Cost to run a room air conditioner in District of Columbia
About $132.23 a year for a typical model, at the District of Columbia average of 24.86 cents per kWh.
How District of Columbia compares
The same room air conditioner costs $96.75 a year at the U.S. average rate, so in District of Columbia you pay $35.48 more. See the District of Columbia electricity rate for the full picture.
Efficient or high-use: the range in District of Columbia
| Model type | kWh per year | Per year | Over 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient | 375 | $93.22 | $932.25 |
| Typical | 532 | $132.23 | $1,322.30 |
| High use | 900 | $223.74 | $2,237.40 |
Between the efficient and the high-use model, the difference in District of Columbia adds up to about $1,305.15 over 10 years. Window and through-the-wall units.
Models that cost the least to run in District of Columbia
| Model | Details | kWh per year | Cost per year in District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER BDM05C | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Brothers 102372 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Frigidaire FHWC055TF1 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Frigidaire FHWC056TF1 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Midea MAW05R1KWT-B | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Midea MAW05R1VWBL-T | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Midea MAW05R1VWWT-T | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Midea MAW05S1KWT-A | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Midea MWEUWA-05CRFN8-BCN4 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
| Noma 143-1378-6 | Window, 5000 btu/h | 260 | $64.74 |
See room air conditioners in all states
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a room air conditioner in District of Columbia?
About $132.23 a year, or $11.02 a month, for a typical ENERGY STAR certified model that uses 532 kWh a year at the District of Columbia average rate of 24.86 cents per kWh.
Is that more or less than in other states?
It is $35.48 a year more than the same room air conditioner at the U.S. average rate. District of Columbia ranks 10 of 51 for electricity price, where 1 is the most expensive.
How much can an efficient room air conditioner save in District of Columbia?
Over 10 years, a model in the most efficient 10% costs about $1,305.15 less to run in District of Columbia than a model in the 10% that use the most, at today's rate.
Same room air conditioner, nearby in the ranking
- Alaska $145.32 a year
- New Hampshire $143.13 a year
- New Jersey $128.13 a year
- Vermont $127.28 a year
Other appliances in District of Columbia
- Refrigerators in District of Columbia
- Mini fridges in District of Columbia
- Freezers in District of Columbia
- Dishwashers in District of Columbia
- Clothes washers in District of Columbia
- Clothes dryers in District of Columbia
- Dehumidifiers in District of Columbia
- Televisions in District of Columbia
How we get these numbers: yearly electricity use comes from the ENERGY STAR certified product lists, measured with the federal test procedure. The rate is the average residential price the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports for each state, January to August 2026. Your own bill depends on your utility, your plan and how you use the appliance. See sources.