Side-by-side running cost
Gaming PC vs PS5: Which Costs Less to Run?
The short answer
Per hour of use, a PS5 ($0.04/hr) costs about 70% less to run than a gaming PC ($0.09/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (4 hours a day vs 3 hours a day), that’s $11.14 vs $3.34 a month.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Gaming PC
- Typical power
- 500W
- Per hour
- $0.09
- Per month
- $11.14
- Per year
- $134
- Typical use
- 4 hours a day
PS5
- Typical power
- 200W
- Per hour
- $0.04
- Per month
- $3.34
- Per year
- $40.10
- Typical use
- 3 hours a day
Gaming PC vs PS5 in the 10 largest states
Monthly cost at typical use and each state’s average residential rate.
| State | Gaming PC | PS5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $20.45 | $6.13 | $14.31 |
| Texas | $9.66 | $2.90 | $6.76 |
| Florida | $9.14 | $2.74 | $6.40 |
| New York | $18.19 | $5.46 | $12.73 |
| Pennsylvania | $13.21 | $3.96 | $9.25 |
| Illinois | $11.69 | $3.51 | $8.19 |
| Ohio | $11.83 | $3.55 | $8.28 |
| Georgia | $9.90 | $2.97 | $6.93 |
| North Carolina | $9.22 | $2.77 | $6.46 |
| Michigan | $14.02 | $4.21 | $9.82 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a gaming PC cheaper to run than a PS5?
Per hour of use, a PS5 ($0.04/hr) costs about 70% less to run than a gaming PC ($0.09/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (4 hours a day vs 3 hours a day), that’s $11.14 vs $3.34 a month.
How much power does a gaming PC use compared with a PS5?
A gaming PC typically draws 500W, while a PS5 draws about 200W.
More comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).