WattCost

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · District of Columbia · 24.4¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in District of Columbia?

$130/yr · median certified model

At 24.4¢/kWh (33% over the U.S. average), District of Columbia makes every kilowatt-hour count: the typical certified room air conditioner costs around $130 a year here.

In the national ranking, District of Columbia lands at 41 of 51 for what a room air conditioner costs to run. Model choice matters as much as geography: at District of Columbia rates the most efficient certified model (Brothers 102372) costs $64 a year while the most power-hungry (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) costs $511 — a spread of $448 every year. For reference, the national extremes are Nevada (13.1¢/kWh) and Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh); the same median room air conditioner would cost $70 and $280 a year there.

District of Columbia
$130
US average
$98
Nevada
$70
Hawaii
$280
Median certified room air conditioner (532 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

The cheapest room air conditioners to run at District of Columbia rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 24.4¢/kWh
#ModelkWh/yr$/yr in DC
1Brothers 102372260$64
2Midea MWEUWA-05CRFN8-BCN4260$64
3Vissani VAW05V1KWT260$64
4TCL T05WV9M274$67
5TCL T05WV9MB274$67
6TCL T05WV9R274$67
7TCL T05WV9RB274$67
8TCL W5WC72274$67
9TCL W5WC72-B274$67
10TCL W5WC72M274$67

Price any model at District of Columbia rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
36¢
Per month
$10.81
Per year
$130

532 kWh/yr × 24.4¢/kWh = $130/yr

Prefilled with the median certified room air conditioner (532 kWh/yr). Every model page on this site carries its exact certified figure.

Questions, answered with the data

How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in District of Columbia?
About $130 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at District of Columbia's average residential rate of 24.4¢/kWh — that's $10.81 a month.
Is electricity expensive in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia's residential average of 24.4¢/kWh is 33% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 41 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in District of Columbia?
Among currently certified models, the Brothers 102372 costs the least at about $64 a year at District of Columbia rates (260 kWh/yr).
How does District of Columbia compare with other states?
The same median room air conditioner costs $70 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $280 in Hawaii (the priciest). District of Columbia sits at $130.

Keep digging

Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.