What It Costs to Run Air Conditioning in Asia
Electricity prices, hourly and yearly cooling costs, and what an inverter unit saves, in Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
By Mark Curant·Updated
Quick answer
A typical 1.5 hp (12,000 BTU, 3.5 kW) inverter air conditioner uses about 0.70 kWh of electricity an hour. At current prices that costs from about B$0.06 an hour in Brunei (6.26¢ a kWh in U.S. money) to ¥27 in Japan (24.62¢). Over a year, the tropical cities pay most because the AC rarely gets a day off: one unit costs about $366 a year in Metro Manila, against $54 in Seoul.
My stores are in a climate a lot like Manila's or Bangkok's: hot all year, humid, and with power that isn't cheap. In that kind of climate the air conditioner is the biggest line on the bill, and the type of unit matters as much as the price of a kWh. These pages put both into numbers, in each country's own currency.
Map: what a year of AC costs in Asia
One 1.5 hp (12,000 BTU, 3.5 kW) inverter split, using about 0.70 kWh of electricity an hour, run for the typical cooling hours of each city's climate. In U.S. dollars so countries can be compared. Countries are shaded by their main city; each dot is a city.
- Under $75
- $75–150
- $150–225
- $225–300
- $300 +
- Not covered
Tap or hover over a country or a city dot. Highest: Metro Manila, Philippines ($366 a year). Lowest: Beijing, China ($28 a year).
All 36 cities, as a table
| # | City | Cost per year, one 1.5 hp unit | In U.S. dollars | Hours AC runs per year | Price per kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metro Manila Philippines | ₱23,195 | $366 | 2,200 | ₱15.06 (23.79¢) |
| 2 | Singapore Singapore | S$436 | $342 | 2,000 | S$0.3116 (24.40¢) |
| 3 | Phnom Penh Cambodia | ៛1,277,500 | $314 | 2,500 | ៛730 (17.93¢) |
| 4 | Siem Reap Cambodia | ៛1,226,400 | $301 | 2,400 | ៛730 (17.93¢) |
| 5 | Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam | ₫6,078,240 | $237 | 2,400 | ₫3,618 (14.11¢) |
| 6 | Bangkok Thailand | ฿7,767 | $231 | 2,400 | ฿4.62 (13.77¢) |
| 7 | Phuket Thailand | ฿7,443 | $222 | 2,300 | ฿4.62 (13.77¢) |
| 8 | George Town (Penang) Malaysia | RM788 | $193 | 2,300 | RM0.4893 (11.99¢) |
| 9 | Khon Kaen Thailand | ฿6,472 | $193 | 2,000 | ฿4.62 (13.77¢) |
| 10 | Kuala Lumpur Malaysia | RM754 | $185 | 2,200 | RM0.4893 (11.99¢) |
| 11 | Johor Bahru Malaysia | RM719 | $176 | 2,100 | RM0.4893 (11.99¢) |
| 12 | Da Nang Vietnam | ₫4,305,420 | $168 | 1,700 | ₫3,618 (14.11¢) |
| 13 | Ipoh Malaysia | RM685 | $168 | 2,000 | RM0.4893 (11.99¢) |
| 14 | Hong Kong Hong Kong | HK$1,308 | $167 | 1,100 | HK$1.699 (21.65¢) |
| 15 | Chiang Mai Thailand | ฿4,854 | $145 | 1,500 | ฿4.62 (13.77¢) |
| 16 | Jakarta Indonesia | Rp2,528,225 | $140 | 2,500 | Rp1,444.70 (8.01¢) |
| 17 | Surabaya Indonesia | Rp2,528,225 | $140 | 2,500 | Rp1,444.70 (8.01¢) |
