How Much Does It Cost to Run Air Conditioning in Hong Kong?
Hourly, monthly and yearly cooling costs at Hong Kong's current electricity prices, by unit size and efficiency, in local currency and U.S. dollars.
By Mark Curant·Updated
Quick answer
At HK$1.699 per kWh (2026 tariff, fuel cost adjustment for October 2026), a typical 1.5 hp (12,000 BTU, 3.5 kW) inverter air conditioner, which uses about 0.70 kWh of electricity an hour, costs about HK$1.19 an hour to run, or HK$285 for a month at 8 hours a day. Over a year it comes to about HK$1,308 in Hong Kong (about $167). In U.S. terms the price is about 21.65¢/kWh, 18% more than the U.S. average.
Per hour
HK$1.19
1.5 hp (3.5 kW) inverter, uses 0.70 kWh
Per month
HK$285
8 hrs/day × 30 days
Per year, Hong Kong
HK$1,308
1,100 cooling hours (our estimate)
Your numbers in Hong Kong
Your AC now (efficiency 3.0)
HK$2,180/yr
HK$1.98/hr
New unit (efficiency 5.0)
HK$1,308/yr
HK$1.19/hr
You would save
HK$872/yr
HK$10,466 over 12 years
Efficiency = kW of cooling per kW of electricity over a season (our assumption for a typical new inverter split is 5.0; an old non-inverter or window unit is closer to 3). Hours start at our estimate for Hong Kong and the price at HK$1.699; change them for your home and your bill.
The price used here
What this table shows
- Price per kWh: CLP Power's 2026 residential price for a home using 1,000 to 1,800 units every two months (the band most air-conditioned flats reach in summer): energy charge HK$1.237 plus the October 2026 fuel cost adjustment of HK$0.462 per unit..
- Cost per hour: one 1.5 hp (12,000 BTU, 3.5 kW) inverter split running for an hour at full power (0.70 kWh × the price).
| Utility | Area covered | Price per kWh | Same in U.S. cents | Cost per hour of ACone 1.5 hp inverter split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLP Power | Kowloon, the New Territories and most outlying islands | HK$1.699 | 21.65¢ | HK$1.19 |
Cost by unit size
In Hong Kong, air conditioners are sold by horsepower or kW: a 1.5 hp unit is about 12,000 BTU (3.5 kW) of cooling. The size is how much cooling the unit puts out, not the electricity it uses.
All at a seasonal efficiency of 5.0 (our assumption for a typical new inverter split) and HK$1.699 per kWh:
| Unit size (cooling output) | Typical use | Cost per hour of running | Cost per month (8 hours a day) | Cost per year in Hong Kong (1,100 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hp · 2.5 kW (9,000 BTU) | bedroom | HK$0.85 | HK$204 | HK$934 |
| 1.5 hp · 3.5 kW (12,000 BTU) | large bedroom or living room | HK$1.19 | HK$285 | HK$1,308 |
| 2 hp · 5 kW (18,000 BTU) | large living room | HK$1.70 | HK$408 | HK$1,869 |
| 2.5 hp · 7 kW (24,000 BTU) | open-plan living area | HK$2.38 | HK$571 | HK$2,616 |
| Portable | one room, no installation | HK$1.70 | HK$408 | HK$1,869 |
What a more efficient unit saves
Seasonal efficiency is how much cooling a unit delivers for each kW of electricity over a whole season. The higher it is, the less electricity it needs for the same cooling. Yearly cost of one 1.5 hp (3.5 kW) unit in Hong Kong (1,100 hours a year):
| Seasonal efficiency | What it's like | Electricity per hour | Cost per year | Saved per year vs an old 3.0 unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | old non-inverter or window unit | 1.17 kWh | HK$2,180 | — |
| 4.0 | older or basic inverter unit | 0.88 kWh | HK$1,635 | HK$545 |
| 5.0 | typical new inverter split | 0.70 kWh | HK$1,308 | HK$872 |
| 6.0 | efficient model | 0.58 kWh | HK$1,090 | HK$1,090 |
| 7.0 | top models | 0.50 kWh | HK$934 | HK$1,246 |
What to know about electricity prices in Hong Kong
CLP charges more per unit the more you use. The basic energy charge is 94.5 cents for the first 400 units every two months, 107.9 cents for the next 600 and 123.7 cents for the next 800, rising to 189 cents above 4,200 units. Summer air conditioning pushes most flats into the higher blocks, so the units it adds cost more than the average.
On top of that is the fuel cost adjustment, revised monthly. It has risen through 2026, from 39.4 cents a unit in January to 46.2 cents in October. An 8-cent Special Fuel Rebate applied to eligible residential customers from August to October 2026.
Hong Kong Island and Lamma are supplied by HK Electric, whose 2026 basic tariff averages 127.9 cents a unit, with a fuel clause charge of 60.7 cents in September 2026, so a unit there costs more than with CLP.
Cutting the cost
- Set 25–26°C rather than 20–22°C, and run a ceiling or stand fan with it.
- Close curtains on sunny windows, and keep doors closed so you only cool the room you're in.
- Clean the indoor unit's filters every two to four weeks; humid, dusty air clogs them fast.
- Have the unit serviced (coil and drain cleaning) about once a year.
- When you replace a unit, choose an inverter model with a high energy label rating.
How Hong Kong compares
Japan
¥38.87/kWh
≈ 24.62¢ US
Singapore
S$0.3116/kWh
≈ 24.40¢ US
Philippines
₱15.06/kWh
≈ 23.79¢ US
South Korea
₩257.6/kWh
≈ 19.43¢ US
Cambodia
៛730/kWh
≈ 17.93¢ US
Vietnam
₫3,618/kWh
≈ 14.11¢ US
Thailand
฿4.62/kWh
≈ 13.77¢ US
Malaysia
RM0.4893/kWh
≈ 11.99¢ US
Taiwan
NT$3.80/kWh
≈ 11.73¢ US
China
CN¥0.6670/kWh
≈ 9.99¢ US
Indonesia
Rp1,444.70/kWh
≈ 8.01¢ US
Brunei
B$0.08/kWh
≈ 6.26¢ US
Hong Kong: ≈ 21.65¢ US/kWh. U.S. average: 18.31¢/kWh (July 2026). See costs in every U.S. state or Australia.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an air conditioner per hour in Hong Kong?
About HK$1.19 an hour in Hong Kong for a typical 1.5 hp (12,000 BTU, 3.5 kW) inverter split, which uses about 0.70 kWh of electricity an hour, at HK$1.699 per kWh. A 1 hp (9,000 BTU) bedroom unit costs about HK$0.85 an hour, an old non-inverter 1.5 hp unit about HK$1.98, and a portable unit about HK$1.70.
How much does air conditioning add to a monthly bill in Hong Kong?
Running a 1.5 hp inverter split 8 hours a day for 30 days uses about 168 kWh, or about HK$285. Over a year in Hong Kong, at our estimate of 1,100 cooling hours, one unit costs about HK$1,308 (about $167).
Is an inverter air conditioner worth it?
Where the AC runs as many hours as it does in Hong Kong, usually yes. Replacing an old non-inverter 1.5 hp unit (efficiency about 3) with a typical inverter split (about 5.0) saves about HK$872 a year at 1,100 hours.
How we calculated this
Electricity used (kWh) = cooling capacity (kW) ÷ seasonal efficiency × hours. Cost = kWh × price. Price: 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). U.S. figures use 1 HKD = $0.1274 (October 21, 2026, European Central Bank). Cooling hours are our estimate for each city. To check your own price, divide the energy part of your bill by the kWh used.