How Much Does It Cost to Run a Streaming Stick or Box in New Brunswick? (2026)
A streaming stick draws 2 to 5 watts while playing, and most stay on in a low-power state around the clock. They are the cheapest way to stream, far below a console or a desktop PC.
A typical streaming stick or box (4 W) costs C$0.001 per hour, or about C$0.080 per month at 4 hours a day in New Brunswick. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 2 W | C$0.000 | C$0.001 | C$0.040 | C$0.49 |
| Typical 4 W | C$0.001 | C$0.003 | C$0.080 | C$0.97 |
| High 10 W | C$0.002 | C$0.007 | C$0.20 | C$2.43 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 4 h/day ≈ 6 kWh per year.
One day of a streaming stick or box (0.10 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 2.1hours of a laptop
- 6.4phone charges
- 9.6hours of Wi-Fi
- 11hours of an LED bulb
In New Brunswick, with electricity at 16.6¢ per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical streaming stick or box costs C$0.001 per hour and about C$0.97 per year at 4 hours a day. That is about 19% more than the national average for Canada (C$0.067 per month), because electricity in New Brunswick costs 16.6¢ per kWh against 14.0¢ nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 1,505.1 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a streaming stick or box
- Stream on the stick rather than a game console, which can use 20 times more.
- Use the TV's USB port for power so the stick turns off with the TV.
- Turn off screensavers and ambient modes that keep the TV awake.
In standby it draws about 2 W, which adds roughly 18 kWh (C$2.91) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a streaming stick cost to run?
Around 20 to 30 kWh a year including standby, a dollar or two.
Do streaming devices use electricity when off?
Most never truly turn off. They draw 1 to 3 watts waiting for a remote press.
Which streaming device uses the least power?
Small HDMI sticks. Full-size boxes with more processing draw 5 to 10 watts.
Compare with
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Related appliances
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz