Cost to run › Gaming PC (300 W under load)
How much does a gaming pc cost to run? Price per hour in every state
At the U.S. average residential rate of 18.19¢/kWh, it costs about $0.05 per hour. It ranges from $0.04 in North Dakota to $0.14 in Hawaii.
- Assumption: A mid-range desktop gaming under load. Idle and web-browsing draw is much lower.
- Run 4 hours a day for a 30-day month: $7 at the U.S. average, $4 in North Dakota, $17 in Hawaii.
- Formula: kWh used × your rate. Your own bill's ¢/kWh is more accurate than a state average.
Cost per hour by state (cheapest first)
| State | Electricity (¢/kWh, 2026 YTD) | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.36¢ | $0.04 |
| Nebraska | 12.90¢ | $0.04 |
| Idaho | 12.96¢ | $0.04 |
| Utah | 13.16¢ | $0.04 |
| Louisiana | 13.35¢ | $0.04 |
| Nevada | 13.53¢ | $0.04 |
| Oklahoma | 13.58¢ | $0.04 |
| Arkansas | 13.61¢ | $0.04 |
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | $0.04 |
| Montana | 13.95¢ | $0.04 |
| Wyoming | 13.95¢ | $0.04 |
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | $0.04 |
| Iowa | 14.20¢ | $0.04 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | $0.04 |
| Washington | 14.40¢ | $0.04 |
| South Dakota | 14.50¢ | $0.04 |
| North Carolina | 14.94¢ | $0.04 |
| New Mexico | 15.08¢ | $0.05 |
| Mississippi | 15.19¢ | $0.05 |
| Kansas | 15.21¢ | $0.05 |
| Florida | 15.30¢ | $0.05 |
| Georgia | 15.40¢ | $0.05 |
| Oregon | 15.40¢ | $0.05 |
| Arizona | 15.44¢ | $0.05 |
| West Virginia | 15.47¢ | $0.05 |
| South Carolina | 15.93¢ | $0.05 |
| Texas | 16.06¢ | $0.05 |
| Minnesota | 16.25¢ | $0.05 |
| Alabama | 16.54¢ | $0.05 |
| Colorado | 16.72¢ | $0.05 |
| Virginia | 16.83¢ | $0.05 |
| Indiana | 17.04¢ | $0.05 |
| Delaware | 17.86¢ | $0.05 |
| Ohio | 18.70¢ | $0.06 |
| Wisconsin | 19.00¢ | $0.06 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.06 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.04¢ | $0.06 |
| Maryland | 21.30¢ | $0.06 |
| Michigan | 21.53¢ | $0.06 |
| Vermont | 23.95¢ | $0.07 |
| New Jersey | 23.98¢ | $0.07 |
| District of Columbia | 24.66¢ | $0.07 |
| New Hampshire | 26.79¢ | $0.08 |
| Alaska | 27.09¢ | $0.08 |
| Connecticut | 27.97¢ | $0.08 |
| Rhode Island | 29.22¢ | $0.09 |
| New York | 29.38¢ | $0.09 |
| Maine | 29.99¢ | $0.09 |
| Massachusetts | 30.14¢ | $0.09 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $0.10 |
| Hawaii | 46.28¢ | $0.14 |
Typical wattages are approximations, not measurements of your device; check the label or use a plug-in watt meter. Electricity prices: EIA, year-to-date through July 2026.