What an induction cooktop actually costs to run in Australia, how it compares to gas and electric, and how solar and time-of-use tariffs change the numbers.
A typical Australian household spends roughly 15 to 40 cents a day running an induction cooktop — call it $50 to $150 a year. The figure is low because a cooktop only draws its rated power for the few minutes it is actually on high; the rest of a cook happens at a fraction of that.
Induction is the cheapest of the three common cooktop types per meal, delivering around 85–90% of its energy into the pan against roughly 70–75% for radiant electric and about 40% for gas. Comparing fuels properly means comparing useful energy rather than billed energy, which is why induction can cost less per meal even where gas looks cheaper per unit.
For many households the larger number is not the cooking energy at all but the gas daily supply charge. If the cooktop is your last gas appliance, switching to induction can let you disconnect gas entirely — which in some cases saves more than the entire cost of the electricity used for cooking. The guides below work through the arithmetic.
What is an induction cooktop and how does induction cooking actually work? A plain-English, technically accurate explainer for Australian shoppers considering the switch.
Induction vs traditional ceramic electric cooktop — heating speed, safety, energy running costs and cleaning compared for Australian households.
How much does an induction cooktop cost to run in Australia? Power consumption, efficiency vs gas and electric, and practical tips to reduce running costs.