It’s no secret that buying a home has gotten more expensive in the U.S. But the cost of keeping and maintaining a home has gotten significantly pricier, too, which might come as a surprise to some buyers. 

The “hidden costs” of homeownership add up to an average $18,118 annually, or $1,510 a month, according to a new report by Bankrate.com. The national figure includes the average costs of property taxes, homeowners insurance, and electricity, internet and cable bills. It also includes home maintenance, which was estimated at 2% a year of the value of a home.

“It’s just important to understand that you’re buying a lot more than a mortgage payment,” said Jeff Ostrowski, an analyst at Bankrate.com. “You’re also buying all these additional costs that you’re gonna have to figure out how to pay for.”

The national median mortgage payment in April was $2,256, up $144 or 6.8% from a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

For first-timers, repairs are ‘part of the learning process’

First-time homebuyers especially don’t realize the true cost of maintenance and repairs because such expenses are “part of the learning process of becoming a homeowner,” Ostrowski said.

“Once you’ve been a homeowner for a while, you realize everything that can go wrong,” he said.