Tips Provided on Saving Money on Cooling Products and Climate Control Equipment in Summer
As heatwaves push temperatures 4-5°C above seasonal averages in European Russia, residents are turning to various cooling methods like air conditioners, fans, sunscreens, ice cream, and cold beverages. Experts estimate that the daily cost for Russians to stay cool during peak summer heat can reach 5-6 thousand rubles.
According to Antonina Sharkova, head of the Department of Sectoral Markets at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, the «price of coolness» for Russians in 2025 can reach 5-6 thousand rubles. This figure is based on calculating all costs to achieve a comfortable state during hot weather. For instance, installing a split-system air conditioner costs an average of 40 thousand rubles. A budget model might cost 15-20 thousand rubles. However, installation in summer can cost almost as much as the unit itself, making it most advantageous to purchase and install it in advance. Air conditioner maintenance is typically done before and after the summer season, costing around 3 thousand rubles. Thus, in the summer of 2025, the average cost for installation and maintenance of an air conditioner will be about 46 thousand rubles.
Buying a fan is significantly cheaper. Adequate models can be found on marketplaces for 2-3 thousand rubles, while branded options cost 5-7 thousand rubles. Premium versions can reach up to 100 thousand rubles but are not in mass demand. Interestingly, at the beginning of summer, citizens started buying handheld fans en masse, averaging 400-500 rubles each, with total sales reaching 41 million rubles. Caps with built-in fans, costing 1 thousand rubles, also generated interest. These items, once humorous accessories for social media, are becoming essential clothing elements during the heat.
Russians also actively use SPF creams for sun protection. A tube of such cream currently costs around 1 thousand rubles. Considering a half-liter bottle of still water costs about 30 rubles on average, and a simple waffle cone ice cream costs 65 rubles, monthly spending on these items could be around 800 rubles. Over the season, this could amount to 2.5-3 thousand rubles if water and ice cream are purchased just twice a week. Summing up all expenses, Russians need to spend approximately 60 thousand rubles on average for cooling. In central Russia, there are about 10 days per summer when temperatures exceed +30°C. Therefore, to combat the heat on the hottest days, Russians might spend about 6 thousand rubles if they didn`t previously own an air conditioner. For those who already have one, the daily cost is around 1.5 thousand rubles.
However, not all experts agree with this calculation of the «price of coolness.» «Such an indicator is questionable: it includes one-time purchases like air conditioner installation, buying a fan, sunscreens, water, and ice cream, but it doesn`t reflect the actual daily burden on the family budget,» noted Yaroslav Kabakov, Director of Strategy at Finam Investment Company. «For example, if someone installed an air conditioner for 50–70 thousand rubles and uses it for three months a year over five years, the daily cost would be about 100–150 rubles.» Fans are cheaper, starting from 500 rubles, and their cost is also spread over a lifespan that can extend for years.
«The estimate of 5-6 thousand rubles per day seems correct, but it`s more of a peak value, as it`s based on a one-time installation of an air conditioner, fan purchases, and other goods, `stretched` over 10 conditionally hottest days of summer,» says Vladimir Chernov, an analyst at Freedom Finance Global. «For most Russians, this sum is rather theoretical. In practice, everything depends on the region, as the heat lasts longer and is more intense in Krasnodar or Astrakhan than, say, in Arkhangelsk or Pskov. If you don`t install an air conditioner and only use a fan, the `price of coolness` decreases by 3–4 times, to approximately 1.5–2 thousand rubles per day during peak heat. In northern and temperate regions, it`s even less than 500 rubles per day, especially with good apartment insulation,» added Chernov.
It is possible to save on the «price of coolness,» provided it doesn`t compromise health. Elmira Asyaeva, Associate Professor at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, advises that ceiling fans consume 10 times less energy than air conditioners, and reflective window films can save up to 25% on cooling costs. Preparing homemade cold drinks can result in savings of up to 70% compared to store-bought options. Freezing fruits for homemade ice cream is beneficial, as is buying seasonal produce at markets, where they are 20-30% cheaper than in supermarkets. Smart planning involves purchasing climate control equipment during the off-season with discounts of up to 40%. Behavioral strategies include scheduling activities for morning and evening hours, using public cool spaces like shopping centers and libraries, and wearing light-colored clothing made of natural fabrics. Applying these recommendations can reduce the «price of coolness» by 35-50% per month, the expert claims.
Published in the newspaper `Moskovsky Komsomolets` No. 29559 on July 10, 2025. Newspaper headline: Coolness at a Hot Price.
