Microwave vs Refrigerator: which costs more to run? (2026)
Estimates use U.S. average $0.180 $/kWh, typical wattage, and typical hours/day from our catalog. Adjust on each appliance page.
Microwave
- Typical watts
- 1200 W
- Hours/day
- 0.3
- Monthly est.
- $1.94
- kWh/mo
- 10.8
Refrigerator
- Typical watts
- 150 W
- Hours/day
- 24
- Monthly est.
- $19.42
- kWh/mo
- 108.0
Refrigerator is estimated to cost more per month at typical use.