Data through April 2026
Cost to run · North Carolina · 16.3¢/kWh residential average
How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in North Carolina?
$86/yr · median certified model
Residential electricity in North Carolina runs 16.3¢/kWh — 14% under the U.S. average — putting the median certified room air conditioner at about $86 a year, versus $100 nationally.
North Carolina ranks 24 of 51 jurisdictions for room air conditioner running costs — solidly mid-table. At local rates, certified models span $44 (TCL T05WV9M) to $341 (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) per year — $296 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.
The cheapest room air conditioners to run at North Carolina rates
| # | Model | kWh/yr | $/yr in NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TCL T05WV9M | 274 | $44 |
| 2 | TCL T05WV9MB | 274 | $44 |
| 3 | TCL T05WV9R | 274 | $44 |
| 4 | TCL T05WV9RB | 274 | $44 |
| 5 | TCL W5WC72 | 274 | $44 |
| 6 | TCL W5WC72-B | 274 | $44 |
| 7 | TCL W5WC72M | 274 | $44 |
| 8 | TCL W5WC72M-B | 274 | $44 |
| 9 | LG LW6023IVSMmost efficient | 290 | $47 |
| 10 | Midea MAW06U1QWTmost efficient | 298 | $48 |
Price any model at North Carolina rates
Your rate, your numbers
- Per day
- 24¢
- Per month
- $7.20
- Per year
- $86
532 kWh/yr × 16.3¢/kWh = $86/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 North Carolina?
- About $86 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at North Carolina's average residential rate of 16.3¢/kWh — that's $7.20 a month.
- Is electricity expensive in North Carolina?
- North Carolina's residential average of 16.3¢/kWh is 14% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 24 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
- What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in North Carolina?
- Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $44 a year at North Carolina rates (274 kWh/yr).
- How does North Carolina 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). North Carolina sits at $86.
Keep digging
- All certified room air conditioners compared
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Oregon (rank 22 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in West Virginia (rank 23 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Minnesota (rank 25 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Colorado (rank 26 of 51)
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Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.