How much does a Monero mining rig cost to run per month?

Your Monero mining rig’s monthly running cost depends mainly on how much electricity the whole computer uses and what you pay per kilowatt-hour. For example, a rig drawing 200 watts around the clock costs $21.60 a month at $0.15 per kilowatt-hour, before cooling, fees, or wear on the equipment.

Calculate your monthly electricity bill

A kilowatt-hour, or kWh, is the amount of energy a 1,000-watt device uses in one hour. Your electricity provider charges you for each kWh you use.

For a 30-day month, use this formula:

Monthly electricity cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours per day × 30 × price per kWh

Suppose your rig draws 200 watts and runs all day:

• Convert watts to kilowatts: 200 ÷ 1,000 = 0.2 kW.
• Multiply by monthly running hours: 0.2 × 720 = 144 kWh.
• Multiply by your electricity rate: 144 × $0.15 = $21.60 per month.

At the same power draw, electricity would cost $14.40 at $0.10/kWh, or $43.20 at $0.30/kWh. These are example rates, not estimates of your local bill.

If you mine for eight hours a day instead, the 200-watt example costs $7.20 per month at $0.15/kWh.

Measure the whole rig, not just the processor

Monero uses RandomX, its mining method that favors CPUs—the main processors inside computers. But your CPU is not the only part using power.

Memory, fans, storage, the motherboard, and power-supply losses all contribute to your bill. The wattage printed on a power supply describes its capacity, not how much electricity your rig actually draws.

For a useful estimate:

• Use a suitable plug-in electricity meter at the wall socket.
• Measure while your actual mining setup is running steadily.
• Check your electricity bill for the rate, including usage-based delivery charges and taxes.
• Account for higher evening rates or usage tiers if your plan has them.

For browser mining, measure with the mining page active under your normal settings. Browser limits, other open programs, and power-saving settings can change both power use and mining speed.

If your computer would already be on, you can also compare its power draw with and without mining. That difference estimates the extra electricity cost caused by mining, rather than the computer’s full running cost.

Include costs beyond electricity

Electricity is usually the main ongoing cash expense, but it may not be the only one.

• Cooling: Your rig turns electricity into heat. Air conditioning or extra room fans can increase the total cost.
• Mining fees: A pool—a group of miners sharing rewards—or a service may keep part of your earnings. This reduces your payout rather than increasing your electricity bill.
• Maintenance: Fans and other parts may eventually need replacing.
• Equipment wear: You can budget for the rig losing value over time, even though that is not a monthly utility payment.

Your purchase price is a separate upfront expense. If you want to recover it through mining, include a monthly allowance when judging whether mining pays.

The bottom line

Measure your rig’s power at the wall, then multiply by your running hours and electricity rate. That gives you a solid monthly electricity estimate; add cooling and other relevant expenses for a fuller budget. To see whether earnings cover it, check a live Monero mining calculator using your measured mining speed and costs—no fixed monthly profit is guaranteed.