Data through April 2026
Cost to run · South Carolina · 17.1¢/kWh residential average
How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in South Carolina?
$91/yr · median certified model
Electricity in South Carolina is priced within a few percent of the U.S. average — 17.1¢/kWh — which puts the typical certified room air conditioner at about $91 annually, essentially the national number.
South Carolina ranks 29 of 51 jurisdictions for room air conditioner running costs — solidly mid-table. At local rates, certified models span $47 (TCL T05WV9M) to $358 (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) per year — $311 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 South Carolina rates
| # | Model | kWh/yr | $/yr in SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TCL T05WV9M | 274 | $47 |
| 2 | TCL T05WV9MB | 274 | $47 |
| 3 | TCL T05WV9R | 274 | $47 |
| 4 | TCL T05WV9RB | 274 | $47 |
| 5 | TCL W5WC72 | 274 | $47 |
| 6 | TCL W5WC72-B | 274 | $47 |
| 7 | TCL W5WC72M | 274 | $47 |
| 8 | TCL W5WC72M-B | 274 | $47 |
| 9 | LG LW6023IVSMmost efficient | 290 | $50 |
| 10 | Midea MAW06U1QWTmost efficient | 298 | $51 |
Price any model at South Carolina rates
Your rate, your numbers
- Per day
- 25¢
- Per month
- $7.56
- Per year
- $91
532 kWh/yr × 17.1¢/kWh = $91/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 $91 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at South Carolina's average residential rate of 17.1¢/kWh — that's $7.56 a month.
- Is electricity expensive in South Carolina?
- South Carolina's residential average of 17.1¢/kWh is 9% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 29 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
- What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in South Carolina?
- Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $47 a year at South Carolina rates (274 kWh/yr).
- How does South 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). South Carolina sits at $91.
Keep digging
- All certified room air conditioners compared
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Mississippi (rank 27 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Texas (rank 28 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Virginia (rank 30 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Alabama (rank 31 of 51)
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Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.