dave9999

Sorry for posting again and clogging the Portugal forums, but I'm getting really useful info here!

I'm comparing rentals at Uniplaces which have several with 'bills included', to other sites such as Idealista which are just the bare rental. How much (roughly) should I estimate for monthly utility costs and internet costs. 100 euro?
Would help me compare.
Thanks.

macliam

Obviously it depends on your usage.... and the mix, but €100 might cover it probably closer to €120 or more. I pay €1 a day for unlimited mobile broadband, about €50 a month for power, €14 for water/sewage/rubbish and gas (bottled) according to need ... so less than €20 a month in the summer, more in the winter.

dave9999

ok thanks for the info.

vertigobike

hi, Dave

fixed broadband = € 27 - € 29/month in average the cheapest; but you can also try a 4G SIM card and hotspotting it to your laptop which can be cheaper (or use your College/Library Wi-Fi for free)
electricity = depends on usage, 1-person using few appliances, outlets and lights... maybe € 40/month in average
water/bins/sewage (always together) = also depends on usage and location, 1-person with daily bath, washing the dishes, prepping food.. maybe € 20/month in average
gas (try finding an all-electricity place instead) = depends on usage and if it's piped or bottled... maybe € 25 - € 30/month in average

total = € 119/month in average... could be lower if you spend almost no time at home :-)

regards,

campos

This is interesting, even if making comparisons between countries isn't always easy.
So for myself - single guy in small apartment currently - here's how my outgoings compare in Italy:
Monthly mobile which is used as a hotspot with pc - €8 for 50GB, unlimited calls and sms,, which I rarely exhuast.
Utilities - gas, electric, water - averages €80 every 2 months, when I'm billed
Garbage etc - € 100p.a approx
Condominium fees- varies year to year- a bit depend on any work done etc - last yr €280; this yr €600
I'm rather parsimonious and never leave lights on, water running etc.
It looks like these will increase if /when I get a place in PT.

suiko

How does the hotspot thing work (for a technical disaster like myself )?

campos

With the little functional symbols you find at the top of your mobile screen - bluetooth, etc - you should see one like double parentheses with a dot in between. This is the hotspot symbol. When you activate for first time your wifi option list on screen of your laptop should 'see' it (usually the name is the phone model unless you've already given it a particular name yourself, like My Mobile...). Now you need to pair the two. maybe a security code is sent from one to other to confirm the pairing. In future when you activate wifi it should auto- connect, unless another wifi in the area has preference. I find it very stable and use for online lessons, UK TV news streaming, downloads, everything actually

suiko

Thanks, Mike. Can't see anything that looks like double parentheses on mine though. I can see, in Settings . Connection and sharing, the option of "Portable hotspot" - would this be it? If so, presumably "Set up portable hotspot"?

So I guess this is cheaper than having a phone line for internet, because you just have a contract with a certain data allowance?

campos

On closer inspection maybe it's a sort of basic antenna symbol (wearing specs now!)
Set up hotspot sounds good. Yes, I just use my 50GB allowance for everything, including as hotspot . Comes to 1.66 GB a day which is generally fine as some days are heavier than others; some days I'll watch some streaming tv, some days I'll barely use it.

Pilotabroad

Re the costs....
As a fellow single guy I'd say my approx comparable costs are lower than those quoted so far but definitely higher than what figures you've quoted for life in italy.