5kW split systems, compared by what they cost to run
Every 5kW split system we install, from the cheapest to run to the dearest. Each yearly cost is the energy figure on the unit's official label, at the middle price of Sydney power plans (31.79c a kWh, including GST). The cheapest and the dearest are $114 a year apart.
Every 5kW split system we install
Yearly cost to cool and heat, at the middle price of Sydney power plans (31.79c a kWh, including GST).
| Model | Size | Stars | Noise | Cost a year | Add to quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1Daikin Alira X 5kWFTXM50AVMA / RXM50AVMA | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 5 cooling3.5 heating | 61 dB inside59 dB outside | $297$100 cooling, $197 heating | |
 2ActronAir Serene 5kWWRE‑050DS | 5.05 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 5 cooling3 heating | 62 dB inside66 dB outside | $321$97 cooling, $224 heating | |
 3=Daikin Cora 5kWFTXV50WVMA / RXV50WVMA | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 4.5 cooling3 heating | 61 dB inside59 dB outside | $324$103 cooling, $221 heating | |
 3=Rinnai T Series 5kWHINRT50B / HONRT50B | 5.2 kW cooling5.2 kW heating | 4 cooling2.5 heating | 61 dB inside60 dB outside | $324$117 cooling, $207 heating | |
 5TCL BreezeIN 2.0 5.3kWTAC‑18CHSD/VEIH | 5.3 kW cooling5.3 kW heating | 4 cooling3 heating | 60 dB inside65 dB outside | $325$122 cooling, $203 heating | |
 6Rinnai PB Series 5kWHSNRP50B | 5.0 kW cooling5.4 kW heating | 4 cooling2.5 heating | 60 dB inside65 dB outside | $331$114 cooling, $217 heating | |
 7Fujitsu Comfort 5kWASTH18KNTA | 5.0 kW cooling5.2 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 60 dB inside61 dB outside | $340$130 cooling, $210 heating | |
 8Fujitsu Lifestyle 5kWASTG18KMTC | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 4.5 cooling2.5 heating | 61 dB inside59 dB outside | $341$109 cooling, $232 heating | |
 9Carrier Indigo 5kW42QAG050N8 / 38QAG050N8 | 5.0 kW cooling5.35 kW heating | 4 cooling2.5 heating | 58 dB inside66 dB outside | $342$119 cooling, $223 heating | |
 10LG DUALCOOL AI 4.8kWAS18S1N/AS18S1U | 4.8 kW cooling5.2 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 62 dB inside61 dB outside | $343$126 cooling, $217 heating | |
 11MHI Avanti Plus 5kWSRK50ZSXA‑WF | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling3 heating | 59 dB inside63 dB outside | $348$128 cooling, $220 heating | |
 12Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-AP 5kWMSZ‑AP50VGKD2 | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 4 cooling2.5 heating | 61 dB inside62 dB outside | $354$117 cooling, $237 heating | |
 13Daikin Lite 5kWFTXF50WVMA | 5.0 kW cooling5.2 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 61 dB inside59 dB outside | $364$141 cooling, $223 heating | |
 14MHI Avanti 5kWDXK18ZSA‑WF1 | 5.0 kW cooling5.8 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 58 dB inside61 dB outside | $366$136 cooling, $230 heating | |
 15Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN 5kWMSZ‑LN50VG | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 57 dB inside60 dB outside | $373$132 cooling, $241 heating | |
 16Daikin Zena 5kWFTXJ50T2VMAW / FTXJ50T2VMAK | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 61 dB inside59 dB outside | $381$138 cooling, $243 heating | |
 17=Panasonic RZ 5kWCS‑RZ50XKR / CU‑RZ50XKR | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 60 dB inside63 dB outside | $386$128 cooling, $258 heating | |
 17=Panasonic Z Series 5kWCS‑Z50AKRW | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 60 dB inside63 dB outside | $386$128 cooling, $258 heating | |
 19MHI Ciara 5kWDXK18ZTLA‑WF | 5.0 kW cooling5.8 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 60 dB inside64 dB outside | $390$146 cooling, $244 heating | |
 20=Daikin Skywall 5kWFTXC50A | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 2 cooling3 heating | 61 dB inside68 dB outside | $392$155 cooling, $237 heating | |
 20=Samsung Aero 5kWAR18DXFZCWKNSA | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2 heating | 58 dB inside65 dB outside | $392$132 cooling, $260 heating | |
 22Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-EF 5kWMSZ‑EF50VG | 5.0 kW cooling5.8 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 55 dB inside61 dB outside | $397$147 cooling, $250 heating | |
 23Samsung AI Smart AIRISE WindFree 5kWAR18BXECNWKNSA / AR18BXECNWKXSA | 5.0 kW cooling6.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2 heating | 58 dB inside65 dB outside | $402$133 cooling, $269 heating | |
 24Hisense J-Series 5.3kWHAWJ18KR | 5.3 kW cooling5.4 kW heating | 2.5 cooling2 heating | 62 dB inside65 dB outside | $411$160 cooling, $251 heating |
Source: Australian GEMS registry · median of 170 Sydney residential tariffs, including GST · Refreshed monthly · Last updated September 2026. Stars are for the energy label’s average climate zone, which includes Sydney. Noise is the sound level on the energy label, in decibels. The Panasonic RZ 5kW and Panasonic Z Series 5kW share one registration, so their figures match. Mitsubishi Electric makes the MSZ-AP, the MSZ-LN and the MSZ-EF. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI in the table) makes the Avanti Plus, the Avanti and the Ciara. They are two different companies.
