How Much Does It Cost to Run Air Conditioning in Taiwan?
Hourly, monthly and yearly cooling costs at Taiwan'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 NT$3.80 per kWh (summer 2026 rates (June–September)), 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 NT$2.66 an hour to run, or NT$638 for a month at 8 hours a day. Over a year it comes to about NT$3,458 in Taipei (about $107), and from NT$3,458 in Taipei to NT$4,522 in Kaohsiung. In U.S. terms the price is about 11.73¢/kWh, 36% less than the U.S. average.
Per hour
NT$2.66
1.5 hp (3.5 kW) inverter, uses 0.70 kWh
Per month
NT$638
8 hrs/day × 30 days
Per year, Taipei
NT$3,458
1,300 cooling hours (our estimate)
Your numbers in Taiwan
Your AC now (efficiency 3.0)
NT$5,763/yr
NT$4.43/hr
New unit (efficiency 5.0)
NT$3,458/yr
NT$2.66/hr
You would save
NT$2,305/yr
NT$27,664 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 Taipei and the price at NT$3.80; 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 × NT$3.80.
| City | Hours the AC runs per year | Cost per year, 1.5 hp inverter split | Same in U.S. dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaohsiung | 1,700 | NT$4,522 | $140 |
| Taichung | 1,300 | NT$3,458 | $107 |
| Taipei | 1,300 | NT$3,458 | $107 |
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: Taipower's summer residential price (June 1 to September 30) for each kWh between 331 and 500 kWh a month, the band most air-conditioned homes reach in summer, from the rates in effect since June 1, 2026.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taipower | the whole island | NT$3.80 | 11.73¢ | NT$2.66 |
Cost by unit size
In Taiwan, air conditioners are sold by kW or by ping (floor area): a 3.5 kW unit suits a room of about 5–6 ping. 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 NT$3.80 per kWh:
| Unit size (cooling output) | Typical use | Cost per hour of running | Cost per month (8 hours a day) | Cost per year in Taipei (1,300 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hp · 2.5 kW (9,000 BTU) | bedroom | NT$1.90 | NT$456 | NT$2,470 |
| 1.5 hp · 3.5 kW (12,000 BTU) | large bedroom or living room | NT$2.66 | NT$638 | NT$3,458 |
| 2 hp · 5 kW (18,000 BTU) | large living room | NT$3.80 | NT$912 | NT$4,940 |
| 2.5 hp · 7 kW (24,000 BTU) | open-plan living area | NT$5.32 | NT$1,277 | NT$6,916 |
| Portable | one room, no installation | NT$3.80 | NT$912 | NT$4,940 |
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 Taipei (1,300 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 | NT$5,763 | — |
| 4.0 | older or basic inverter unit | 0.88 kWh | NT$4,323 | NT$1,441 |
| 5.0 | typical new inverter split | 0.70 kWh | NT$3,458 | NT$2,305 |
| 6.0 | efficient model | 0.58 kWh | NT$2,882 | NT$2,882 |
| 7.0 | top models | 0.50 kWh | NT$2,470 | NT$3,293 |
What to know about electricity prices in Taiwan
Taipower charges six rising prices per kWh, and higher ones in summer (June to September) than the rest of the year. In summer, kWh from 331 to 500 a month cost NT$3.80 each, and above 1,000 they cost NT$8.86, so a home that runs several units can pay more than twice the price per kWh of a light user.
The price used here is the summer one, because that's when most cooling happens. Air conditioning used outside June–September is billed at the lower non-summer rates, so the yearly figures are slightly on the high side.
Taipower also offers time-of-use plans with much cheaper night and weekend power, which can suit homes that cool bedrooms overnight.
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 Taiwan 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
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
China
CN¥0.6670/kWh
≈ 9.99¢ US
Indonesia
Rp1,444.70/kWh
≈ 8.01¢ US
Brunei
B$0.08/kWh
≈ 6.26¢ US
Taiwan: ≈ 11.73¢ 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 Taiwan?
About NT$2.66 an hour in Taipei 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 NT$3.80 per kWh. A 1 hp (9,000 BTU) bedroom unit costs about NT$1.90 an hour, an old non-inverter 1.5 hp unit about NT$4.43, and a portable unit about NT$3.80.
How much does air conditioning add to a monthly bill in Taiwan?
Running a 1.5 hp inverter split 8 hours a day for 30 days uses about 168 kWh, or about NT$638. Over a year in Taipei, at our estimate of 1,300 cooling hours, one unit costs about NT$3,458 (about $107).
Is an inverter air conditioner worth it?
Where the AC runs as many hours as it does in Taipei, usually yes. Replacing an old non-inverter 1.5 hp unit (efficiency about 3) with a typical inverter split (about 5.0) saves about NT$2,305 a year at 1,300 hours.
How we calculated this
Electricity used (kWh) = cooling capacity (kW) ÷ seasonal efficiency × hours. Cost = kWh × price. Price: 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. U.S. figures use 1 TWD = $0.0309 (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.