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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Wi-Fi Router in California?
The short answer
A typical 10W Wi-Fi router uses about 0.24 kWh a day, which costs $0.08 a day in California — about $2.45 a month or $29.44 a year.
The estimate uses California’s average residential electricity price of 33.6¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 84% above the national average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Wi-Fi Router cost by size and efficiency in California
| Model | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient (6W) | 4.4 | $0.05 | $1.47 | $17.67 |
| Typical (10W) | 7.3 | $0.08 | $2.45 | $29.44 |
| Older / large (20W) | 14.6 | $0.16 | $4.91 | $58.88 |
California vs other states
At typical use, a Wi-Fi router costs $29.44 a year in California — $12.61 less than in Hawaii and $18.30 more than in Louisiana.
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. California electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in California
33.6¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +2.9% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a Wi-Fi router
Routers, modems and mesh nodes run 24/7, so even a 10W device uses about 7 kWh a month. A modem plus router plus two mesh nodes can add up to 30–40W of constant load. It's a good example of how always-on devices quietly add to a bill.
- Combine modem and router into one device if your provider allows it.
- Use only as many mesh nodes as you need for coverage.
- Schedule Wi-Fi off overnight if no one needs it.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Wi-Fi router cost to run per year in California?
A typical 10W Wi-Fi router uses about 87.6 kWh a year, which costs about $29.44 at California’s average rate of 33.6¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a Wi-Fi router use per month?
At running 24/7, a typical Wi-Fi router uses about 7.30 kWh a month. In California that costs $2.45.
Is it expensive to run a Wi-Fi router in California?
California has the 2nd-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 33.6¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a Wi-Fi router here costs about $29.44 a year at typical use, compared with $16.04 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in California right now?
The average residential electricity rate in California was 33.6¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 2.9% from a year earlier.
Wi-Fi Router costs in nearby states
Other appliances in California
Cheapest and priciest states
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 Wi-Fi router: running 24/7. Typical power 10W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).