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How much does it cost to run a game console?
At the U.S. average residential price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour (June 2026), running a game console costs about $40.16 a year. Your own bill depends on your state's rate, which ranges from 13.11¢ to 52.72¢ across the country.
- Per hour
- 3.7¢
- Per day of use
- 11.0¢
- Per month
- $3.35
- Per year
- $40.16
Assumption: 200 W, 3 hours a day, 365 days a year — 219 kWh a year. A current-generation console under load. Menus and streaming apps draw far less than a demanding game.
Cost by state
Same appliance, same usage, 51 different prices. Sorted cheapest first.
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 13.11¢ | $2.39 | $28.71 |
| Nebraska | 13.25¢ | $2.42 | $29.02 |
| Utah | 13.37¢ | $2.44 | $29.28 |
| Louisiana | 13.49¢ | $2.46 | $29.54 |
| Tennessee | 14.07¢ | $2.57 | $30.81 |
| North Dakota | 14.12¢ | $2.58 | $30.92 |
| Arkansas | 14.12¢ | $2.58 | $30.92 |
| Kentucky | 14.26¢ | $2.60 | $31.23 |
| Oklahoma | 14.33¢ | $2.62 | $31.38 |
| Idaho | 14.37¢ | $2.62 | $31.47 |
| North Carolina | 14.74¢ | $2.69 | $32.28 |
| Mississippi | 14.88¢ | $2.72 | $32.59 |
| Washington | 14.91¢ | $2.72 | $32.65 |
| New Mexico | 15.06¢ | $2.75 | $32.98 |
| Florida | 15.10¢ | $2.76 | $33.07 |
| Montana | 15.14¢ | $2.76 | $33.16 |
| Arizona | 15.18¢ | $2.77 | $33.24 |
| Wyoming | 15.24¢ | $2.78 | $33.38 |
| South Dakota | 15.36¢ | $2.80 | $33.64 |
| West Virginia | 15.45¢ | $2.82 | $33.84 |
| South Carolina | 15.55¢ | $2.84 | $34.05 |
| Kansas | 15.71¢ | $2.87 | $34.40 |
| Iowa | 15.93¢ | $2.91 | $34.89 |
| Texas | 15.94¢ | $2.91 | $34.91 |
| Missouri | 16.22¢ | $2.96 | $35.52 |
| Oregon | 16.32¢ | $2.98 | $35.74 |
| Georgia | 16.36¢ | $2.99 | $35.83 |
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $2.99 | $35.92 |
| Colorado | 17.13¢ | $3.13 | $37.51 |
| Virginia | 17.22¢ | $3.14 | $37.71 |
| Indiana | 17.51¢ | $3.20 | $38.35 |
| Minnesota | 17.52¢ | $3.20 | $38.37 |
| Ohio | 19.19¢ | $3.50 | $42.03 |
| Delaware | 19.29¢ | $3.52 | $42.25 |
| Wisconsin | 19.56¢ | $3.57 | $42.84 |
| Illinois | 19.89¢ | $3.63 | $43.56 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.73¢ | $3.97 | $47.59 |
| Maryland | 21.84¢ | $3.99 | $47.83 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $4.20 | $50.35 |
| Connecticut | 24.32¢ | $4.44 | $53.26 |
| District of Columbia | 24.39¢ | $4.45 | $53.41 |
| Vermont | 24.44¢ | $4.46 | $53.52 |
| New Jersey | 24.95¢ | $4.55 | $54.64 |
| New Hampshire | 27.01¢ | $4.93 | $59.15 |
| Alaska | 28.21¢ | $5.15 | $61.78 |
| Rhode Island | 29.23¢ | $5.33 | $64.01 |
| New York | 29.49¢ | $5.38 | $64.58 |
| Maine | 29.59¢ | $5.40 | $64.80 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61¢ | $5.40 | $64.85 |
| California | 34.74¢ | $6.34 | $76.08 |
| Hawaii | 52.72¢ | $9.62 | $115 |
Cutting the number down
- The instant-on standby mode can draw 10 to 15 W around the clock, which over a year rivals the actual playing.
- Streaming video through a console uses several times the power of a dedicated streaming stick.
Questions
- How many watts does a game console use?
- About 200 W while running.
- How much does a game console cost per month?
- About $3.35 a month at the U.S. average rate, or $40.16 a year.
- Where is it cheapest to run?
- Nevada, at $28.71 a year, versus $115 in Hawaii — a spread of $86.75.