What the numbers mean
More heating output, more energy a year
Heating output here runs from 5.2 to 6.0 kW. On the energy label, a unit with more output also uses more energy over a year, even when it is just as efficient. To compare efficiency, look at the stars: more stars, less energy for the same job.
How loud they are
Lower is quieter. On the energy label, the indoor units here range from 55 to 62 decibels and the outdoor units from 59 to 68. For the indoor unit, brochures often print a different measure (sound pressure), which reads lower than the label.
Cost for an hour
At the size in the table, these units cost 36c to 51c an hour to cool and 39c to 55c an hour to heat. That is at 31.79c a kWh. For your bill, the yearly figures in the table are the better guide.
Western Sydney and Wollongong
Western Sydney and Wollongong are on a different power network, Endeavour Energy. The middle price there is 30.65c a kWh, including GST. The same units cost $287 to $396 a year there.
One 5kW, or two 2.5kW?
Two 2.5kW units cool about as much as one 5kW. They suit two separate rooms, but you need two outdoor units and two installs. One 5kW suits one open living area.
| Option | Cost a year | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| One 5kW unit | $297 to $411 | 2 to 5 cooling2 to 3.5 heating |
| Two 2.5kW units, one per room | $270 to $364 for both | 3 to 7 cooling2.5 to 4 heating |
Each pair is two of the same 2.5kW model (20 models have official figures). Same source and power price as the table above.
A 5kW cools up to about 36 to 43 m²
That is a large living room: up to 43 m² if the room faces north and 36 m² if it faces east, insulated, in the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries sizing chart. West-facing windows, high ceilings and poor insulation mean you need more.
For a smaller room, compare 3.5kW split systems. For a bigger one, compare 7kW split systems.
Prefer nothing on the wall? We also install 10 ducted systems, 2 cassette systems, 1 bulkhead / slim duct unit and 1 floor console unit in this size.
What sets the installed price
- The length of pipe between the indoor and outdoor units. This changes the price most.
- Access: a second storey, a wall bracket up high, the wall the pipe goes through.
- Your switchboard and power supply.
All 24 of these units run on single-phase power. The installation cost guide covers each item. We give you a fixed price in writing before any work starts.
5kW split systems, answered
How much does a 5kW split system cost to run in Sydney?
A 5kW split system here costs $297 to $411 a year to cool and heat. That is at the middle price of Sydney power plans (31.79c a kWh, including GST). The cheapest to run is the Daikin Alira X 5kW. Your own bill depends on how many hours you use it and on your power plan.
Is a 4.8 or 5.3 kW split system the same as a 5kW?
Yes, for choosing a size. 9 of the 12 brands here call their unit 5 kW. The others call it 4.8 or 5.3 kW, and this page lists them all.
What size room will a 5kW air conditioner cool?
Up to about 43 m² in an insulated room that faces north, or 36 m² if it faces east, in the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries sizing chart. West-facing windows, high ceilings or poor insulation mean you need more, so size your room before you choose.
How loud is a 5kW split system?
On the energy label, the indoor units here range from 55 to 62 decibels and the outdoor units from 59 to 68. Lower is quieter. The quietest indoor unit is the Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-EF 5kW.
Which costs less to run: one 5kW or two 2.5kW units?
On the energy label, two 2.5kW units cost less. Two of the same 2.5kW unit cost $270 to $364 a year together, against $297 to $411 for one 5kW. Two units suit two separate rooms. One 5kW suits one open living area.
How much does a 5kW split system cost installed?
It depends on the job. The length of pipe between the indoor and outdoor units, access (a second storey, a wall bracket up high) and your switchboard all change the price. Our installation cost guide explains each one. Ask for a quote and you get a fixed price in writing first.
Guides & advice
Buying guideWhat size air conditioner do I need? Room size to kW
Air conditioner size is measured in kilowatts, not the physical box on the wall, and getting it right is the difference between a system that quietly keeps up and one that costs more and never feels comfortable. Here is how to go from your room to a sensible kW range, what shifts that number, and how we size it against real systems.
Read
Energy & costsSame size, different bill: what the energy star rating is worth in dollars
At 7 kW, the 2-star and the 4-star wall splits we install are $111 a year apart to run at the Sydney median rate; at 2.5 kW the whole field spans $73. Here is what a star is worth, size by size, from the official figures.
Read
Energy & costsWhat reverse-cycle heating costs in a Sydney winter
In the official Sydney-zone figures, every one of the 276 rated models we install uses more energy heating than cooling. A bedroom split runs $86 to $125 a winter at the Sydney median rate, a 7 kW living-room split $283 to $363, a 14 kW ducted system $528 to $874.
Read
Let’s get your place comfortable.
Free fixed-price quotes in writing before any work starts, and a local team that turns up when they say they will.