WattCost

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Tennessee · 14.9¢/kWh residential average

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

$79/yr · median certified model

Tennessee's 14.9¢/kWh rate undercuts the national average by 21%, so the typical certified room air conditioner costs roughly $79 a year here instead of $100.

In the national ranking, Tennessee lands at 15 of 51 for what a room air conditioner costs to run. At local rates, certified models span $41 (TCL T05WV9M) to $313 (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) per year — $272 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.

Tennessee
$79
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 Tennessee rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 14.9¢/kWh
#ModelkWh/yr$/yr in TN
1TCL T05WV9M274$41
2TCL T05WV9MB274$41
3TCL T05WV9R274$41
4TCL T05WV9RB274$41
5TCL W5WC72274$41
6TCL W5WC72-B274$41
7TCL W5WC72M274$41
8TCL W5WC72M-B274$41
9LG LW6023IVSMmost efficient290$43
10Midea MAW06U1QWTmost efficient298$45

Price any model at Tennessee rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
22¢
Per month
$6.62
Per year
$79

532 kWh/yr × 14.9¢/kWh = $79/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 Tennessee?
About $79 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at Tennessee's average residential rate of 14.9¢/kWh — that's $6.62 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Tennessee?
Tennessee's residential average of 14.9¢/kWh is 21% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 15 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in Tennessee?
Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $41 a year at Tennessee rates (274 kWh/yr).
How does Tennessee 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). Tennessee sits at $79.

Keep digging

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