AC running cost in Iowa
A typical 2,000 sq ft Iowa home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 915 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $130, peaking in Jul at about $44.
At a glance
Iowa ranks 34th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (14.2¢/kWh) is 22% lower than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 36th highest. Its climate brings 809 cooling degree days a year (26th most), so cooling demand is 26% lower than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 34% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs May–Sep.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $130 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 14.2¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 15.99¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 809 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $29 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Iowa yet, so this page uses the EIA statewide average. Your utility's rate may differ, so enter it in the calculator below.
Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B and Table 5.6.A; NOAA NCEI nClimDiv. Statewide averages hide large local differences.
Compared with neighboring states
| State | Price | CDD/yr | Yearly AC cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | 1,265 | $200 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | 889 | $193 |
| Nebraska | 12.9¢ | 996 | $145 |
| Iowa | 14.2¢ | 809 | $130 |
| South Dakota | 14.5¢ | 688 | $113 |
| Wisconsin | 19¢ | 514 | $111 |
| Minnesota | 16.25¢ | 456 | $84 |
Same home (2,000 sq ft, average insulation, 14 SEER2) in each state.
Month by month
| Month | CDD | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Mar | 2 | 2 | $0 |
| Apr | 2 | 2 | $0 |
| May | 58 | 66 | $9 |
| Jun | 181 | 205 | $29 |
| Jul ★ | 272 | 308 | $44 |
| Aug | 214 | 242 | $34 |
| Sep | 74 | 83 | $12 |
| Oct | 6 | 6 | $1 |
| Nov | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Dec | 0 | 0 | $0 |
★ peak month.
Yearly cooling cost by home size and SEER2
| Home | 13 SEER2 | 14 SEER2 | 16 SEER2 | 18 SEER2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $84 | $78 | $68 | $61 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $112 | $104 | $91 | $81 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $140 | $130 | $114 | $101 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $175 | $162 | $142 | $126 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $210 | $195 | $171 | $152 |
Average insulation; 14.2¢/kWh.
AC monthly running cost calculator
| Month | Cooling degree days | kWh | Cost |
|---|
Price defaults to the state's EIA average residential price (July 2026 YTD); edit it to match your bill. Climate: NOAA state cooling degree days, 1991–2020 average. How this works.