Powerbill/Appliance costs

What does a washing machine (cold wash) cost to run?

In New Zealand, a typical washing machine (cold wash) run at the default cycles per week costs around $2/month at the current national average rate of 40.6c/kWh.

Monthly cost
$2
national average
Annual cost
$25
12 months at current rate
Cost by regionMBIE Feb 2026
RegionRateMonthly
Queenstown40.3c/kWh$2
Dunedin39.6c/kWh$2
Christchurch36.6c/kWh$2
See this in the full calculator

Frequently asked

How much does a washing machine (cold wash) cost to run in NZ?

At the national average electricity rate of 40.6c/kWh, a typical washing machine (cold wash) costs about $2 per month, or $25 per year. Actual costs vary by region and how heavily you use it.

Which NZ region has the cheapest washing machine (cold wash) running cost?

Of the five centres shown on this page, Christchurch is the cheapest at $2/month, and Queenstown is the most expensive at $2/month. The 30% spread reflects regional MBIE retail rates.

Wattages and usage defaults from Consumer NZ, EECA Genless and Frugal Kiwi. Regional pricing from the MBIE Quarterly Survey of Domestic Electricity Prices, last updated 2026-02-15.