Last Updated on June 13, 2025 by kidron
Getting your first apartment can be exciting, until you get surprised by bills. Before you enter into a lease agreement, you need to know what other fees you will have to pay along with your rent.
You will be responsible for several costs associated with your new apartment, from utilities like electricity and water to optional costs like internet and renters’ insurance; it can be easy to miscalculate your expected monthly expenses.
Some costs will be fixed, and others will vary based on your usage. Even in variable costs, it is important to be mindful of how you calculate your overall monthly costs. Your landlord may cover certain bills for you (like trash and sewer), but you will be responsible for all other bills.
In this guide, we will outline the most common apartment billing expenses, discuss what costs are negotiable, and provide tips shared by our experts.
Understanding Rent and Utility Costs as a New Renter
As a renter, your bills consist of fixed expenses (predictable) and variable expenses (usage-based). Understanding the difference can help you be a smarter budgeter, especially when you have a family.
Fixed Costs
Fixed expenses remain the same, month over month. This makes them predictable and easy to plan for every month. Your rent is your largest fixed expense, with a set due date and established cost.
Some leases also require renters’ insurance, another fixed bill, typically 15 – 30 dollars a month. A few leases include fixed parking costs or pet bills, but in general, fixed expenses remain largely consistent month to month. Since these costs rarely change, you should budget for fixed expenses first.
Variable Costs
Variable bills will change based on usage, such as electricity, water, gas, etc. If you run the air conditioning (AC) in the summertime, you will see your electric bills spike in the summer. Conversely, if you run the heating in the winter, your gas bill will increase. For the internet, plans will vary depending on how fast you upgrade. Monitor these monthly expenses so you can start to see your spending habits patterns and change them to save money.
Pro Tip: Ask your landlord what utilities are included in your rent. Your landlord may be handling your water, trash, or sewer, which saves money.
What Bills Do You Have to Pay in an Apartment?
When planning your monthly budget, start by figuring out what bills do you have to pay in an apartment, like rent, utilities, and internet.
Here are some of the more common bills you’ll pay, including required bills and optional bills.
Mandatory Bills
Every renter pays rent, which is your largest fixed cost, with strict due dates and penalties for payments made after the due date. Some basic utilities (electric, water, and gas) are required, though which utilities you have to cover varies based on your lease.
Renters’ insurance is required, or at least encouraged, for coverage on your property for roughly $15-30/month. Waste removal is almost always included, but when in doubt, always verify with your landlord or property manager.
Whether you own a single rental or a large portfolio, expert Northern Virginia property management ensures your properties are well-maintained and profitable. These experts also handle tenant communication, so you can approach them for answers about mandatory bills.
If any of your required bills are unpaid, you could be subject to consequences or lose service altogether. This is why you want to pay required bills first, before anything else, when budgeting.
Optional Bills
Internet and cable are optional but common (approximately $50-100/month). Some buildings charge an additional fee for parking or pet rent. There may be even more costs involving streaming services, gym memberships, or even fees for community amenities that you may use and enjoy.
While they may be optional and not essential to your experience, these costs will affect your lifestyle. Consider the contribution they would make to your overall experience and decide their value to you versus your budget before finalizing your agreement.
Hidden/Less-Expected Costs
As a first-time renter, you may be surprised by upfront costs, usually a security deposit (often one month’s rent), and other costs like application fees. Additionally, you might get some expected maintenance charges (for example, HVAC filters or pest control) that come through to you as a bill.
A lease may include administrative or utility splits, so be sure to read your lease carefully to ensure that you are not expected to pay unexpected costs down the line.
When assessing your budget, consider all of your costs (fixed and variable). Establish a method to track everything so that you don’t miss or overpay for a payment.
Tips to Manage Apartment Bills
Image Alt Text: A Person Holding a Black Desk Calculator
Keeping the costs of renting in check takes some discipline. Follow these simple tips to help you keep track of your apartment costs and ease your financial burden:
- You can share costs with your roommates in several ways.
- Set up autopay for rent, so you don’t have any late fees.
- Monitor monthly utility costs so that you can identify low-efficiency habits.
- Ask for cheaper monthly utility bills (internet service providers often have promotional offers).
- Establish an emergency fund to pay for 1-2 months of rent.
Once you establish these habits, you will feel much more comfortable budgeting and saving costs. For more comprehensive renter tools, look into the tenant services available at BMG Property Management.
Conclusion
Renting an apartment is much more than paying rent each month. If you can understand proper fixed and variable costs from utility bills to hidden administrative costs, you can have confidence in your budget while mitigating against surprises.
Remember to clarify which bills you are required to pay in your lease, keep track of your bills, and use apps for auto payment and cost-splitting. Most importantly, whether you are a first-time renter or simply hoping to maximize your expense ratio, being proactive with managing your bills is essential for maintaining the money you will have available in your new home.
