Here’s the Cost of Utilities in America’s 10 Hottest Cities

America’s cities are getting hotter — and more expensive to keep cool with air conditioning. 

A report from CNN found that in 1976, the average US city experienced 21 days with temperatures above 95 degrees. By last year, that figure had jumped to 37 days. 

Nor are those numbers outliers. The trending average has risen over time, particularly in the last decade. 

Some cities in the Southwestern US have especially started cooking, with far more 95-plus days each year than the national average. Here are the top 10 hottest cities in the US — and what utility bills average each month.

Also read about the most you should spend on a monthly utility bill.

It comes as no surprise that Phoenix burns hot. This desert metropolis saw a dizzying 158 days last year with temperatures exceeding 95 degrees. That’s up from 136 days in 1976.

Technically, Mesa ranked as the second hottest city in the country with 141 days. But it’s a satellite of Phoenix, so we’ll lump them together. As for the cost of cooling, the average monthly utility bill in Phoenix and Mesa is $246 according to Numbeo. That’s 18.8% higher than the national average of $207.

Tuscon clocked in with 132 extremely hot days last year, up sharply from 79 days in 1976. That marks a 67% jump in scorching days. 

The home to the University of Arizona also costs a pretty penny in utility bills. The average resident pays $308 per month, and keep in mind that’s a year-round average. It costs far more in the searing summer months.

The desert playground of Las Vegas has also seen temperatures spike over the last few decades. Last year, it experienced 111 days of extreme heat. 

Average utility bills cost $229 in Las Vegas. Just imagine what it costs to power all the neon lights, or the beam of light shooting up from the top of the Luxor pyramid.

Don’t look now, but five of the top 10 hottest cities in the country are in Texas. And that starts with San Antonio.

This colonial city in south-central Texas saw 96 days over 95 degrees last year. It costs residents a monthly average of $210 in utility bills.

Nestled in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Fresno experienced 92 days last year with scorching temperatures. That’s up 54% since 1976, when it saw 60 days with extreme heat. 

Fresno residents pay an average utility bill of $255 per month.

To the southeast of Fresno, Bakersfield also sees more than its fair share of broiling days. It had 90 of them last year.

The average utility bill doesn’t reflect those searing temperatures however, at $187.

The mathematically inclined already know that the remaining four cities in the top 10 all lie in Texas. 

El Paso had 89 days last year along the Mexican border with extreme heat. That’s up 43% from 62 days in 1976.

As for utility costs, the average monthly bill comes in at $242.

A city more famous for its festivals and culture than its heat, Austin still burns hot. The city saw 88 days last year with high heat. 

Residents pay an average utility bill of $175 in the capital of Texas. It’s worth noting that even though Texans use more electricity than the national average, they pay 24% less per kilowatt-hour than the national average according to EnergySage.

West of Dallas, this city of around 400,000 experienced 80 days last year with thermostats bursting past 95.

The average Arlington resident pays $200 even for monthly utility bills.

Rounding out the top 10, Houston saw 73 days of searing temperatures last year. That’s up a whopping 567% since 1976 when the city only saw 11 days of extreme heat.

Houston residents pay an average monthly utility bill of $206, right around the national average.