AC running cost in Arkansas
A typical 2,000 sq ft Arkansas home with average insulation and a 14 SEER2 central AC uses about 1,996 kWh a year for cooling: roughly $272, peaking in Jul at about $73.
At a glance
Arkansas ranks 13th of 48 contiguous states for estimated yearly AC running cost. Its residential electricity price (13.61¢/kWh) is 25% lower than the U.S. average (18.19¢, EIA) and ranks 41st highest. Its climate brings 1,764 cooling degree days a year (10th most), so cooling demand is 61% higher than the 48-state average. Jul is the peak month, carrying about 27% of the year's AC cost; the meaningful cooling season runs May–Oct.
| Estimated yearly AC cost (2,000 sq ft, 14 SEER2) | $272 |
| Average across 48 contiguous states (unweighted) | $207 |
| Average residential price, July 2026 YTD | 13.61¢/kWh (U.S.: 18.19¢) |
| Single month, July 2026 | 14.33¢/kWh |
| Annual cooling degree days (NOAA, 1991–2020, base 65°F) | 1,764 (48-state avg 1,099) |
| Yearly savings, 18 vs 14 SEER2 | $60 |
We haven't verified utility-specific tariffs for Arkansas yet, so this page uses the EIA statewide average. Your utility's rate may differ, so enter it in the calculator below.
Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B and Table 5.6.A; NOAA NCEI nClimDiv. Statewide averages hide large local differences.
Compared with neighboring states
| State | Price | CDD/yr | Yearly AC cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 16.06¢ | 2,809 | $510 |
| Louisiana | 13.35¢ | 2,696 | $407 |
| Mississippi | 15.19¢ | 2,181 | $375 |
| Oklahoma | 13.58¢ | 1,920 | $295 |
| Arkansas | 13.61¢ | 1,764 | $272 |
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | 1,416 | $222 |
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | 1,265 | $200 |
Same home (2,000 sq ft, average insulation, 14 SEER2) in each state.
Month by month
| Month | CDD | kWh | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| Feb | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| Mar | 18 | 20 | $3 |
| Apr | 34 | 39 | $5 |
| May | 152 | 172 | $23 |
| Jun | 348 | 394 | $54 |
| Jul ★ | 472 | 534 | $73 |
| Aug | 445 | 503 | $68 |
| Sep | 242 | 274 | $37 |
| Oct | 48 | 54 | $7 |
| Nov | 3 | 4 | $0 |
| Dec | 0 | 0 | $0 |
★ peak month.
Thinking about a new system? See AC replacement cost & savings by state and heat pump vs gas furnace in Arkansas.
Yearly cooling cost by home size and SEER2
| Home | 13 SEER2 | 14 SEER2 | 16 SEER2 | 18 SEER2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $176 | $163 | $143 | $127 |
| 1,600 sq ft | $234 | $217 | $190 | $169 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $293 | $272 | $238 | $211 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $366 | $340 | $297 | $264 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $439 | $408 | $357 | $317 |
Average insulation; 13.61¢/kWh.
AC monthly running cost calculator
| Month | Cooling degree days | kWh | Cost |
|---|
Price defaults to the state's EIA average residential price (July 2026 YTD); edit it to match your bill. Climate: NOAA state cooling degree days, 1991–2020 average. How this works.