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Compare costs / HVACVerified November 2026
Ductless mini-split vs central AC: what each really costs
By Our research team · Last verified · Methodology
Option A
Mini-split
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
Option B
Central AC
Central AC, 3-ton (existing ducts)
$4,000–$9,000 installed
Homes with sound ducts and a furnace or air handler to pair with
Quick answer
Mini-split runs $2,200–$7,200 installed and central AC runs $4,000–$9,000 installed in the US (November 2026). See prices for your city ↓
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 45+ American pricing sources · See methodology
01 / What each costsUSA
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.
Mini-splitDuctless mini-split, single zone (9,000–18,000 BTU)
$2,200–$7,200installed
Central ACCentral AC, 3-ton (existing ducts)
$4,000–$9,000installed
| 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.
02 / By city25 largest metros
Mini-split vs central 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 | Mini-split | Central AC |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $2,600–$8,500 installed | $5,050–$11,350 installed |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,600–$8,600 installed | $5,100–$11,500 installed |
| Chicago, IL | $2,000–$6,550 installed | $3,450–$7,800 installed |
| Dallas, TX | $2,200–$7,200 installed | $4,000–$9,000 installed |
| Houston, TX | $2,250–$7,350 installed | $4,150–$9,300 installed |
| Washington, DC | $2,400–$7,800 installed | $4,500–$10,100 installed |
| Atlanta, GA | $2,100–$6,850 installed | $3,750–$8,400 installed |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,200–$7,200 installed | $4,000–$9,000 installed |
| Miami, FL | $2,400–$7,800 installed | $4,500–$10,100 installed |
| Phoenix, AZ | $2,350–$7,700 installed | $4,400–$9,850 installed |
| Boston, MA | $2,550–$8,350 installed | $4,900–$11,000 installed |
| San Francisco, CA | $2,600–$8,600 installed | $5,100–$11,500 installed |
| Riverside, CA | $2,200–$7,200 installed | $4,000–$9,000 installed |
| Detroit, MI | $2,200–$7,100 installed | $3,900–$8,800 installed |
| Seattle, WA | $2,500–$8,200 installed | $4,800–$10,850 installed |
| Minneapolis, MN | $2,200–$7,100 installed | $3,900–$8,800 installed |
| San Diego, CA | $2,250–$7,450 installed | $4,200–$9,450 installed |
| Tampa, FL | $2,200–$7,200 installed | $4,000–$9,000 installed |
| Orange County, CA | $2,450–$8,000 installed | $4,650–$10,400 installed |
| Denver, CO | $2,050–$6,700 installed | $3,600–$8,150 installed |
| Oakland, CA | $2,550–$8,350 installed | $4,900–$11,000 installed |
| Charlotte, NC | $2,150–$7,000 installed | $3,850–$8,650 installed |
| Baltimore, MD | $2,200–$7,200 installed | $4,000–$9,000 installed |
| St. Louis, MO | $2,150–$6,950 installed | $3,800–$8,550 installed |
| Orlando, FL | $2,200–$7,200 installed | $4,000–$9,000 installed |
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How we price this
These are independent estimates built from national cost guides, local reported-job averages, manufacturer and utility pages and EIA energy prices. No contractor can pay to change them, so always get a couple of quotes. Last reviewed November 2026. Read the full methodology →Go deeper on HVAC cost
Keep readingRelated
HVAC cost by city
- 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 →