Cold climate

Heat pump running costs in New York

Residential electricity in New York averages 28.65¢ per kWh — 58% above the national average. Here's what that means for heat pump operating costs, and which models are cheapest to run in New York's climate.

Electricity price
28.65¢
#6 most expensive of 51
Typical 3-ton cost
$2,830
per year, median model
Most efficient
$1,821
same load, best model
Heating share
84%
of yearly energy use
Advertisement

Cheapest heat pumps to run in New York

Ranked by estimated yearly cost if each model served the same 36,000 BTU/h (3-ton) load in New York, so size doesn't distort the comparison. Because New York's climate weights heating more heavily, HSPF2 (heating efficiency) matters most here. Choosing the most efficient model over the least efficient one in our database saves about $1,529 a year for the same load.

#ModelTypeSizeHSPF2SEER25°F kept3-ton cost/yr
1Fujitsu AOUH09KTAP1Mini-split1 ton1433.5142%$1,821
2Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1Mini-split1 ton13.731.5106%$1,869
3Bryant 37MAHAQ09AA3Mini-split1 ton13.820.699%$1,970
4Bryant 37MARAQ09AA3Mini-split1 ton13.919.678%$1,974
5Fujitsu AOUH15KTAP1Mini-split1 ton1328.7106%$1,979
6Bryant 37MARAQ18AA3Mini-split1.5 tons13.52071%$2,016
7Senville SENA-24HF-OGMini-split2 tons13.51983%$2,034
8Senville SENA-09HF-OGMini-split1 ton12.521.496%$2,129
9Mitsubishi Electric SUZ-AA09NL***Mini-split1 ton12.917.653%$2,140
10Bryant 37MAHAQ18AA3Mini-split1.5 tons12.41890%$2,202
11Senville SENA-18HF-OGMini-split1.5 tons12.31890%$2,217
12Senville SENA/09HF/OQMini-split1 ton1220.290%$2,223

Best cold-weather performers for New York

New York is a cold state, so heating dominates the bill and backup resistance heat is the biggest risk to running costs. These cold-climate certified models keep the most of their heating capacity at 5°F.

Advertisement

Heat pump vs. gas furnace in New York

To heat the same home (2,200 full-load heating hours at 36,000 BTU/h) in New York, a typical heat pump (HSPF2 9.5) would cost about $2,389 a year, an efficient one (HSPF2 10) about $2,269, versus $1,413 for a 95% gas furnace and $1,678 for an older 80% furnace, at New York's average residential gas price of $17.58 per thousand cubic feet. With cheap gas and comparatively expensive electricity, gas heating is cheaper to run in New York. A dual-fuel system (heat pump plus gas backup) is often the lowest-cost setup here.

Typical heat pump$2,389
Efficient heat pump$2,269
95% gas furnace$1,413
80% gas furnace$1,678

Heating only; a heat pump also provides cooling, while a furnace needs a separate air conditioner. Gas prices: EIA, residential, annual average. Compare all states.

Assumptions for New York

Residential electricity price28.65¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Aug 2026, preliminary)
Climate groupCold
Equivalent full-load heating hours2,200 per year
Equivalent full-load cooling hours650 per year

Use the calculator on any model page to replace these with your own electricity rate and usage.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a heat pump in New York?

Using New York's average residential electricity price of 28.65¢/kWh, a typical 3-ton, median-efficiency heat pump costs about $2,830 a year to run. The most efficient model in our database would cost about $1,821 for the same load.

Is electricity expensive in New York?

New York's residential rate of 28.65¢/kWh is 58% above the U.S. average of 18.16¢ and ranks #6 most expensive of 51 (EIA, August 2026).

Is heating or cooling the bigger cost in New York?

With our climate assumptions for New York (2,200 heating and 650 cooling hours), heating accounts for about 84% of a typical heat pump's yearly energy use.

Is a heat pump cheaper than gas heat in New York?

For a typical home, heating with an efficient heat pump costs about $2,269 a year versus $1,413 with a 95% gas furnace at New York's average prices. With cheap gas and comparatively expensive electricity, gas heating is cheaper to run in New York. A dual-fuel system (heat pump plus gas backup) is often the lowest-cost setup here.