The average refrigerator costs around $65 a year to run. Larger fridges with side-by-side doors can cost more than $100 a year to run. To keep running costs down, buy an energy-efficient model with the Energy Star logo, which may only cost around $25 to $50 a year to run, depending on the size. The Department of Energy has a helpful resource to determine how much money you’ll save each year by purchasing an energy-efficient refrigerator.