How much does it cost to run a window / portable air conditioner? (2026–27)
At typical draw · official state tariffs
Typical household use (6 h/day, 90 days a year at 1,200 W) runs $178–$272 a year depending on your state's tariff.
Wattage basis: Rated cooling power input: TCL window units 790–1,250 W; portables are less efficient (EER ~2.6–3.3), large units 1,600–2,000 W.
| State | Model | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales33.1c/kWh · Ausgrid | Efficient (700 W) | $0.23 | $1.39 | $42.31 | $125 |
| Typical (1,200 W) | $0.40 | $2.39 | $72.53 | $215 | |
| High (2,000 W) | $0.66 | $3.98 | $120.88 | $358 | |
| Victoria27.5c/kWh · Jemena | Efficient (700 W) | $0.19 | $1.15 | $35.07 | $104 |
| Typical (1,200 W) | $0.33 | $1.98 | $60.13 | $178 | |
| High (2,000 W) | $0.55 | $3.30 | $100.21 | $297 | |
| Queensland28.0c/kWh · Energex | Efficient (700 W) | $0.20 | $1.17 | $35.72 | $106 |
| Typical (1,200 W) | $0.34 | $2.01 | $61.23 | $181 | |
| High (2,000 W) | $0.56 | $3.36 | $102.05 | $302 | |
| South Australia41.9c/kWh · SA Power Networks | Efficient (700 W) | $0.29 | $1.76 | $53.51 | $158 |
| Typical (1,200 W) | $0.50 | $3.02 | $91.73 | $272 | |
| High (2,000 W) | $0.84 | $5.03 | $152.89 | $453 | |
| Western Australia33.3c/kWh · Western Power (SWIS) | Efficient (700 W) | $0.23 | $1.40 | $42.47 | $126 |
| Typical (1,200 W) | $0.40 | $2.39 | $72.80 | $216 | |
| High (2,000 W) | $0.67 | $3.99 | $121.34 | $359 | |
| Tasmania28.0c/kWh · TasNetworks | Efficient (700 W) | $0.20 | $1.17 | $35.69 | $106 |
| Typical (1,200 W) | $0.34 | $2.01 | $61.19 | $181 | |
| High (2,000 W) | $0.56 | $3.35 | $101.98 | $302 | |
| Australian Capital Territory37.0c/kWh · Evoenergy | Efficient (700 W) | $0.26 | $1.55 | $47.18 | $140 |
| Typical (1,200 W) | $0.44 | $2.66 | $80.88 | $239 | |
| High (2,000 W) | $0.74 | $4.43 | $134.81 | $399 | |
| Northern Territory31.7c/kWh · Power and Water | Efficient (700 W) | $0.22 | $1.33 | $40.45 | $120 |
| Typical (1,200 W) | $0.38 | $2.28 | $69.34 | $205 | |
| High (2,000 W) | $0.63 | $3.80 | $115.56 | $342 |
Where a window / portable air conditioner costs more
- South Australia is the dearest state to run one: $0.50 an hour at 1,200 W on its 41.9c/kWh rate, against $0.33 in Victoria. Over a year of typical use that gap is $94 (52.6% more).
- By yearly running cost at typical use it ranks 8th of the 26 appliances costed on this site (1st costs the most): $215 a year at the NSW rate.
- An efficient 700 W model costs $113 a year less than a typical 1,200 W one in SA at 6 hours a day for 90 days ($74 less in VIC); a high-draw 2,000 W model uses 2.9 times the power of the efficient one.
- At the 1 July 2026 price reset, typical-use cost fell $15 in VIC (Jemena usage rate 29.7c to 27.5c/kWh) and rose $6 in WA (Western Power (SWIS) usage rate 32.4c to 33.3c/kWh).
| Rank | State | Usage rate | Typical year | Above the cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 27.5c | $178 | — |
| 2 | Tasmania | 28.0c | $181 | +$3 |
| 3 | Queensland | 28.0c | $181 | +$3 |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 31.7c | $205 | +$27 |
| 5 | New South Wales | 33.1c | $215 | +$37 |
| 6 | Western Australia | 33.3c | $216 | +$38 |
| 7 | Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $239 | +$61 |
| 8 | South Australia | 41.9c | $272 | +$94 |
Rates by state (each state's capital-city network): NSW: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); VIC: ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27; QLD: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); SA: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); WA: WA Government Standard Electricity Prices 2026–27 (Synergy Home Plan A1); TAS: OTTER-approved Aurora Energy Standing Offer 2026–27 (approved 25 June 2026) — Tariff 31; ACT: ICRC retail electricity price recalibration 2026–27 (ActewAGL standing offer); NT: NT Electricity Pricing Order 2026–27 (Jacana Energy standard residential). All effective 1 July 2026.
Appliance running-cost calculator
NSWPortable aircon: 700–2,000 W typical range.
4–8 h/day, usually one room in the evening; portables often run flat-out.
- Per day (6 h)
- $2.39
- Per month
- $72.53
- Per year (90 days)
- $214.73
Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: Aircon Advice — portable AC running costs (AU). Full portable aircon costs in NSW →
Cutting the cost
These are the least efficient way to cool a space, so use them as a spot fix, not an all-day habit. Seal the exhaust hose snugly in the window opening so hot air can't sneak back in. Cool one closed room rather than the whole house, and switch to a plain fan once it's comfortable. Empty or drain the unit as directed to keep it running properly.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the running cost calculated?
- Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate = cost per hour. A window / portable air conditioner drawing 1,200 W on NSW's 33.1c/kWh rate costs $0.40 an hour; the calculator below lets you change every input.
- Does a higher star rating cut the cost?
- Yes. The star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales these figures directly. The low–high band in the table (700–2,000 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
Related
- Ducted aircon
- Split-system aircon
- Ceiling fan
- Reverse-cycle heating
- Electric heater
- Pool pump
- All appliances
- Appliance calculator
- Aircon Advice — portable AC running costs (AU)
- State reference tariffs (per-zone determinations)verified
Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. 4–8 h/day, usually one room in the evening; portables often run flat-out.