What Does It Cost?
A simple tool to help South Africans understand their household appliance electricity costs
Our Mission
Help South African households understand their electricity usage and costs
What Does It Cost? is a free calculator designed to help you understand how much your household appliances cost to run. Simply enter your appliance wattage, daily usage, and your electricity rate—we'll show you the estimated costs.
This tool helps you identify which appliances are your biggest electricity expenses, so you can make informed decisions about usage and energy-saving opportunities.
Simple Calculations
Based on appliance wattage, hours per day, and your electricity rate
South African Focus
All costs shown in South African Rand. You enter your own tariff rate.
Free & Private
No registration, no data collection, completely free to use
How Our Calculator Works
A straightforward approach to understanding electricity costs
The Calculation
We use a simple formula to estimate appliance electricity costs:
kW = Watts ÷ 1000
Hourly cost = kW × Electricity rate (R/kWh)
Daily cost = Hourly cost × Hours per day
Weekly cost = Daily cost × 7
Monthly cost = Daily cost × 30.4375
Yearly cost = Daily cost × 365
Enter Your Own Rate
Electricity tariffs vary significantly across South African municipalities and depend on several factors:
- • Municipality (City Power, Eskom Direct, local municipalities, etc.)
- • Tariff structure (flat rate, tiered/inclining block tariff, time-of-use rates)
- • Customer category (residential, small business, etc.)
- • Seasonal variations and surcharges
Find your rate: Check your most recent electricity bill for the price per kWh, or visit your municipality's website for current tariffs.
Appliance Wattages
Appliance wattages vary by model, age, and efficiency. Look for the wattage on your appliance's label or in its manual. Our calculator includes common South African household appliances with typical wattage values that you can adjust to match your specific appliances.
Important Notes
How to use this calculator accurately
These Are Estimates
This calculator provides rough estimates only. Actual electricity costs depend on many factors including appliance efficiency, exact usage patterns, your specific tariff structure (some tariffs have tiered pricing), seasonal rate variations, and any applicable demand or service charges. Always compare your estimates to your actual electricity bill.
Factors That Affect Your Costs
- • Appliance age and efficiency (older appliances use more power)
- • Actual usage patterns (may differ from estimates)
- • Tariff structure (tiered rates charge more per kWh as you use more)
- • Seasonal variations (rates may change by season)
- • Service charges and other fees
Verify Your Rates
To get accurate results, check your latest electricity bill for your actual rate per kWh. Rates vary widely across South Africa. Some municipalities use tiered pricing where the rate increases as you use more electricity, so you may have multiple rates. Enter the rate that applies to your usage level.
Ready to Check Your Costs?
Start using our free calculator to estimate how much your appliances cost to run.
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