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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Streaming Stick or Box in South Dakota? (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 $0.001 per hour, or about $0.072 per month at 4 hours a day in South Dakota. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (2 W) | $0.000 | $0.001 | $0.036 | $0.44 |
| Typical (4 W) | $0.001 | $0.002 | $0.072 | $0.88 |
| High (10 W) | $0.002 | $0.006 | $0.18 | $2.19 |
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 South Dakota, with electricity at $0.15 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical streaming stick or box costs $0.001 per hour and about $0.88 per year at 4 hours a day. That is about 17% less than the national average for the US ($0.086 per month), because electricity in South Dakota costs $0.15 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 1,666.7 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 ($2.63) 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.
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