Side-by-side running cost
PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which Costs Less to Run?
The short answer
Per hour of use, an Xbox Series X ($0.03/hr) costs about 20% less to run than a PS5 ($0.04/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (3 hours a day vs 3 hours a day), that’s $3.34 vs $2.67 a month.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
PS5
- Typical power
- 200W
- Per hour
- $0.04
- Per month
- $3.34
- Per year
- $40.10
- Typical use
- 3 hours a day
Xbox Series X
- Typical power
- 160W
- Per hour
- $0.03
- Per month
- $2.67
- Per year
- $32.08
- Typical use
- 3 hours a day
PS5 vs Xbox Series X in the 10 largest states
Monthly cost at typical use and each state’s average residential rate.
| State | PS5 | Xbox Series X | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $6.13 | $4.91 | $1.23 |
| Texas | $2.90 | $2.32 | $0.58 |
| Florida | $2.74 | $2.19 | $0.55 |
| New York | $5.46 | $4.37 | $1.09 |
| Pennsylvania | $3.96 | $3.17 | $0.79 |
| Illinois | $3.51 | $2.81 | $0.70 |
| Ohio | $3.55 | $2.84 | $0.71 |
| Georgia | $2.97 | $2.38 | $0.59 |
| North Carolina | $2.77 | $2.21 | $0.55 |
| Michigan | $4.21 | $3.37 | $0.84 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a PS5 cheaper to run than an Xbox Series X?
Per hour of use, an Xbox Series X ($0.03/hr) costs about 20% less to run than a PS5 ($0.04/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (3 hours a day vs 3 hours a day), that’s $3.34 vs $2.67 a month.
How much power does a PS5 use compared with an Xbox Series X?
A PS5 typically draws 200W, while an Xbox Series X draws about 160W.
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).