How Much Does It Cost to Run Air Conditioning in South Korea?
Hourly, monthly and yearly cooling costs at South Korea's current electricity prices, by unit size and efficiency and city, in local currency and U.S. dollars.
By Mark Curant·Updated
Quick answer
At ₩257.6 per kWh (October–December 2026 (summer tiers)), 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 ₩180 an hour to run, or ₩43,277 for a month at 8 hours a day. Over a year it comes to about ₩72,128 in Seoul (about $54), and from ₩72,128 in Seoul to ₩99,176 in Daegu. In U.S. terms the price is about 19.43¢/kWh, 6% more than the U.S. average.
Per hour
₩180
1.5 hp (3.5 kW) inverter, uses 0.70 kWh
Per month
₩43,277
8 hrs/day × 30 days
Per year, Seoul
₩72,128
400 cooling hours (our estimate)
Your numbers in South Korea
Your AC now (efficiency 3.0)
₩120,213/yr
₩301/hr
New unit (efficiency 5.0)
₩72,128/yr
₩180/hr
You would save
₩48,085/yr
₩577,024 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 Seoul and the price at ₩257.6; change them for your home and your bill.
Yearly cost by city
This table is for one 1.5 hp (12,000 BTU, 3.5 kW) inverter split, which uses about 0.70 kWh of electricity for each hour it runs. Hours per year is our estimate of how long it runs at full power in each city's climate. Cost per year is those hours × 0.70 kWh × ₩257.6.
| City | Hours the AC runs per year | Cost per year, 1.5 hp inverter split | Same in U.S. dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daegu | 550 | ₩99,176 | $75 |
| Busan | 450 | ₩81,144 | $61 |
| Seoul | 400 | ₩72,128 | $54 |
Cooling hours are our estimate of full-load hours for each city's climate, for one unit. A home cooling several rooms uses more.
The price used here
What this table shows
- Price per kWh: KEPCO's low-voltage residential price for each kWh between 301 and 450 kWh a month in July and August (214.6 won), plus the climate and environment charge (9 won) and the fourth-quarter 2026 fuel cost adjustment (+5 won), plus 10% VAT and the 2.7% power industry fund.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEPCO (Korea Electric Power) | the whole country | ₩257.6 | 19.43¢ | ₩180 |
Cost by unit size
In Korea, air conditioners are sold by pyeong (the floor area they cool): a 3.5 kW wall unit suits a room of about 10–11 pyeong. 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 ₩257.6 per kWh:
| Unit size (cooling output) | Typical use | Cost per hour of running | Cost per month (8 hours a day) | Cost per year in Seoul (400 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hp · 2.5 kW (9,000 BTU) | bedroom | ₩129 | ₩30,912 | ₩51,520 |
| 1.5 hp · 3.5 kW (12,000 BTU) | large bedroom or living room | ₩180 | ₩43,277 | ₩72,128 |
| 2 hp · 5 kW (18,000 BTU) | large living room | ₩258 | ₩61,824 | ₩103,040 |
| 2.5 hp · 7 kW (24,000 BTU) | open-plan living area | ₩361 | ₩86,554 | ₩144,256 |
| Portable | one room, no installation | ₩258 | ₩61,824 | ₩103,040 |
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 Seoul (400 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 | ₩120,213 | — |
| 4.0 | older or basic inverter unit | 0.88 kWh | ₩90,160 | ₩30,053 |
| 5.0 | typical new inverter split | 0.70 kWh | ₩72,128 | ₩48,085 |
| 6.0 | efficient model | 0.58 kWh | ₩60,107 | ₩60,107 |
| 7.0 | top models | 0.50 kWh | ₩51,520 | ₩68,693 |
What to know about electricity prices in South Korea
Korean homes pay three rising prices per kWh. In July and August the bands are widened: up to 300 kWh at 120 won, 301–450 kWh at 214.6 won and above 450 kWh at 307.3 won, with a higher fixed charge too. Crossing 450 kWh in a summer month is what makes a Korean power bill jump.
Every kWh also carries a climate and environment charge and a quarterly fuel cost adjustment, which KEPCO kept at +5 won for October–December 2026. VAT and the power industry fund are added on top.
Korea's power is cheap by international standards, and its cooling season is short, so even a heavily used air conditioner costs less over a year than in Southeast Asia. Very high users (above 1,000 kWh a month in summer and winter) pay a 'super user' rate of 736.2 won.
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 South Korea compares
Japan
¥38.87/kWh
≈ 24.62¢ US
Singapore
S$0.3116/kWh
≈ 24.40¢ US
Philippines
₱15.06/kWh
≈ 23.79¢ US
Hong Kong
HK$1.699/kWh
≈ 21.65¢ 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
South Korea: ≈ 19.43¢ 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 South Korea?
About ₩180 an hour in Seoul 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 ₩257.6 per kWh. A 1 hp (9,000 BTU) bedroom unit costs about ₩129 an hour, an old non-inverter 1.5 hp unit about ₩301, and a portable unit about ₩258.
How much does air conditioning add to a monthly bill in South Korea?
Running a 1.5 hp inverter split 8 hours a day for 30 days uses about 168 kWh, or about ₩43,277. Over a year in Seoul, at our estimate of 400 cooling hours, one unit costs about ₩72,128 (about $54).
Is an inverter air conditioner worth it?
Where the AC runs as many hours as it does in Seoul, usually yes. Replacing an old non-inverter 1.5 hp unit (efficiency about 3) with a typical inverter split (about 5.0) saves about ₩48,085 a year at 400 hours.
How we calculated this
Electricity used (kWh) = cooling capacity (kW) ÷ seasonal efficiency × hours. Cost = kWh × price. Price: 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%. U.S. figures use 1 KRW = $0.0007544 (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.