There is no fixed monthly cost for using a GPU to keep a YouTube stream running 24/7. The extra electricity cost depends on how many additional watts the complete streaming setup draws, how long it runs, and your electricity tariff. Measure the setup rather than treating a GPU’s maximum rated power as its streaming cost.
Calculate the extra electricity cost
Use the increase in wall power attributable to the streaming setup—not the GPU’s model name or maximum board-power rating:
Monthly incremental electricity cost = incremental watts ÷ 1,000 × streaming hours per month × electricity price per kWh.
For a 30-day month of continuous streaming, use 720 hours. Each additional watt sustained for that month uses 0.72 kWh; multiply that by your actual price per kWh.
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Measure the right comparison
To estimate the whole streaming setup’s cost, compare the computer’s wall power while streaming with an appropriate off or non-streaming baseline. To isolate the GPU’s contribution, keep other settings and workloads as comparable as possible. A wall meter measures the complete system, not just the GPU, and its reading can reflect power-supply conversion losses and the measurement interval. There is no universal correction factor established for those effects.
For example, if streaming hypothetically added 100 W continuously, the calculation would be 0.1 kW × 720 hours = 72 kWh per 30-day month. At the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2025 annual average residential price of 17.30 cents/kWh, that would cost about $12.46. At its 2025 commercial average of 13.41 cents/kWh, it would cost about $9.66. These are arithmetic illustrations using an assumed 100 W increase—not a measured or typical GPU-encoding figure. The EIA’s figures are annual averages from Electric Power Monthly Table 5.3, February 2026 preliminary data. EIA electricity data.
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Why the GPU’s rated power does not give the answer
Hardware encoding does not automatically make a GPU draw its maximum rated board power. OBS describes hardware encoding as work handled by a specialized component in the GPU, while NVIDIA says its NVENC encoder is independent of the graphics and CUDA cores. Neither fact establishes how many additional watts the complete computer draws during a particular stream.
OBS generally recommends hardware encoders for performance because they move encoding work off the CPU. Its documentation covers NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, and Intel Quick Sync, subject to compatibility requirements. OBS’s NVIDIA note identifies GeForce 750 Ti or newer and cautions that generation matters; the AMD and Intel options also have their own requirements. Encoder compatibility is not a promise of lower electricity cost. OBS Project hardware encoding documentation.
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YouTube explains that an encoder converts video into a digital format for streaming and describes both software and standalone hardware encoder workflows. It also notes hardware-based encoding in NVIDIA GPUs. Those platform explanations do not supply a universal power measurement for a consumer GPU running a continuous stream. YouTube encoder guidance.
NVIDIA’s January 2025 vendor guide recommends choosing Hardware (NVENC, AV1) for YouTube with an RTX 40 Series GPU, or Hardware (NVENC, HEVC) otherwise. That is NVIDIA configuration guidance, not evidence that an RTX card is necessary, cheapest to operate, or draws a particular number of watts. NVIDIA broadcasting guide.
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Electricity rates can change the bill substantially
The EIA’s 2025 U.S. annual average retail prices were 17.30 cents/kWh for residential customers and 13.41 cents/kWh for commercial customers. State averages ranged from 8.20 cents/kWh in North Dakota to 35.72 cents/kWh in Hawaii. These are dated U.S. averages, not a guaranteed rate for your account or a guide to prices outside the United States. Use the applicable rate on your own bill, including any relevant time-of-use or other tariff details. EIA electricity data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you buy a GPU just to stream?
The available encoder guidance does not establish a cost ranking between buying a GPU, using hardware you already own, encoding on a CPU, using integrated graphics, or running an automated service. A purchase decision needs the card’s price, your existing PC’s capabilities, the stream’s codec, resolution and frame rate, actual incremental wall power, local electricity rate, and the period over which you expect to use it. The recurring electricity calculation is separate from the one-time hardware purchase price.
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There is no authoritative, directly applicable measured wattage here for a specific consumer GPU encoding a specified YouTube stream 24/7, nor a representative whole-system comparison. Without that measurement and your tariff, a precise personal bill or payback period cannot be stated.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a continuous YouTube stream of uploaded videos, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The cloud keeps it running without a computer or home connection staying on. It streams the uploaded video as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free day.
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