What Does It Cost to Run a {{appliance}} in Every City?
Same appliance, same hours, wildly different costs. Pick an appliance and see how 176 cities compare. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive can be 5x or more.
Why the Huge Difference?
Electricity rates vary enormously across the US because each utility has different fuel sources, infrastructure costs, regulatory environments, and customer bases. A utility powered primarily by cheap hydroelectric (like many in the Pacific Northwest) charges a fraction of what a utility relying on imported fuel (like Hawaii) charges.
This means the exact same appliance, used the exact same way, can cost 3-5 times more in one city than another. A hot tub that costs $19/month in Moses Lake, WA might cost $94/month in San Diego. Same hot tub, same hours. The only difference is the rate.
If you're moving to a new city, this is real money. If you're comparing your bill to a friend in another state, this is why the comparison doesn't work. Your rate is everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Among the 176 cities in our database, the cheapest residential electricity rates are typically found in the Pacific Northwest (Washington state public utility districts like Moses Lake and Wenatchee), parts of the Southeast, and the Great Plains. Rates under 11 cents per kWh are common in these areas, compared to the national average of 17.98 cents. Check the full city rate list for current rates.
Honolulu, Hawaii (Hawaiian Electric at 42.87 cents/kWh) and San Diego, California (SDG&E at 43.63 cents/kWh) consistently have the highest residential electricity rates in the country. Other expensive cities include San Francisco (PG&E at 39.62 cents), New York City (Con Edison at 35.66 cents), and Boston (33.60 cents). These rates are 2-3 times the national average.
Loosely, but not perfectly. Some expensive cities like San Francisco and New York have very high electricity rates. But some affordable cities in the Southeast have moderate rates despite low overall cost of living, because high cooling demand increases consumption even at lower rates. The total electric bill depends on both the rate AND consumption, which is driven by climate and home size.
City rates from EIA utility-level data (2024 annual). Appliance costs assume typical daily usage. Your actual costs depend on your specific usage patterns. See our full disclaimer.