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Entertainment and office

Desktop Computer Running Costs for Home, Office and Gaming

What a desktop PC costs to run on 2026-27 electricity prices, how much gaming adds, and simple settings that cut the cost.

Checked against regulator sources, October 2026

Typical draw
120 W
Desktop with monitor
Usage assumed
188 kWh
a year
NSW cost
$62
a year, Ausgrid
Cost an hour
4c
NSW reference rate
watts
hrs
days

Use decimals for short times. 15 minutes is 0.25 hours.

State or territory

Desktop computer: cost a year

$62

4c an hour17c a day$1.19 a week$5.18 a month
Energy usedper year188 kWh
Electricity priceAusgrid, flat rate33.14c
Share of a typical homeagainst 4,000 kWh a year5%
Cost a year, GST included$62.20

Appliances on a thermostat cycle on and off, so real use is often lower than the full power draw.

Prices are 2026-27 regulated rates including GST. Market offers can be cheaper. Estimates only.

What a desktop computer costs to run in each state

The table assumes a desktop with monitor drawing 120 W for six hours a day, five days a week.

Desktop computer: desktop with monitor, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week
StateRateA monthA year
TasmaniaAurora Energy24.75c$3.87$46
QueenslandEnergex27.97c$4.38$53
Victoriaaverage of five networks28.2c$4.41$53
Northern TerritoryJacana Energy31.68c$4.96$59
New South WalesAusgrid33.14c$5.18$62
Western AustraliaSynergy33.26c$5.20$62
Australian Capital TerritoryEvoenergy network36.95c$5.78$69
South AustraliaSA Power Networks41.91c$6.56$79
Flat regulated usage rate for each state's main network in 2026-27, including GST. Victoria uses the average of its five networks.

Office desktops, home PCs and gaming rigs

Running costs by type, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week
TypePowerCost an hourA year
Office desktop60 W2c$31
Desktop with monitor120 W4c$62
Gaming PC under load400 W13c$207
Priced at the Ausgrid reference rate of 33.14c/kWh. Use the calculator for your own state and hours.

Power draw changes with the work the computer is doing. Browsing and spreadsheets keep a desktop near the low end. Video editing and gaming push the processor and graphics card hard. The power supply rating on the box is the maximum, not what the computer usually draws.

How to cut computer running costs

  1. Use sleep mode

    Set the computer to sleep after 15 to 30 minutes idle. Sleep uses a small fraction of active power.

  2. Turn the monitor off

    Screens can be a large share of a desktop setup's power.

  3. Switch off at the wall overnight

    Printers, speakers and chargers on the same board keep drawing standby power. The SA Government lists printers at 8.8 W in active standby.

  4. Consider a laptop

    For everyday work, a laptop draws a fraction of a desktop's power.

Working from home?

Our working from home electricity guide covers what a home office adds to your bill, including heating and cooling, and the ATO fixed rate.

Questions about computer running costs

A desktop and monitor at 120 W for eight hours uses about 1 kWh, roughly 32c on the Ausgrid reference rate.

It depends on the components and the game. A gaming PC under heavy load can draw 400 W or more, around 13c an hour on the Ausgrid reference rate.

Yes, or use sleep mode. Leaving a desktop running overnight for no reason costs money every night, and switching off the board removes standby from accessories too.

Sources

Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.