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

Short answer

A 3-ton central air conditioner in Texas costs about $140.38 in July and $659 a year at 16.03¢/kWh; an 8,000 BTU window unit about $29.29 in July.

• Texas pays 16.03¢/kWh on average for Jan–Aug 2026 — 12% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, the 25th most expensive of the 50 states and DC.
• Texas averages 2,647 cooling degree days a year against 1,216 nationally (NOAA), so we estimate 1,633 full-load cooling hours — 11.2 a day in July.
• A new 3-ton split system sold for Texas must reach at least SEER2 14.3 (DOE southeast region); it draws about 2.52 kW on average and $0.40 an hour.
• Moving up to the ENERGY STAR average of about SEER2 17 would cut the yearly bill to $554 — $105 a year less.
• The average Texas home used 1,118 kWh a month in 2025; this system adds 876 kWh in July.