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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Gaming Console (PS5, Xbox) in Ontario? (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 C$0.027 per hour, or about C$2.43 per month at 3 hours a day in Ontario. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (70 W) | C$0.011 | C$0.032 | C$0.95 | C$11.50 |
| Typical (180 W) | C$0.027 | C$0.081 | C$2.43 | C$29.57 |
| High (220 W) | C$0.033 | C$0.099 | C$2.97 | C$36.13 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 3 h/day ≈ 197 kWh per year.
One hour of a gaming console (ps5, Xbox) (0.18 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 3.6hours of a fridge
- 4.0hours of a laptop
- 18hours of Wi-Fi
- 20hours of an LED bulb
In Ontario, with electricity at C$0.15 per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical gaming console (ps5, xbox) costs C$0.027 per hour and about C$29.57 per year at 3 hours a day. That is about 7% more than the national average for Canada (C$2.27 per month), because electricity in Ontario costs C$0.15 per kWh against C$0.14 nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 37.0 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 (C$1.97) 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
US states
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