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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Gaming Console (PS5, Xbox) in Australia? (2026)
Current generation consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X draw around 180 to 220 watts while gaming, closer to 70 watts while streaming video, and just a watt or two in rest mode with instant on disabled.
A typical gaming console (ps5, xbox) (180 W) costs A$0.063 per hour, or about A$5.67 per month at 3 hours a day in Australia. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (70 W) | A$0.025 | A$0.073 | A$2.21 | A$26.83 |
| Typical (180 W) | A$0.063 | A$0.19 | A$5.67 | A$68.98 |
| High (220 W) | A$0.077 | A$0.23 | A$6.93 | A$84.31 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 3 h/day ≈ 197 kWh per year.
In Australia, with electricity at A$0.35 per kWh (source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07), a typical gaming console (ps5, xbox) costs A$0.063 per hour and about A$68.98 per year at 3 hours a day. Each A$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 15.9 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a gaming console (ps5, xbox)
- Turn off the console rather than leaving it in rest mode with instant on enabled.
- Streaming video on a console uses more power than a dedicated streaming stick.
- Cap the frame rate in games that allow it. Lower GPU load means lower draw.
- Disable the feature that keeps the console powered for controller charging.
In standby it draws about 1.5 W, which adds roughly 13 kWh (A$4.60) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a PS5 use?
About 200 watts in demanding games, 70 watts for media, and under 2 watts in rest mode.
Is it expensive to leave a console on overnight?
If it sits on the home screen, it draws about 50 watts, so 8 hours costs the same as 2 hours of gaming.
Does the Xbox Series S use less power?
Yes, around 80 watts during games, less than half the Series X.
Compare with
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India