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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Mini Fridge in Alberta? (2026)
Mini fridges are surprisingly inefficient for their size. Many use half as much electricity as a full-size fridge while holding a tenth of the food, because small compressors and thin insulation work hard in warm rooms.
A typical mini fridge (80 W) costs C$0.018 per hour, or about C$4.22 per month at 8 hours a day in Alberta. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (50 W) | C$0.011 | C$0.088 | C$2.64 | C$32.12 |
| Typical (80 W) | C$0.018 | C$0.14 | C$4.22 | C$51.39 |
| High (120 W) | C$0.026 | C$0.21 | C$6.34 | C$77.09 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 234 kWh per year.
One day of a mini fridge (1.9 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 11km in an electric car
- 19hours of TV
- 43hours of a laptop
- 213hours of an LED bulb
In Alberta, with electricity at C$0.22 per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical mini fridge costs C$0.018 per hour and about C$51.39 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 57% more than the national average for Canada (C$2.69 per month), because electricity in Alberta costs C$0.22 per kWh against C$0.14 nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 56.8 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a mini fridge
- Keep it out of direct sun and away from heaters or computers.
- Set it to the warmest setting that keeps drinks cold enough.
- Consider whether the main fridge could do the job. Two fridges cost more than one bigger one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mini fridge cost to run per month?
Typically 15 to 25 kWh a month. Select your region above for the figure.
Do mini fridges use a lot of electricity?
Relative to their size, yes. A dorm fridge can use 200 to 300 kWh a year.
Are thermoelectric mini fridges cheaper to run?
No. They run constantly and are usually less efficient than compressor models despite their small size.
Compare with
Cost by region
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