Kitchen · New York
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave in New York?
The short answer
In New York, a microwave drawing 1,100W costs about $0.33 per hour — roughly $2.50 a month if it runs 15 minutes a day.
That’s based on New York’s average residential rate of 29.9¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 63% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Microwave cost by daily use in New York
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes/day | 3.3 | $0.03 | $1.00 | $12.00 |
| 15 minutes/day | 8.4 | $0.08 | $2.50 | $30.01 |
| 30 minutes/day | 16.7 | $0.16 | $5.00 | $60.02 |
| 1 hour/day | 33.5 | $0.33 | $10.01 | $120 |
| 2 hours/day | 66.9 | $0.66 | $20.01 | $240 |
| 3 hours/day | 100.4 | $0.99 | $30.02 | $360 |
New York vs other states
At typical use, a microwave costs $30.01 a year in New York — $18.17 less than in Hawaii and $17.24 more than in Louisiana.
New York has the 5th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. New York price per kWh · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in New York
29.9¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +14.0% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a microwave
The power rating on the front of a microwave (e.g. 900W or 1,000W) is its cooking output; the draw from the wall is higher, usually 1,000–1,500W. Because it heats food directly and runs for minutes at a time, a microwave is one of the cheapest ways to cook or reheat. Our default assumes 15 minutes a day — adjust the hours to match how you cook.
- Reheat in the microwave instead of the oven — it can use up to 80% less energy for small portions.
- Unplug models with clocks you don't use to avoid a few watts of standby power.
- Cover food so it heats faster and more evenly.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a microwave for 24 hours in New York?
Running a 1,100W microwave for 24 hours uses about 26.4 kWh, which costs about $7.89 at New York’s average rate of 29.9¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a microwave use per month?
At 15 minutes a day, a typical microwave uses about 8.37 kWh a month. In New York that costs $2.50.
Is it expensive to run a microwave in New York?
New York has the 5th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 29.9¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a microwave here costs about $30.01 a year at typical use, compared with $18.38 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in New York right now?
The average residential electricity rate in New York was 29.9¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 14.0% from a year earlier.
Does a microwave use a lot of electricity?
Its wattage is high, but it runs for so little time that a typical microwave adds only a dollar or two to a monthly bill.
Microwave costs in nearby states
Other appliances in New York
Cheapest and priciest states
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.
- Default usage for microwave: 15 minutes a day. Typical power 1,100W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).