First Apartment Bills: Every Cost to Budget For

Your first apartment comes with more bills than rent. Budget for utilities (electricity, gas if you have it, water, sewer and trash unless they’re included), internet, your phone, renters insurance and any subscriptions. Read your lease first to see which utilities your landlord covers. And because your landlord’s insurance doesn’t cover your belongings, price renters insurance before you move.

Here’s the full checklist, plus what to do about each bill before move-in day.

The first apartment bills checklist

Bill	Who you usually pay	When to set it up
Rent	Your landlord or property manager	When you sign the lease
Electricity	The local electric company	Before move-in day
Gas	The local gas company, if the unit has gas	Before move-in day
Water, sewer and trash	Your landlord or the city, depending on the lease	Check the lease
Internet	A provider you choose	A few weeks before, if you can
Phone	Your carrier	You probably have it already
Renters insurance	An insurer you choose	Before you move your things in
Subscriptions	Streaming, music, apps, gym	When you want them

Your lease is the first thing to check. If your rent includes any utilities, such as water or trash, those come off your list.

Questions to ask before you sign

A few questions to the landlord or property manager can save you surprises:

1. Which utilities are included in the rent, and which are in my name?
2. Which companies serve this unit for electricity, gas, water and internet?
3. Roughly what have utility bills been for this unit? Ask whether they can share past figures.
4. When is rent due, how do I pay it, and is there a late fee?
5. Does the lease require renters insurance?
6. What will I pay before I get the keys?

Write the answers down and keep them with your lease.

Upfront costs to plan for

Before the first monthly bill, moving in usually costs money up front. Ask your landlord, in writing, exactly what you’ll pay before you get the keys. That can include:

• the first month’s rent
• a security deposit
• application or other fees
• any deposits or connection fees for utilities

Rules on security deposits and other renter protections vary by state. USA.gov points renters to their state’s tenant rights agency, attorney general or housing agency, and to the state’s tenant rights handbook. Read yours before you sign.

Setting up utilities

Ask your landlord which companies serve the apartment and which utilities need to be in your name. Then, a week or two before move-in:

1. Contact each company to start service on your move-in date.
2. Ask whether a deposit or connection fee applies, and how much.
3. Ask about billing dates. If a due date will land right before your payday, ask whether it can be changed.
4. Decide whether to use autopay for each one.

If you choose autopay, the CFPB has two cautions: keep enough money in your account, because your bank and the company may both charge fees if the balance is too low, and monitor your account so the amounts and timing are what you agreed to.

Renters insurance: what it covers

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), your landlord’s insurance doesn’t cover your personal property if it’s stolen or damaged. The landlord’s policy covers the building’s structure; your belongings need their own cover.

Renters insurance can include:

• Personal property coverage, which pays to repair or replace your belongings if they’re damaged, destroyed or stolen.
• Liability coverage, which can protect you against a claim or lawsuit if someone is hurt or their property is damaged and you’re found responsible.
• Living expenses, in some policies, if your apartment becomes unlivable because of damage.

Check whether your lease requires renters insurance, and compare a few quotes before you move.

An example first-month budget

Say your rent is $1,200. Here’s how a month might look once the other bills arrive. These numbers are an example only; your costs will depend on where you live and how you use energy.

Bill	Monthly
Rent	$1,200
Electricity	$90
Gas	$40
Internet	$55
Phone	$45
Renters insurance	$15
Streaming	$18
Total	$1,463

In this example, the apartment costs about $260 a month more than the rent alone. Knowing your own version of that number before you sign makes the first month much easier.

Put every bill on one calendar

In your first month, bills arrive from five or six places at once, often on different dates. The CFPB’s bill calendar tool is a simple way to see them together: list every bill, mark a pay-by date (7 days before the due date if you pay by mail, 2 days before online), and mark when your paychecks arrive.

Then set a reminder before each one. A bill tracker such as Billo keeps every bill and due date in one list, reminds you 3 days before each bill and on the day, and lets you mark each one paid. Our guide to keeping track of bills shows the full system.