WattCost

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Massachusetts · 29.4¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in Massachusetts?

$157/yr · median certified model

At 29.4¢/kWh, Massachusetts ranks among the priciest states for power. The typical certified room air conditioner runs about $157 annually here, which makes choosing an efficient model worth actual dollars, not rounding error.

Only 4 jurisdictions cost more: Massachusetts ranks 47 of 51 for running a room air conditioner. At local rates, certified models span $81 (TCL T05WV9M) to $617 (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) per year — $537 of annual headroom that depends entirely on which unit you buy. For reference, the national extremes are North Dakota (12.3¢/kWh) and Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh); the same median room air conditioner would cost $66 and $248 a year there.

Massachusetts
$157
US average
$100
North Dakota
$66
Hawaii
$248
Median certified room air conditioner (532 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

The cheapest room air conditioners to run at Massachusetts rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 29.4¢/kWh
#ModelkWh/yr$/yr in MA
1TCL T05WV9M274$81
2TCL T05WV9MB274$81
3TCL T05WV9R274$81
4TCL T05WV9RB274$81
5TCL W5WC72274$81
6TCL W5WC72-B274$81
7TCL W5WC72M274$81
8TCL W5WC72M-B274$81
9LG LW6023IVSMmost efficient290$85
10Midea MAW06U1QWTmost efficient298$88

Price any model at Massachusetts rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
43¢
Per month
$13.06
Per year
$157

532 kWh/yr × 29.4¢/kWh = $157/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 Massachusetts?
About $157 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at Massachusetts's average residential rate of 29.4¢/kWh — that's $13.05 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts's residential average of 29.4¢/kWh is 56% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 47 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in Massachusetts?
Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $81 a year at Massachusetts rates (274 kWh/yr).
How does Massachusetts compare with other states?
The same median room air conditioner costs $66 a year in North Dakota (the cheapest state) and $248 in Hawaii (the priciest). Massachusetts sits at $157.

Keep digging

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