How much does it cost to run an air conditioner in Georgia?

Short answer

A 3-ton central air conditioner in Georgia costs about $103.84 in July and $409 a year at 15.48¢/kWh; an 8,000 BTU window unit about $21.67 in July.

• Georgia pays 15.48¢/kWh on average for Jan–Aug 2026 — 15% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, the 28th most expensive of the 50 states and DC.
• Georgia averages 1,701 cooling degree days a year against 1,216 nationally (NOAA), so we estimate 1,049 full-load cooling hours — 8.6 a day in July.
• A new 3-ton split system sold for Georgia must reach at least SEER2 14.3 (DOE southeast region); it draws about 2.52 kW on average and $0.39 an hour.
• Moving up to the ENERGY STAR average of about SEER2 17 would cut the yearly bill to $344 — $64.94 a year less.
• The average Georgia home used 1,091 kWh a month in 2025; this system adds 671 kWh in July.