Is a heat pump cheaper than gas in Kansas?
Midwest · Mixed (e.g. Mid-Atlantic, Pacific NW, lower Midwest) · EIA residential fuel prices
For a reference 2,000 sq ft home in Kansas (assumed seasonal COP 2.8, 95% gas furnace), a heat pump costs about $578/year to run versus about $568/year for natural gas — so a heat pump is about $10/yr more than a gas furnace. It is cheaper than propane ($934/yr), cheaper than heating oil ($1,373/yr), and far cheaper than electric resistance ($1,619/yr). The cheapest option here is natural gas furnace (95% afue). These are estimates — verify with an HVAC pro.
Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential). Data as of June 2026.
Kansas residential fuel prices
| Fuel | Residential price | Source / period |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (residential) | 15.34¢/kWh | EIA, March 2026 |
| Natural gas (residential) | $1.5/therm | EIA, March 2026 |
| Heating oil (residential) | $4.491/gal | EIA, Midwest (PADD 2) |
| Propane (residential) | $2.184/gal | EIA, Midwest (PADD 2) |
Source: EIA (electricity, natural gas, heating oil & propane). Data as of June 2026.
Kansas residential natural gas is $15.56/Mcf (about $1.5/therm), EIA March 2026. Heating oil and propane are EIA residential prices for Midwest (PADD 2) (Week ending 2026-03-30) — EIA does not publish these per individual state.
Annual heating cost in Kansas — every system compared
Reference: a 2,000 sq ft home in a mixed (e.g. mid-atlantic, pacific nw, lower midwest), roughly 36 MMBTU/year of useful heat. Energy cost only (no equipment, install or maintenance):
| Heating system | Annual energy cost | Annual use |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas furnace (95% AFUE) | $568/yr | 379 therms |
| Heat pump | $578/yr | 3,768 kWh |
| Propane furnace (92% AFUE) | $934/yr | 428 gal |
| Heating oil (85% AFUE) | $1,373/yr | 306 gal |
| Electric resistance (baseboard, COP 1.0) | $1,619/yr | 10,551 kWh |
Source: EIA fuel prices + ENERGY STAR energy conversions. Data as of June 2026.
Cheapest to run in this reference case: Natural gas furnace (95% AFUE). Run your own home size, COP and prices.
Heat pump vs each fuel in Kansas
| Comparison | Heat pump | Other system | Heat-pump result |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs natural gas (95% AFUE) | $578 | $568 | $10/yr more |
| vs propane (92% AFUE) | $578 | $934 | Saves $356/yr |
| vs heating oil (85% AFUE) | $578 | $1,373 | Saves $795/yr |
| vs electric resistance (COP 1.0) | $578 | $1,619 | Saves $1,040/yr |
How Kansas compares with similar states
The five states with the closest electricity price to Kansas, and how heat-pump-vs-gas savings look there:
| State | Electricity ¢/kWh | Heat-pump vs gas (ref. home) |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas (this state) | 15.34¢ | $10/yr more |
| Arizona | 15.59¢ | Saves $91/yr |
| Minnesota | 15.08¢ | $574/yr more |
| Tennessee | 15.08¢ | $0/yr more |
| Georgia | 15.01¢ | Saves $79/yr |
| Oregon | 14.89¢ | Saves $96/yr |
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than gas in Kansas?
Not in this reference case. For a 2,000 sq ft home in Kansas (assumed seasonal COP 2.8, 95% gas furnace), a heat pump costs about $578/year vs about $568/year for gas, because Kansas has relatively cheap natural gas. A heat pump is still typically cheaper than propane, oil and electric resistance here.
What does it cost to heat a home in Kansas?
Using EIA March 2026 prices and a 2,000 sq ft home in a mixed (e.g. mid-atlantic, pacific nw, lower midwest) (about 36 MMBTU/yr), estimated annual energy cost is about: heat pump $578, natural gas $568, propane $934, heating oil $1,373, electric resistance $1,619. The cheapest here is natural gas furnace (95% afue).
Is a heat pump cheaper than propane or heating oil in Kansas?
In this reference case, vs propane a heat pump saves about $356/year, and vs heating oil it saves about $795/year. Heat pumps usually beat both delivered fuels comfortably because they deliver far more heat per unit of energy.
How does Kansas rank for heat-pump savings?
On heat-pump savings vs a gas furnace (reference 2,000 sq ft home), Kansas ranks #20 of 51 states (1 = saves the most). This reflects Kansas's mix of 15.34¢/kWh electricity and $1.5/therm gas.
Keep exploring
Sources & accuracy
Electricity: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential) (March 2026); natural gas: EIA residential price (March 2026); heating oil & propane: EIA Heating Oil and Propane Update (Midwest (PADD 2), Week ending 2026-03-30); energy constants: ENERGY STAR Thermal Energy Conversions. All U.S. public domain. These are statewide/regional averages and the comparison is an estimate, not a quote or engineering analysis. Actual savings depend on your home, climate, equipment and rates. Verify with an HVAC professional. See methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-29