Cooling Cost Comparison
See what a ceiling fan, an air cooler and an air conditioner each cost to run per year — side by side. Set your usage, and weigh the running cost against how much each actually cools (see cooler vs AC).
Cheapest to run isn’t best for every climate: a fan moves air but doesn’t cool; a cooler works only in dry heat; an AC works anywhere, including humidity.
An AC costs far more to run than a fan or cooler — but delivers strong cooling and works in humidity. Cut its cost with a 5-star inverter, right-sizing and 24–26 °C.
Indicative. Uses typical average power draws (fan ~75 W, cooler ~180 W, a 1.5-ton 5-star AC ISEER-adjusted). Real figures vary with the specific model, room, set-point and how the inverter modulates — and cooling ability differs hugely between them, so compare cost and comfort for your climate.
Related Guides — Deep-dive reading
Air Cooler vs Air Conditioner: Which Is Right for Your Climate?
A very Indian dilemma — how an evaporative air cooler and an air conditioner actually differ, why the cooler is far cheaper to buy and run but only works in dry heat, why the AC wins in humidity, and how to choose for your city and budget.
HVAC & CoolingBEE Star Rating for ACs: How to Read the Label and Buy Smart
The 1–5 star label on every air conditioner, decoded — what BEE stars and ISEER actually mean, why the ratings get tougher over time, how much a higher star really saves, and how to weigh the price premium against the running-cost saving.
HVAC & CoolingHVAC & Air Conditioning Cost in India: Buy, Install, Run & Maintain
The whole cost picture, honestly — the four costs of cooling (buying, installation, running and maintenance), how they compare across window, split, VRF and ducted systems, why the cheapest AC is often the most expensive, and how to budget sensibly.
HVAC & CoolingRelated Tools — You may also find these useful
AC Capacity Calculator
Find the right air-conditioner tonnage for a room — from area, sun, floor, occupancy and climate. Right-sized, not oversized.
HVACAC Installation Cost Calculator
An indicative equipment + installation budget for your home's air conditioning — by AC type, tonnage and number of units, with a realistic range.
HVACAC Running Cost Calculator
What your AC costs to run each year — from tonnage, BEE star rating, hours and tariff — plus how much a higher star rating saves.
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