WattCost

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · Washington · 14.4¢/kWh residential average

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

$76/yr · median certified model

Washington's 14.4¢/kWh rate undercuts the national average by 24%, so the typical certified room air conditioner costs roughly $76 a year here instead of $100.

Washington ranks 11 of 51 jurisdictions for room air conditioner running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Washington rates the most efficient certified model (TCL T05WV9M) costs $39 a year while the most power-hungry (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) costs $301 — a spread of $262 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.

Washington
$76
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 Washington rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 14.4¢/kWh
#ModelkWh/yr$/yr in WA
1TCL T05WV9M274$39
2TCL T05WV9MB274$39
3TCL T05WV9R274$39
4TCL T05WV9RB274$39
5TCL W5WC72274$39
6TCL W5WC72-B274$39
7TCL W5WC72M274$39
8TCL W5WC72M-B274$39
9LG LW6023IVSMmost efficient290$42
10Midea MAW06U1QWTmost efficient298$43

Price any model at Washington rates

Your rate, your numbers

Per day
21¢
Per month
$6.37
Per year
$76

532 kWh/yr × 14.4¢/kWh = $76/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 Washington?
About $76 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at Washington's average residential rate of 14.4¢/kWh — that's $6.37 a month.
Is electricity expensive in Washington?
Washington's residential average of 14.4¢/kWh is 24% below the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 11 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in Washington?
Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $39 a year at Washington rates (274 kWh/yr).
How does Washington 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). Washington sits at $76.

Keep digging

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