Heat pump vs gas furnace + AC: upfront and running cost
By Our research team · Last verified · Methodology
Heat pump
Mild and hot climates; replacing an AC and electric heat
Furnace + AC
Cold climates with natural gas and old equipment on both sides
Heat pump runs $5,500–$12,500 installed and furnace + AC runs $6,500–$16,000 installed in the US (November 2026). A heat pump costs about the same to install as a gas furnace + AC: $5,500–$12,500 vs $6,500–$16,000 for 3 tons. See prices for your city ↓
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 45+ American pricing sources · See methodology
HVAC system types compared: central AC, heat pump, furnace and mini-split
The system type matters more than the brand. A 3-ton central AC at $4,000–$9,000 is the usual whole-home choice where good ducts exist; homes without ducts usually go ductless, and dry Western homes can cool for less with an evaporative cooler.
| System type | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Central AC, 3-ton (existing ducts) | $4,000–$9,000 installed | Homes with sound ducts and a furnace or air handler to pair with |
| Ductless mini-split, single zone (9,000–18,000 BTU) | $2,200–$7,200 installed | One room, an addition, or a home with no ducts |
| Multi-zone ductless mini-split (2–4 zones) | $4,500–$18,000 installed | Whole homes with no ducts, room-by-room control |
| Heat pump, 3-ton ducted (heats and cools) | $5,500–$12,500 installed | Mild and hot climates; replacing an AC and electric heat |
| Gas furnace + AC, replaced together | $6,500–$16,000 installed | Cold climates with natural gas and old equipment on both sides |
| Gas furnace only (80–96% AFUE) | $2,800–$8,000 installed | When the AC is newer than the furnace |
| Dual-fuel: heat pump + gas furnace | $7,100–$17,000 installed | Cold climates: electric heat most days, gas on the coldest |
| Cold-climate heat pump, 3-ton ducted | $9,500–$24,000 installed | Northern homes leaving gas, oil or propane |
| Central heat pump, high-efficiency with zoning | $10,000–$21,000 installed | Big or two-story homes with hot and cold rooms |
| Evaporative (swamp) cooler, roof-mounted | $1,300–$3,600 installed | Dry Western climates only |
| Geothermal heat pump (ground loop) | $15,000–$35,000 installed | Large lots and long stays in one home |
| Window or through-the-wall AC | $210–$1,200 installed | Single rooms and renters; cheapest way to cool |
Heat pumps heat and cool, so compare them with an AC plus furnace, not an AC alone. Evaporative coolers only work in dry climates, and geothermal pays back only over many years in one home.
Heat pump vs gas furnace + AC: which should you choose?
A heat pump costs about the same to install as a gas furnace + AC: $5,500–$12,500 vs $6,500–$16,000 for 3 tons. The difference is running cost and climate: gas heat is cheaper per year at 2026 US average prices, and heat pumps win where electricity is cheap, winters are mild, or the home has no gas.
| Factor | Heat pump (all-electric) | Gas furnace + central AC | Dual-fuel (heat pump + furnace) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed price, 3-ton | $5,500–$12,500 | $6,500–$16,000 | $7,100–$17,000 |
| Heating cost per year (typical home) | About $1,050 | About $780 (95% furnace) | Close to gas-only at US average prices; lowest where electricity is cheap relative to gas |
| Cooling cost per year (typical home) | About $690 at 14.3 SEER2; about $550 at 18 SEER2 | About $690 at 14.3 SEER2 | About $690 at 14.3 SEER2 |
| Typical lifespan | About 12–15 years | Furnace 15–20 years; AC 15–20 years | Heat pump 12–15 years; furnace often longer, since it runs less |
| Best climate | Mild and hot regions; cold-climate models for the North | Cold regions with cheap natural gas | Cold regions that want mostly electric heat |
| Needs natural gas or propane | No | Yes | Yes |
| Federal tax credit in 2026 | None (25C ended Dec 31, 2025) | None | None |
| Rebates | The most programs, including heat-pump-only ones like Mass Save | Fewer; some utilities rebate efficient AC (e.g., SRP) | Often eligible for heat-pump rebates |
Heat pump if your winters are mild, you have no gas line, or your utility pays a big rebate. Furnace + AC if winters are harsh and gas is cheap. Dual-fuel ($7,100–$17,000) if you want both: electric heat most of the year with gas for the coldest nights.
Heat pump vs furnace + AC: prices in the largest US cities
Local installed prices for each option, November 2026. Open a city for its full price list and a free quote.
| City | Heat pump | Furnace + AC |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $6,500–$14,750 installed | $7,650–$18,900 installed |
| Los Angeles, CA | $6,550–$14,900 installed | $7,750–$19,050 installed |
| Chicago, IL | $5,000–$11,350 installed | $5,900–$14,550 installed |
| Dallas, TX | $5,500–$12,500 installed | $6,500–$16,000 installed |
| Houston, TX | $5,600–$12,800 installed | $6,650–$16,350 installed |
| Washington, DC | $5,950–$13,550 installed | $7,050–$17,350 installed |
| Atlanta, GA | $5,250–$11,950 installed | $6,200–$15,300 installed |
| Philadelphia, PA | $5,500–$12,500 installed | $6,500–$16,000 installed |
| Miami, FL | $5,950–$13,550 installed | $7,050–$17,350 installed |
| Phoenix, AZ | $5,850–$13,350 installed | $6,950–$17,100 installed |
| Boston, MA | $6,350–$14,500 installed | $7,550–$18,550 installed |
| San Francisco, CA | $6,550–$14,900 installed | $7,750–$19,050 installed |
| Riverside, CA | $5,500–$12,500 installed | $6,500–$16,000 installed |
| Detroit, MI | $5,450–$12,350 installed | $6,450–$15,800 installed |
| Seattle, WA | $6,300–$14,250 installed | $7,400–$18,250 installed |
| Minneapolis, MN | $5,450–$12,350 installed | $6,450–$15,800 installed |
| San Diego, CA | $5,700–$12,900 installed | $6,700–$16,550 installed |
| Tampa, FL | $5,500–$12,500 installed | $6,500–$16,000 installed |
| Orange County, CA | $6,100–$13,900 installed | $7,250–$17,800 installed |
| Denver, CO | $5,150–$11,650 installed | $6,050–$14,900 installed |
| Oakland, CA | $6,350–$14,500 installed | $7,550–$18,550 installed |
| Charlotte, NC | $5,350–$12,150 installed | $6,300–$15,550 installed |
| Baltimore, MD | $5,500–$12,500 installed | $6,500–$16,000 installed |
| St. Louis, MO | $5,300–$12,100 installed | $6,300–$15,450 installed |
| Orlando, FL | $5,500–$12,500 installed | $6,500–$16,000 installed |
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- New York, NY →$5,050–$11,350 installed
- Los Angeles, CA →$5,100–$11,500 installed
- Chicago, IL →$3,450–$7,800 installed
- Dallas, TX →$4,000–$9,000 installed
- Houston, TX →$4,150–$9,300 installed
- Washington, DC →$4,500–$10,100 installed
- Atlanta, GA →$3,750–$8,400 installed
- Philadelphia, PA →$4,000–$9,000 installed
- HVAC cost: full US guide →