What appliances cost to run in every state
Short answer: The same appliance, used the same way, costs about 3.8 times as much to run in Hawaii as in Louisiana. Pick an appliance below to see the ranking for all 50 states and D.C., based on official July 2026 prices.
Assumes 1,500 watts for 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, the same in every state. Change these numbers in the space heater calculator.
Key findings
- Running a space heater (1,500 watts, 8 hours a day, 30 days a month) costs $65.92 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh.
- In Hawaii, the most expensive state, the same use costs $172.80 a month. In Louisiana, the cheapest, it costs $45.79.
- Over a year that is $2,074 in Hawaii against $549.50 in Louisiana.
Space heater: cost in every state, ranked
| # | State | Price per kWh | Per month | Chart | Per year | vs. U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $172.80 | $2,074 | +162% | |
| 2 | California | 33.61¢ | $121.00 | $1,452 | +84% | |
| 3 | Maine | 32.41¢ | $116.68 | $1,400 | +77% | |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $109.76 | $1,317 | +67% | |
| 5 | New York | 29.90¢ | $107.64 | $1,292 | +63% | |
| 6 | Alaska | 28.83¢ | $103.79 | $1,245 | +57% | |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $101.84 | $1,222 | +55% | |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $95.76 | $1,149 | +45% | |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $90.76 | $1,089 | +38% | |
| 10 | New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $90.68 | $1,088 | +38% | |
| 11 | Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $86.98 | $1,044 | +32% | |
| 12 | Vermont | 23.75¢ | $85.50 | $1,026 | +30% | |
| 13 | Michigan | 23.05¢ | $82.98 | $995.76 | +26% | |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $78.19 | $938.30 | +19% | |
| 15 | Maryland | 21.41¢ | $77.08 | $924.91 | +17% | |
| 16 | Ohio | 19.45¢ | $70.02 | $840.24 | +6% | |
| 17 | Illinois | 19.22¢ | $69.19 | $830.30 | +5% | |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $68.62 | $823.39 | +4% | |
| 19 | Delaware | 18.48¢ | $66.53 | $798.34 | +1% | |
| 20 | Virginia | 17.55¢ | $63.18 | $758.16 | -4% | |
| 21 | Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $62.82 | $753.84 | -5% | |
| 22 | Colorado | 17.00¢ | $61.20 | $734.40 | -7% | |
| 23 | Indiana | 16.73¢ | $60.23 | $722.74 | -9% | |
| 24 | Alabama | 16.40¢ | $59.04 | $708.48 | -10% | |
| 25 | Georgia | 16.27¢ | $58.57 | $702.86 | -11% | |
| 26 | Missouri | 16.09¢ | $57.92 | $695.09 | -12% | |
| 27 | New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $57.92 | $695.09 | -12% | |
| 28 | Iowa | 15.99¢ | $57.56 | $690.77 | -13% | |
| 29 | Oregon | 15.97¢ | $57.49 | $689.90 | -13% | |
| 30 | Texas | 15.88¢ | $57.17 | $686.02 | -13% | |
| 31 | West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $56.81 | $681.70 | -14% | |
| 32 | South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $55.69 | $668.30 | -16% | |
| 33 | Arizona | 15.38¢ | $55.37 | $664.42 | -16% | |
| 34 | South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $55.33 | $663.98 | -16% | |
| 35 | Kansas | 15.27¢ | $54.97 | $659.66 | -17% | |
| 36 | North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $54.58 | $654.91 | -17% | |
| 37 | Florida | 15.03¢ | $54.11 | $649.30 | -18% | |
| 38 | Montana | 14.99¢ | $53.96 | $647.57 | -18% | |
| 39 | Washington | 14.71¢ | $52.96 | $635.47 | -20% | |
| 40 | Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $52.34 | $628.13 | -21% | |
| 41 | Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $51.70 | $620.35 | -22% | |
| 42 | Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $51.66 | $619.92 | -22% | |
| 43 | Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $51.59 | $619.06 | -22% | |
| 44 | Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $49.72 | $596.59 | -25% | |
| 45 | Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $49.61 | $595.30 | -25% | |
| 46 | Idaho | 13.73¢ | $49.43 | $593.14 | -25% | |
| 47 | Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $49.36 | $592.27 | -25% | |
| 48 | North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $48.28 | $579.31 | -27% | |
| 49 | Utah | 13.12¢ | $47.23 | $566.78 | -28% | |
| 50 | Nevada | 12.77¢ | $45.97 | $551.66 | -30% | |
| 51 | Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $45.79 | $549.50 | -31% |
Bars show each state's monthly cost compared with the most expensive state. Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, average residential price, July 2026.
Using this data
You are free to quote these figures or redraw the chart in an article, a newsletter or a class, with credit to What It Costs To Run and a link to this page. A suggested credit line: Source: What It Costs To Run, using U.S. Energy Information Administration residential prices for July 2026.
How the figures are calculated
Each figure is the appliance's energy use multiplied by a state's price. Energy use is the wattage, divided by 1,000, times the hours of use, which gives kilowatt-hours (kWh). The price is each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026, published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Our methodology page explains every step, and the step-by-step guide shows how to do it by hand.
What this comparison shows, and what it does not
The usage is kept identical in every state on purpose, so that the only thing that changes is the price of electricity. That makes the ranking the same for every appliance: it follows the ranking of electricity prices. What changes from one appliance to another is how many dollars are at stake.
Three limits are worth keeping in mind:
- Real use varies with climate. A household in Arizona runs air conditioning far longer than one in Washington, and the opposite is true of heating. Each state page shows the average home's real use and bill.
- Wattages are typical values. They are our estimates for a common model of each appliance. Check the label on your own and enter it in the appliance's calculator.
- State prices are averages. They cover every utility and rate plan in the state and include fixed monthly charges. Your own price per kWh may be higher or lower.
Why the gap is so wide
Electricity prices depend on the fuels a state uses to generate power, how much it costs to maintain the grid, how far power has to travel and state policy. Our guide on why electricity costs more in some states explains each factor.
Frequently asked questions
In which state is it cheapest to run an appliance?
Louisiana, where the average residential price is 12.72 cents per kWh (July 2026). Any appliance costs the least to run there, because the price per kWh is the only thing that changes from state to state in this comparison.
In which state is it most expensive?
Hawaii, at 48.00 cents per kWh. The same appliance used the same way costs about 3.8 times as much there as in Louisiana.
Does this mean people in expensive states pay that much more in total?
Not necessarily. This comparison keeps the usage identical in every state so that only the price changes. Real households use appliances differently: a home in Florida runs air conditioning far more than a home in Maine, and a home in Maine heats far more. Each state page shows the average home's actual use and bill.
Can I use this data?
Yes. You may quote the figures or redraw the chart with credit to What It Costs To Run and a link to this page. The prices come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which is public information.
How often is it updated?
The prices are checked against the U.S. Energy Information Administration every week and change when a new month of data is published. The figures on this page currently use July 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.