Last reviewed: September 2026 · By the HVAC Brief Editorial Team · Our sourcing and editorial standards
There is no useful national figure for what air conditioning costs to run, because residential electricity prices vary about 4-fold across US states. The US average was 18.34 cents per kilowatt hour in June 2026, but Nevada was 13.11 and Hawaii was 52.72.
Running cost is your rate multiplied by your consumption. Anyone quoting a dollars-per-month figure without knowing your rate is guessing at the larger of the two variables.
The calculation itself is simple. What makes published estimates unreliable is that they fix a rate you almost certainly do not pay.
What electricity actually costs, by state
| State | June 2026 (cents/kWh) | June 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| US average | 18.34 | 17.47 | +5.0% |
| Hawaii | 52.72 | 40.96 | +28.7% |
| California | 34.74 | 33.59 | +3.4% |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | 30.33 | -2.4% |
| New York | 29.49 | 26.55 | +11.1% |
| Illinois | 19.89 | 18.29 | +8.7% |
| Ohio | 19.19 | 17.50 | +9.7% |
| Georgia | 16.36 | 15.96 | +2.5% |
| Texas | 15.94 | 15.26 | +4.5% |
| Florida | 15.10 | 15.35 | -1.6% |
| Louisiana | 13.49 | 12.74 | +5.9% |
| Nevada | 13.11 | 12.26 | +6.9% |
Residential prices rose 5.0% nationally against June 2025, but the change was far from uniform: some states rose by double digits while others fell.
How to work out your own number
- Find your rate. Divide the total electricity charge on your bill by the kilowatt hours used. Do not use the headline supply rate, which excludes delivery charges that are often a third or more of the bill.
- Find the equipment draw. The data plate on the outdoor unit states electrical characteristics. A technician can measure actual running amps, which is more useful than nameplate.
- Estimate run hours. This is the variable nobody else can supply. It depends on climate, insulation, sizing and thermostat behaviour.
- Multiply. Kilowatts multiplied by run hours multiplied by your rate.
The third step is why published averages fail. Two identical houses in the same city with different insulation and different thermostat habits can differ by a factor of two in run hours.
SEER2 describes how much cooling a machine delivers per unit of electricity under standard test conditions. It does not tell you what your bill will be, because it says nothing about your rate, your climate or your run hours. A high SEER2 system in Hawaii can cost more to run than a low SEER2 system in Nevada. See our guide to SEER2 minimums.
What actually moves the number
Run time is the lever, and most of what determines it sits outside the equipment. A correctly sized system in a well sealed house with sound ductwork runs fewer hours than an oversized system in a leaky one, regardless of the rating on either.
Our guides on sizing and ductwork and airflow cover the two that most often go wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run air conditioning per month?
There is no reliable national figure, because residential electricity rates vary roughly 4-fold between states. The US average was 18.34 cents per kilowatt hour in June 2026, against 13.11 in Nevada and 52.72 in Hawaii. Your cost is your rate multiplied by your consumption, and both are local.
What is the average electricity price in the US?
18.34 cents per kilowatt hour for residential customers in June 2026, up 5.0% from 17.47 cents in June 2025, per the EIA Electric Power Monthly. State averages ranged from 13.11 cents in Nevada to 52.72 cents in Hawaii.
Does a higher SEER2 rating lower my bill?
It lowers the electricity needed per unit of cooling under standard test conditions, but your bill depends on your rate, your climate and your run hours as well. A high efficiency system in an expensive electricity market can cost more to run than a lower efficiency one in a cheap market.
How do I calculate my own running cost?
Divide the total electricity charge on your bill by kilowatt hours used to get your true rate including delivery, find the equipment’s electrical draw from the data plate or a measured reading, estimate run hours for your climate and house, then multiply the three. Run hours is the variable published estimates cannot know.
Methodology and limitations
Electricity prices are the US Energy Information Administration Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, average price of electricity to ultimate customers by end-use sector and state, residential column, June 2026 and June 2025, released August 26, 2026.
- These are state averages. Utility territories within a state differ, and time-of-use tariffs differ again.
- We publish no dollars-per-month running cost, because run hours cannot be known from published data.
- Data plate figures describe rated draw, not measured operating draw.
Sources
- US Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, June 2026, released August 26, 2026.
- US Department of Energy, 10 CFR 430.32, efficiency standards.
The HVAC Brief is an independent trade publication. We do not sell equipment, take manufacturer advertising, or accept payment for placement in our research. Corrections welcome.
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