| 18 | Kaohsiung Taiwan | NT$4,522 | $140 | 1,700 | NT$3.80 (11.73¢) |
| 19 | Denpasar (Bali) Indonesia | Rp2,325,967 | $129 | 2,300 | Rp1,444.70 (8.01¢) |
| 20 | Medan Indonesia | Rp2,224,838 | $123 | 2,200 | Rp1,444.70 (8.01¢) |
| 21 | Hanoi Vietnam | ₫3,039,120 | $119 | 1,200 | ₫3,618 (14.11¢) |
| 22 | Shenzhen China | CN¥749 | $112 | 1,500 | CN¥0.7130 (10.68¢) |
| 23 | Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei | B$140 | $110 | 2,500 | B$0.08 (6.26¢) |
| 24 | Osaka Japan | ¥17,155 | $109 | 700 | ¥35.01 (22.18¢) |
| 25 | Kyoto Japan | ¥17,155 | $109 | 700 | ¥35.01 (22.18¢) |
| 26 | Taichung Taiwan | NT$3,458 | $107 | 1,300 | NT$3.80 (11.73¢) |
| 27 | Taipei Taiwan | NT$3,458 | $107 | 1,300 | NT$3.80 (11.73¢) |
| 28 | Tokyo Japan | ¥16,325 | $103 | 600 | ¥38.87 (24.62¢) |
| 29 | Kobe Japan | ¥15,930 | $101 | 650 | ¥35.01 (22.18¢) |
| 30 | Yokohama Japan | ¥14,965 | $95 | 550 | ¥38.87 (24.62¢) |
| 31 | Guangzhou China | CN¥626 | $94 | 1,400 | CN¥0.6390 (9.57¢) |
| 32 | Daegu South Korea | ₩99,176 | $75 | 550 | ₩257.6 (19.43¢) |
| 33 | Busan South Korea | ₩81,144 | $61 | 450 | ₩257.6 (19.43¢) |
| 34 | Shanghai China | CN¥374 | $56 | 800 | CN¥0.6670 (9.99¢) |
| 35 | Seoul South Korea | ₩72,128 | $54 | 400 | ₩257.6 (19.43¢) |
| 36 | Beijing China | CN¥188 | $28 | 500 | CN¥0.5383 (8.06¢) |
Prices: the price of each kWh air conditioning adds to a household bill, from each country's regulated tariff (sources and method on the country pages). Malaysia is Peninsular Malaysia (TNB); Hong Kong is CLP Power's area; Japan is the Tokyo and Kansai utilities; China is shaded by Shanghai, with Beijing and Guangzhou as dots. Laos and Myanmar aren't covered yet. Cooling hours: our estimate for each city's climate, for one unit. U.S. dollars at ECB reference rates. Yokohama, Kyoto, Kobe, Johor Bahru and Shenzhen are in the table but not drawn, because they sit on top of Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore and Hong Kong at this scale. Outlines: Natural Earth.
Cost to run AC by country
What this table shows
Every cost is for one 1.5 hp wall-mounted inverter split, the usual size for a living room or large bedroom. 1.5 hp is a sales size, not the electricity it uses: it puts out about 12,000 BTU (3.5 kW) of cooling and uses only about 0.70 kWh of electricity for each hour it runs.
- Price per kWh: what each extra kWh of air conditioning adds to a household bill, in local currency, including taxes. Each country page explains exactly how it's worked out (some countries charge more per kWh the more you use).
- Cost per hour: one hour of the AC running at full power, so 0.70 kWh × the price.
- Cost per year: the cost per hour × how many hours a year the AC runs in each city's climate (our estimate). A home with two or three units pays two or three times as much.
