Gaming PC vs Game Console (PS5 / Xbox Series X): Which Costs Less to Run?
A high-end gaming PC and a PS5 or Series X render similar games with very different silicon budgets.
Gaming PC · per month
$10.35
4 hours/day · 300–800 W
Game Console (PS5 / Xbox Series X) · per month
$3.18
3 hours/day · 70–220 W
Verdict
The console wins on electricity, drawing 150–220 watts against a serious PC's 300–800. Over four hours a night, that gap is real but modest in dollars — a few dollars a month in most states. The PC's flexibility fairly costs a premium; capping frame rates claws much of it back.
Side by side
| Gaming PC | Game Console (PS5 / Xbox Series X) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical power | 300–800 W | 70–220 W |
| Typical usage | 4 hours/day | 3 hours/day |
| Energy per month | 57 kWh | 17 kWh |
| Cost per month (US avg) | $10.35 | $3.18 |
| Cost per year (US avg) | $124 | $38.17 |
| Cost per month in Hawaii | $27.14 | $8.34 |
Rates as of July 2026. Adjust the assumptions on each appliance's page: Gaming PC · Game Console (PS5 / Xbox Series X).
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to run: a gaming pc or a game console (ps5 / xbox series x)?
At typical usage and the current U.S. average rate (18.3¢/kWh), the game console (ps5 / xbox series x) is cheaper: about $3.18/month versus $10.35/month for the gaming pc — a difference of $7.17 per month.
How much could I save per year by choosing the game console (ps5 / xbox series x)?
About $86.02 per year at typical usage and average rates. In Hawaii (48¢/kWh) the annual gap grows to roughly $226.
Do these numbers apply to my state?
The ratio between the two stays the same everywhere, but the dollar gap scales with your rate — from Louisiana at 12.7¢/kWh to Hawaii at 48¢/kWh. Open each appliance's page for the exact cost in your state.