Though water is one of the natural resources found on Earth, when it comes into your home you have to pay for it. And that cost keeps going up.
The average U.S. family of four pays $78 for water in a month, based on each person using the national average of 100 gallons per day. That amount is based on our research and a March 2025 Bank of America Institute report that found the cost of water increased 7.1% from March 2024.
What you or your family pays for water goes up or down depending on your location and your usage, with families that use 50% more water than average spending about $123 a month and families that use 50% less water than average spending about $39 a month.
If you use a lot of water on your grass, have a pool, or have more than four people living in your home, your monthly bill will likely be quite higher than the average.
As mentioned, the biggest factors determining the average water bill in the U.S. is your location and your usage. You can’t do much about your location, unless you move. But you can lower your water bill by dialing down how much water you use.
Average Monthly Water Bill
| National Average Monthly Water Bill | $78 |
| Typical Water Bill Price Range | $39-$123 |
| Extreme Low-End Water Bill | $21 |
| Extreme High-End Water Bill | $123 |
These average water bill amount comes from the average usage per month for a family of four in the U.S.
Cost by Location
Water rates vary, sometimes widely, according to where you live. Costs range from $21 per month in North Carolina up to $123 per month in West Virginia. We calculated the 7.1% cost of water YoY for each state, but the Bank of America Institute found water prices in Mid-Atlantic region actually increased the most at 9.5%
| Average monthly water prices in the U.S. by state | |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | $123 |
| Oregon | $94 |
| Alaska | $93 |
| Washington | $84 |
| California | $81 |
| Wyoming | $79 |
| New Jersey | $76 |
| Hawaii | $70 |
| Arizona | $57 |
| Nevada | $55 |
| Maryland | $54 |
| Idaho | $53 |
| Delaware | $51 |
| Texas | $48 |
| North Dakota | $45 |
| Missouri | $45 |
| Utah | $44 |
| Colorado | $44 |
| Connecticut | $44 |
| Montana | $44 |
| Oklahoma | $42 |
| Virginia | $39 |
| Tennessee | $39 |
| Mississippi | $38 |
| Louisiana | $37 |
| Florida | $37 |
| New Mexico | $35 |
| Iowa | $35 |
| Rhode Island | $35 |
| Massachusetts | $35 |
| Nebraska | $34 |
| Kentucky | $33 |
| South Carolina | $33 |
| Pennsylvania | $33 |
| Kansas | $33 |
| Indiana | $33 |
| New York | $32 |
| Minnesota | $32 |
| Michigan | $31 |
| New Hampshire | $30 |
| Georgia | $30 |
| Ohio | $30 |
| Illinois | $28 |
| South Dakota | $28 |
| Alabama | $26 |
| Arkansas | $26 |
| Maine | $24 |
| Vermont | $23 |
| Wisconsin | $23 |
| North Carolina | $21 |
Source: Statista.com and a LawnStarter update
Cost by Water Usage
The amount of water you use is the other major factor, besides location, that affects the average water bill. Using 50 fewer gallons per day can make a big difference in your monthly water bill.
See below for the cost of the average monthly water bill for a family of 4, based on whether they use 50, 100, or 150 gallons of water. (This is based on the most recent data from Circle of Water. Check your city, municipality, or water district’s website for a cost of water calculator.)
Water Use Inside Your Home
So, where do those 100 gallons of water per day go? The toilet and shower are the major drains on your water use, with faucets and clothes washers coming up right behind. Leaks may take a surprising 12% of your water usage, which is up to half of your average toilet water use.
Ways You Can Cut Your Water Bill
Smart sprinklers and irrigation systems are one way you can better control when your lawn and garden are watered. A rain garden is another – let Mother Nature water your garden.
More drastic ways to reduce your water bill are to switch to a tankless water heater and/or replace your lawn with xeriscaping or artificial grass. (Somewhat Humorous Note: We’re LawnStarter. We’d rather help you to keep your lawn but be more smart about watering it.)
See Related:
– Best Time to Water Your Grass
– How Often Should You Water Your Lawn
– How Long Should You Water Your Lawn
Smart Sprinklers and Irrigation Systems
To gain more control on when and how your lawn is watered, install a smart sprinkler system. Set the time you water your lawn – some super-smart irrigation systems ignore pre-set times if it rained overnight or is currently raining.
Homeowners typically pay roughly $0.50 per square foot to have an underground sprinkler system installed, which for the average-sized yard comes out to $3,150 for the cost of a sprinkler system.
Sprinkler system leaks, much like leaks in the plumbing inside your house, can be costly over time. Get these fixed. LawnStarter customers can get Sprinkler Repair from a local LawnStarter pro – just submit a Manual Quote in the app, via your online account, or by calling Customer Support.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters are another way to reduce your water bill. The average cost of a tankless water heater is $2,360, with most homeowners paying between $1,125 to $3,620.
Xeriscaping
One way to drastically cut your water consumption is through xeriscaping. This drought-tolerant landscaping basically replaces your traditional grass lawn with a rock garden with native plants and succulents.
Xeriscaping can reduce your irrigation needs by 50%. The typical xeriscape costs from $15,120 to $18,400, with a nationwide average of $17,000, though costs are much less if you DIY. Design is $200 per hour, and installation costs $50 to $100 per hour.
Artificial Grass
Another way to use less water is to install artificial grass. Replacing your traditional lawn with fake grass costs around $15 to $19 per square foot, with the material and the size of the area being the major cost factors.
The cost of artificial turf can range from $7,400 to $9,350 using mid-quality artificial grass. Expect a 20% increase in price if you use nylon turf.
FAQ About Water Bill Prices
From 1950 through 1980, as the population increased from 150 million to 230 million, water use increased from 180 billion gallons per day to 430 billion, the U.S. Geological Survey found. However, in a change that can be attributed to increased awareness, from 1980 through 2015 (the most recent data), while the population increased to 325 million, water consumption declined to 320 billion gallons per day.
Yes. The western U.S. has been going through drought conditions since 2020 that is expected to last for 10 years, according to a Nature Climate Change study. California and Nevada have banned businesses watering of “non-functional” decorative, ornamental grasses
But fresh water shortages will affect many more areas of the country. In 2015 (again the most recent data), the U.S. Government Accountability Office surveyed all 50 states and found that 40 of them expected to have shortages of fresh water in 10 years. It’s 2025 now.
What You Can Do About the Cost of Water
Water is a classic case of supply and demand. The supply is dwindling, yet we still need to shower, wash dishes and the car, and to keep our lawns and other greenery, well, green.
As AI changes everything, it also sucks up rivers of water. By 2028, U.S. artificial intelligence may use as much electricity as 28 million households. All those AI agents are very thirsty.
It is easy to take water for granted. The median household in America uses just 2% of its income on its water bills, but that takes a bigger bite out of some paychecks. Minimum wage earners are already losing 10% of their income to keep their water flowing as the price continues to go up.
When it comes to your own water bill, take action. Review your usage. Make repairs to sprinklers and get household plumbing leaks fixed. Cut back – don’t run the water when you brush your teeth, for example.
Sure, it’s a drop in the bucket, but they add up, and you’ll cut your monthly water bill cost.
Additional sources:
Main Image: Man holding invoice of water usage. Image Credit: Daniel Krasoń / Adobe Stock