| Country | Price per kWh | Same price in U.S. cents | Cost per hour of ACone 1.5 hp inverter unit | Cost per year of ACby city | Same per year in U.S. dollarsmain city | Price date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | ¥35.01–¥38.87 | 24.62¢ | ¥27 | ¥14,965–¥17,155 | $103 (Tokyo) | October 2026 |
| Singapore | S$0.3116 | 24.40¢ | S$0.22 | S$436 | $342 (Singapore) | October–December 2026 |
| Philippines | ₱15.06 | 23.79¢ | ₱10.54 | ₱23,195 | $366 (Metro Manila) | October 2026 |
| Hong Kong | HK$1.699 | 21.65¢ | HK$1.19 | HK$1,308 | $167 (Hong Kong) | 2026 tariff, fuel cost adjustment for October 2026 |
| South Korea | ₩257.6 | 19.43¢ | ₩180 | ₩72,128–₩99,176 | $54 (Seoul) | October–December 2026 (summer tiers) |
| Cambodia | ៛730 | 17.93¢ | ៛511 | ៛1,226,400–៛1,277,500 | $314 (Phnom Penh) | tariff set in 2021, confirmed unchanged for 2024; no later change found |
| Vietnam | ₫3,618 | 14.11¢ | ₫2,533 | ₫3,039,120–₫6,078,240 | $237 (Ho Chi Minh City) | tariff since May 10, 2025, still current in October 2026 |
| Thailand | ฿4.62 | 13.77¢ | ฿3.24 | ฿4,854–฿7,767 | $231 (Bangkok) | September–December 2026 |
| Malaysia | RM0.4893 | 11.99¢ | RM0.34 | RM685–RM788 | $185 (Kuala Lumpur) | September–December 2026 rules |
| Taiwan | NT$3.80 | 11.73¢ | NT$2.66 | NT$3,458–NT$4,522 | $107 (Taipei) | summer 2026 rates (June–September) |
| China | CN¥0.5383–CN¥0.7130 | 9.99¢ | CN¥0.47 | CN¥188–CN¥749 | $56 (Shanghai) | tiered tariffs current in 2026 |
| Indonesia | Rp1,444.70–Rp1,699.53 | 8.01¢ | Rp1,011 | Rp2,224,838–Rp2,528,225 | $140 (Jakarta) | October–December 2026 |
| Brunei | B$0.08 | 6.26¢ | B$0.06 | B$140 | $110 (Bandar Seri Begawan) | tariff in force since January 1, 2012 |
| U.S. average | — | 18.31¢ | — | — | — | July 2026 |
Sorted by price in U.S. cents. Unit efficiency: 5.0 (kW of cooling per kW of electricity over a season), our assumption for a typical new inverter split. Exchange rates: European Central Bank euro reference rates, October 21, 2026 (crossed through the euro); New Taiwan dollar at market rate October 21, 2026; Vietnamese dong at the State Bank of Vietnam central rate, October 6, 2026; Cambodian riel at the National Bank of Cambodia official rate, October 21, 2026; Brunei dollar at par with the Singapore dollar.
Inverter or not: the biggest choice
In a climate where the AC runs 2,000 hours or more a year, an old non-inverter or window unit uses roughly two-thirds more electricity than a typical new inverter split for the same cooling. In Metro Manila that's about ₱15,463 a year for one 1.5 hp unit. In Kuala Lumpur it's about RM502. Look for the energy label rating your country uses (stars or ticks) and the word "inverter".
Japan is the exception to the rule: its price per kWh is among the highest here, but the cooling season is short, so a unit in Tokyo costs far less over a year than one in Bangkok or Singapore. There, the heating performance of a reverse-cycle unit matters as much as its cooling.
Not covered yet: Laos and Myanmar. Laos changed its household tariff in May 2026, but we couldn't find the published rate table; we'll add both when we can source a current price.
Frequently asked questions
Where in Asia is air conditioning most expensive to run?
Per kWh, Japan has the highest price of the 13 countries here (about 24.62¢ in U.S. money). Over a year, the hot, humid cities where the AC runs most of the year cost the most: one 1.5 hp unit costs about $366 a year in Metro Manila, against about $54 in Seoul.
How much does a 1.5 hp aircon cost to run per hour?
A typical 1.5 hp (12,000 BTU) inverter unit uses about 0.70 kWh an hour, so it costs about ¥27 in Japan, S$0.22 in Singapore, ₱10.54 in the Philippines, HK$1.19 in Hong Kong, ₩180 in South Korea, ៛511 in Cambodia, ₫2,533 in Vietnam, ฿3.24 in Thailand, RM0.34 in Malaysia, NT$2.66 in Taiwan, CN¥0.47 in China, Rp1,011 in Indonesia, B$0.06 in Brunei.
