Data through June 2026
Cost to run · South Carolina · 15.6¢/kWh residential average
How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in South Carolina?
$83/yr · median certified model
South Carolina's 15.6¢/kWh rate undercuts the national average by 15%, so the typical certified room air conditioner costs roughly $83 a year here instead of $98.
South Carolina ranks 21 of 51 jurisdictions for room air conditioner running costs — solidly mid-table. At local rates, certified models span $40 (Brothers 102372) to $326 (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) per year — $285 of annual headroom that depends entirely on which unit you buy. 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.
The cheapest room air conditioners to run at South Carolina rates
| # | Model | kWh/yr | $/yr in SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brothers 102372 | 260 | $40 |
| 2 | Midea MWEUWA-05CRFN8-BCN4 | 260 | $40 |
| 3 | Vissani VAW05V1KWT | 260 | $40 |
| 4 | TCL T05WV9M | 274 | $43 |
| 5 | TCL T05WV9MB | 274 | $43 |
| 6 | TCL T05WV9R | 274 | $43 |
| 7 | TCL T05WV9RB | 274 | $43 |
| 8 | TCL W5WC72 | 274 | $43 |
| 9 | TCL W5WC72-B | 274 | $43 |
| 10 | TCL W5WC72M | 274 | $43 |
Price any model at South Carolina rates
Your rate, your numbers
- Per day
- 23¢
- Per month
- $6.89
- Per year
- $83
532 kWh/yr × 15.6¢/kWh = $83/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 South Carolina?
- About $83 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at South Carolina's average residential rate of 15.6¢/kWh — that's $6.89 a month.
- Is electricity expensive in South Carolina?
- South Carolina's residential average of 15.6¢/kWh is 15% below the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 21 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
- What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in South Carolina?
- Among currently certified models, the Brothers 102372 costs the least at about $40 a year at South Carolina rates (260 kWh/yr).
- How does South Carolina 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). South Carolina sits at $83.
Keep digging
- All certified room air conditioners compared
- Room Air Conditioners costs in South Dakota (rank 19 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in West Virginia (rank 20 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Kansas (rank 22 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Iowa (rank 23 of 51)
- Running an air purifier in South Carolina
- Running a clothes dryer in South Carolina
- Running a clothes washer in South Carolina
- Running a computer monitor in South Carolina
Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.