Air conditioning
in Queensland
Splits run $1,300–$4,050 installed across Queensland and whole-home ducted $9,000–$17,500. The median suburb here costs about $81 a year to cool, though which network serves your postcode moves that by up to 3%.
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Who delivers your electricity, and what it costs
Running cost is the tariff multiplied by how hard the system works. The tariff is set by the distribution network for your postcode, not by you, and it is the half of the equation most people never see.
| Network | Flat rate | Suburbs we cover |
|---|---|---|
| Ergon | 26.27c/kWh | 31 |
| Energex | 25.43c/kWh | 204 |
Energex customers pay 25.43c where Ergon customers pay 26.27c. Same power, same appliance, different bill — and nothing you can do about it except know which side of the line you are on. Our running cost research shows how far this goes nationally.
Installed prices by Queensland city
| City | Small split | Ducted, whole home | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | $1,300–$2,200 | $9,000–$15,500 | 1–2 weeks |
| Gold Coast | $1,400–$2,250 | $9,900–$15,800 | 1–2 weeks |
| Sunshine Coast | $1,400–$2,250 | $9,900–$15,800 | 1–2 weeks |
| Townsville | $1,500–$2,350 | $10,300–$16,200 | 1–2 weeks |
| Cairns | $1,500–$2,400 | $10,400–$16,400 | 1–2 weeks |
| Toowoomba | $1,400–$2,250 | $9,300–$15,600 | 1–2 weeks |
| Bundaberg | $1,450–$2,300 | $9,500–$15,800 | 1–2 weeks |
| Hervey Bay | $1,450–$2,300 | $9,500–$15,800 | 1–2 weeks |
| Gladstone | $1,450–$2,300 | $9,500–$15,800 | 1–2 weeks |
| Mackay | $1,500–$2,350 | $10,000–$16,000 | 1–2 weeks |
| Rockhampton | $1,500–$2,350 | $10,000–$16,000 | 1–2 weeks |
| Mount Isa | $1,650–$2,550 | $11,500–$17,500 | 2–3 weeks |
| Logan | $1,300–$2,200 | $9,000–$15,500 | 1–2 weeks |
| Ipswich | $1,300–$2,200 | $9,000–$15,500 | 1–2 weeks |
| Emerald | $1,550–$2,400 | $10,500–$16,500 | 2–3 weeks |
| Maryborough | $1,450–$2,300 | $9,500–$15,800 | 2–3 weeks |
| Dalby | $1,500–$2,350 | $9,600–$15,900 | 2–3 weeks |
| Warwick | $1,450–$2,300 | $9,400–$15,700 | 2–3 weeks |
| Gympie | $1,450–$2,300 | $9,600–$15,800 | 1–2 weeks |
| Kingaroy | $1,500–$2,350 | $9,600–$15,900 | 2–3 weeks |
Rebates in Queensland
Queensland has no general household air conditioning rebate. There is no equivalent here of Victorian Energy Upgrades or the NSW Energy Savings Scheme, so a quote advertising a large "government discount" deserves a direct question about which scheme it comes from. Our rebate guide covers every state, including the ones where the honest answer is nothing.
Suburb guides across Queensland
Each works its sizing and running cost from that suburb's own Bureau of Meteorology record and network tariff, not a state average.
- Southport $81/yr
- Caboolture $72/yr
- Buderim $72/yr
- Surfers Paradise $81/yr
- Pimpama $77/yr
- Morayfield $72/yr
- Upper Coomera $77/yr
- Redbank Plains $86/yr
- Robina $63/yr
- Forest Lake $87/yr
- North Lakes $80/yr
- Coomera $77/yr
- Narangba $80/yr
- Kallangur $80/yr
- Maroochydore $72/yr
- Deception Bay $80/yr
- Thornlands $69/yr
- Springfield Lakes $86/yr
- Kirwan $252/yr
- Helensvale $77/yr
- Calamvale $87/yr
- Labrador $81/yr
- Sunnybank Hills $87/yr
- Coorparoo $96/yr
- Redland Bay $77/yr
- Burpengary $80/yr
- Capalaba $71/yr
- Bracken Ridge $71/yr
- Palm Beach $63/yr
- The Gap $96/yr
- Hope Island $81/yr
- Nerang $81/yr
- Varsity Lakes $63/yr
- Mango Hill $80/yr
- Ormeau $77/yr
- West End $96/yr
- South Brisbane $96/yr
- Carindale $96/yr
- Pacific Pines $77/yr
- Albany Creek $96/yr
Showing the 40 largest of 235. The rest are in the full suburb index.
Sources
Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2021 and Regional population 2024-25, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Climate data: Bureau of Meteorology, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Climate zones: Australian Building Codes Board. Tariffs: Consumer Data Right energy plan data. Appliance energy data: energyrating.gov.au (E3 Program).