Data through April 2026
Cost to run · Wisconsin · 19.2¢/kWh residential average
How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in Wisconsin?
$102/yr · median certified model
Electricity in Wisconsin is priced within a few percent of the U.S. average — 19.2¢/kWh — which puts the typical certified room air conditioner at about $102 annually, essentially the national number.
Wisconsin ranks 34 of 51 jurisdictions for room air conditioner running costs — solidly mid-table. Model choice matters as much as geography: at Wisconsin rates the most efficient certified model (TCL T05WV9M) costs $53 a year while the most power-hungry (Friedrich KCVL36B30A) costs $403 — a spread of $350 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.
The cheapest room air conditioners to run at Wisconsin rates
| # | Model | kWh/yr | $/yr in WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TCL T05WV9M | 274 | $53 |
| 2 | TCL T05WV9MB | 274 | $53 |
| 3 | TCL T05WV9R | 274 | $53 |
| 4 | TCL T05WV9RB | 274 | $53 |
| 5 | TCL W5WC72 | 274 | $53 |
| 6 | TCL W5WC72-B | 274 | $53 |
| 7 | TCL W5WC72M | 274 | $53 |
| 8 | TCL W5WC72M-B | 274 | $53 |
| 9 | LG LW6023IVSMmost efficient | 290 | $56 |
| 10 | Midea MAW06U1QWTmost efficient | 298 | $57 |
Price any model at Wisconsin rates
Your rate, your numbers
- Per day
- 28¢
- Per month
- $8.52
- Per year
- $102
532 kWh/yr × 19.2¢/kWh = $102/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 Wisconsin?
- About $102 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner, at Wisconsin's average residential rate of 19.2¢/kWh — that's $8.51 a month.
- Is electricity expensive in Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin's residential average of 19.2¢/kWh is 2% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 34 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
- What's the cheapest room air conditioner to run in Wisconsin?
- Among currently certified models, the TCL T05WV9M costs the least at about $53 a year at Wisconsin rates (274 kWh/yr).
- How does Wisconsin 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). Wisconsin sits at $102.
Keep digging
- All certified room air conditioners compared
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Indiana (rank 32 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Delaware (rank 33 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Ohio (rank 35 of 51)
- Room Air Conditioners costs in Illinois (rank 36 of 51)
- Running an air purifier in Wisconsin
- Running a clothes dryer in Wisconsin
- Running a clothes washer in Wisconsin
- Running a computer monitor in Wisconsin
Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.