Is an inverter air conditioner worth it in a tropical climate?
Usually, yes. Where the AC runs 2,000 hours or more a year, replacing an old non-inverter unit (efficiency about 3) with a typical inverter split (about 5.0) cuts its electricity use by about 40%. Each country page shows the saving in local currency.
Sources and method
- Japan: TEPCO Energy Partner and Kansai Electric standard metered tariffs (third tier, above 300 kWh: TEPCO ¥40.49, Kansai ¥28.59), October 2026 fuel cost adjustment before the government discount (TEPCO −¥5.80, Kansai +¥2.24) and the FY2026 renewable energy levy (¥4.18), tax included.
- Singapore: SP Group household electricity tariff, October 1–December 31, 2026 (28.59¢/kWh before GST, down 10.4% from the previous quarter), 9% GST added.
- Philippines: Meralco, overall rate for a typical household in October 2026 (₱15.0615 per kWh, up ₱0.3191 from September).
- Hong Kong: CLP Power, 2026 residential tariff table (block of 1,001–1,800 units per two months, 123.7 cents per unit) and fuel cost adjustment from October 1, 2026 (46.2 cents per unit).
- South Korea: KEPCO residential (low voltage) progressive tariff, July–August tiers (120 / 214.6 / 307.3 won a kWh), climate and environment charge 9 won, fuel cost adjustment +5 won for October–December 2026 (frozen), VAT 10%, power industry fund 2.7%.
- Cambodia: Electricity Authority of Cambodia, Decision No. 014 on EDC consumer tariffs (residential: 380 / 480 / 610 / 730 riel a kWh), confirmed unchanged for 2024.
- Vietnam: EVN residential tariff, Ministry of Industry and Trade Decision 1279/QĐ-BCT of May 9, 2025 (6 tiers: 1,984 / 2,050 / 2,380 / 2,998 / 3,350 / 3,460 dong a kWh before VAT), 8% VAT.
- Thailand: Energy Regulatory Commission, residential progressive tariff from September 2026 bills (฿4.1584 a unit for 201–400 units, ฿4.3583 above 400) and Ft of 16.23 satang for September–December 2026, plus 7% VAT.
- Malaysia: TNB domestic tariff from July 2025 (energy 27.03, capacity 4.55, network 12.85 sen/kWh up to 1,500 kWh; Energy Efficiency Incentive bands) and the September–December 2026 exemption up to 800 kWh; our calculation.
- Taiwan: Taipower residential summer rates from June 1, 2026 (NT$1.78 up to 120 kWh, 2.55 for 121–330, 3.80 for 331–500, 5.14 for 501–700, 6.44 for 701–1,000, 8.86 above), reported by Focus Taiwan.
- China: Beijing Municipal Government household tiered electricity prices (¥0.4883 / 0.5383 / 0.7883 a kWh); Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen second-tier prices as compiled by Living Cost Laboratory (2026).
- Indonesia: PLN household tariff adjustment for October–December 2026 (R-1 1,300–2,200 VA Rp1,444.70/kWh; R-2/R-3 3,500 VA and above Rp1,699.53/kWh), as reported October 12, 2026.
- Brunei: Department of Electrical Services, Brunei Darussalam, residential (Tariff A) four-tier tariff from January 1, 2012 (1 / 8 / 10 / 12 cents a kWh).
- Electricity used (kWh) = cooling capacity (kW) ÷ seasonal efficiency × hours; cost = kWh × price. Seasonal efficiency 5.0 and cooling hours by city are our estimates. European Central Bank euro reference rates, October 21, 2026 (crossed through the euro); New Taiwan dollar at market rate October 21, 2026; Vietnamese dong at the State Bank of Vietnam central rate, October 6, 2026; Cambodian riel at the National Bank of Cambodia official rate, October 21, 2026; Brunei dollar at par with the Singapore dollar.
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