, a lot of electronics running round the clock => ca SGD270 average. In the previous place, same size, but older aircons we could go up to 350 from time to time.

Probably the only way to convince your room mate is to start using the aircon by yourself very extensively.

[PNGMK]

Family of 3, 3+1 BR condo, one small aircon ca 10h a day at 27 deg setting, washer, drier, big fridge, a lot of electronics running round the clock => ca SGD270 average. In the previous place, same size, but older aircons we could go up to 350 from time to time.

Probably the only way to convince your room mate is to start using the aircon by yourself very extensively.

Or sabo the aircon units.... many years ago in my first place the aircon stopped working... I never bothered getting it fixed. It made a hell of a difference to the bill.

Flick the aircon breaker switch off in the fuse box... your housemate sounds as dumb as a box of rocks so it's not likely she'll work out what's wrong.

[Beeroclock]

Ours used to average $150-200/mth when it was just the two of us and low to moderate aircon usage.... nowadays with two plus two plus a helper and indiscriminate aircon, we are up around the $300+

Don't forget to mention the size of the flat is sq feet.

additional details as requested for this growing database....
1350 sqft / 2 pax $200/mth avg
1000 sqft / 2 pax $150/mth avg
1350 sqft / 5 pax $320 /mth avg

[sundaymorningstaple]

1300 sqft / $250/mo avg. 7.5 pax / No Aircon (about half is water)

[Sergei82]

1300 sqft / $250/mo avg. 7.5 pax / No Aircon (about half is water)

125 for water??? You have an artificial waterfall at home? My toilet was leaking crazily all night long - I didn't pay a half of that.