WattCost

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Minnesota · 16.4¢/kWh residential average

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

$87/yr · median certified model

Minnesota's 16.4¢/kWh rate undercuts the national average by 13%, so the typical certified room air conditioner costs roughly $87 a year here instead of $100.

Minnesota ranks 25 of 51 jurisdictions for room air conditioner running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Minnesota rates the most efficient certified model (TCL T05WV9M) costs $45 a year while the most power-hungry (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) costs $344 — a spread of $299 every year. 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.

Minnesota
$87
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 Minnesota rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 16.4¢/kWh
#ModelkWh/yr$/yr in MN
1TCL T05WV9M274$45
2TCL T05WV9MB274$45
3TCL T05WV9R274$45
4TCL T05WV9RB274$45
5TCL W5WC72274$45
6TCL W5WC72-B274$45
7TCL W5WC72M274$45
8TCL W5WC72M-B274$45
9LG LW6023IVSMmost efficient290$48
10Midea MAW06U1QWTmost efficient298$49

Price any model at Minnesota rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
24¢
Per month
$7.27
Per year
$87

532 kWh/yr × 16.4¢/kWh = $87/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 Minnesota?
About $87 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at Minnesota's average residential rate of 16.4¢/kWh — that's $7.26 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Minnesota?
Minnesota's residential average of 16.4¢/kWh is 13% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 25 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in Minnesota?
Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $45 a year at Minnesota rates (274 kWh/yr).
How does Minnesota 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). Minnesota sits at $87.

Keep digging

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