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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Gaming Console (PS5, Xbox) in Canada? (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$0.025 per hour, or about C$2.27 per month at 3 hours a day in Canada (average). Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (70 W) | C$0.010 | C$0.029 | C$0.88 | C$10.73 |
| Typical (180 W) | C$0.025 | C$0.076 | C$2.27 | C$27.59 |
| High (220 W) | C$0.031 | C$0.092 | C$2.77 | C$33.73 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 3 h/day ≈ 197 kWh per year.
In Canada, with electricity at C$0.14 per kWh (source: Canada Energy Regulator 2026 market snapshot, 2026-06), a typical gaming console (ps5, xbox) costs C$0.025 per hour and about C$27.59 per year at 3 hours a day. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 39.7 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$1.84) 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