Property maintenance costs in the USA

Homeowners in the USA spend 1–4% of their property’s value per year on home maintenance and repairs.

Average monthly charges for taxes, utilities, insurance and other miscellaneous costs are $600 in California, $520 in Florida, $560 in New York and $700 in Texas. For instance, it will cost $13,000 per month to maintain a flat in a Manhattan housing cooperative valued at $13M while in Florida, charges for a two-bedroom house are approximately $500 per month.

Property taxes

US property tax is paid once a year to the district court. The rate varies from state to state but is generally about 1% of the property value. For example, a household in California pays approximately $2,839 per capita a year.

Capital gains tax cap rose from 15% to 20% in 2013 while estate and gift taxes went up from 35% to 40%.

Utility bills

Utility charges vary from state to state. For a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms and two garages, owners will pay $100–150 per month for water and electricity, while gas charges may range from $100 to $250 per month.

Natural gas heating in winter costs about $680, propane heating about $1,700 and electric heating is $900. Air-conditioning costs about $370 per year.

Lawn maintenance incurs $80 per month and waste removal costs $35–40.

Fees for property managed by a homeowners association range from $200 to $400 per month depending on the variety of amenities available: pool, gym, concierge, etc.

Electricity in New York costs $75 per month on average, $116 for TV, $45 for Internet access and $20–25 for a landline telephone.

Insurance

Maximum insurance charges are $1,000 per year. Homeowners can obtain insurance covering natural disasters for 1–5% of the property value per year depending on the nature of the risk, i.e. flooding or tornado exposure. Fire coverage costs $350 per year and insurance on utilities, electric fittings and air-conditioning amounts to $325.

Miscellaneous

The average US household spends $125 per month ($1,500 per year) on furniture, home appliances and other household goods. Repairs can cost up to $2,000 per year and cleaning services $75–175 per month. Pest control may range from $250 to $1,200.