Australian Electricity Cost Calculator
Calculate Australian electricity costs using national average rates. Defaults are based on Australian Energy Regulator 2025-26 Default Market Offer figures. For state-specific rates, use the NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, or TAS calculators below.
How the calculations work
Daily cost
Each appliance's daily cost is calculated as:
cost = (watts ÷ 1,000) × usage (kWh/day) × rate ($/kWh) × days + supply charge × days
For example, a 1500W appliance running 4h/day at 30¢/kWh:
(1500 ÷ 1,000) × 4 kWh × 0.30 × 30 days = $5.40
Where the supply charge is a fixed daily cost added regardless of usage.
Solar estimate
Annual solar production splits into two parts — what you use at home and what you export to the grid:
annual production (kWh) = system size (kW) × output (kWh/kW/year) self-consumed (70%) = annual production × 0.70 exported (30%) = annual production × 0.30 self-consumption savings = self-consumed kWh × electricity rate export earnings = exported kWh × feed-in tariff rate
The 70/30 split is a representative assumption — actual self-consumption rates vary from 20% to 50% depending on household occupancy patterns and usage timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average electricity cost in Australia?
The average Australian household electricity cost is approximately 30-32 cents per kWh with a daily supply charge of around 95-100 cents/day as of 2025-26. This varies significantly by state: South Australia has the highest rates (45.5 cents/kWh) while Tasmania has the lowest (26.4 cents/kWh). Victoria uses time-of-use pricing, while Queensland, NSW, and SA have simpler flat-rate structures. Regional areas typically pay more due to higher network charges.
How much does the average Australian household pay for electricity?
An average Australian household consumes approximately 6,500-7,000 kWh per year and pays roughly $2,200 per year for electricity, or about $185/month. This varies by state — Tasmanian households pay the least (around $1,600-1,900/year) while South Australian households pay the most (approximately $2,600-3,200/year). The daily supply charge accounts for roughly $35-40/month regardless of consumption.
How much solar does the average Australian home need?
A 6.6kW solar system is the most common size for Australian households, producing 4,000-4,800 kWh per year depending on location (QLD and SA produce the most due to higher irradiance, TAS the least). A system of this size typically costs $5,000-$8,000 after rebates and saves $900-$2,100 per year depending on self-consumption rates, network rates, and feed-in tariffs. Most households recover their investment in 4-7 years.
What is a good feed-in tariff in Australia?
Feed-in tariffs in Australia as of 2025-26 range from approximately 5 to 10 cents per kWh exported, depending on the state and retailer. Tasmania has Australia's highest regulated minimum (8.8 cents/kWh), while Victoria has the lowest (5.2 cents/kWh). A 'good' feed-in tariff is typically 8 cents/kWh or above, though maximising self-consumption is always more valuable than chasing higher export rates, because each kWh self-consumed saves the full retail rate (25-45 cents/kWh depending on state) rather than earning the lower feed-in rate.