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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A Raspberry Pi 4’s estimated electricity use for a month of continuous operation is about 1.78–4.89 kWh, based on Raspberry Pi’s published reference power readings—not a measurement of a Pi streaming YouTube. Multiply that by your local marginal electricity price per kWh. For a continuous prerecorded-video relay, compare the result with the service fee: YTStream lists its 1080p plan at $19 per stream per month. A managed encoding service is a different category; at Google Cloud’s listed HD H.264 rates, one input and one output active for 720 hours total $424.80 before other charges.
Calculate the Pi 4’s monthly electricity cost
Use this formula:
Watts ÷ 1,000 × hours = kilowatt-hours (kWh)
Monthly kWh × your marginal electricity price per kWh = monthly electricity cost
For a 30-day month of continuous operation, use 720 hours. Raspberry Pi’s 2019 thermal test reported 2.47 W at idle and 6.79 W under a worst-case synthetic CPU/GPU workload. Applying those reference readings gives:
| Reference reading | Calculation for 720 hours | Estimated monthly energy |
|---|---|---|
| 2.47 W idle | 2.47 ÷ 1,000 × 720 | About 1.78 kWh |
| 6.79 W synthetic worst-case load | 6.79 ÷ 1,000 × 720 | About 4.89 kWh |
These are estimates derived from Raspberry Pi’s reference wattage, not readings from a Pi performing this exact YouTube task. The lower and upper figures are useful for an initial calculation, not guaranteed bounds for your assembled system. Enter your actual tariff to get a local cost; there is no single universal electricity price.
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What the published figures do—and do not—measure
Raspberry Pi documentation also gives approximate Pi 4 Model B current readings of 0.6 A at average idle, 0.78 A during average H.264 video playback, and 1.2 A at average stress. The documented setup used Raspberry Pi OS, a monitor, USB keyboard and mouse, and connected Ethernet. At a nominal 5 V rail, 0.78 A converts to roughly 3.9 W; that is a calculation from the published current, not a separate measured wall-power result. Raspberry Pi says the measurements are approximate, exclude additional USB devices and HATs, and may be exceeded when several devices are attached. Raspberry Pi’s power consumption documentation and its 2019 thermal testing article describe different workloads and contexts.
The 15 W capacity of a recommended power supply is not the Pi’s constant consumption. Nor does the reference range capture every component in a real streaming setup: adapter losses, storage, cooling, capture devices, peripherals, and networking equipment can change the wall draw. If accuracy matters, meter the complete setup at the wall while it is doing the work you intend to leave running.
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Compare recurring costs without hiding startup costs
Whether a Pi is cheaper depends on your electricity tariff, whether you already own the hardware, what kind of stream you need, and which costs you count. Keep one-time purchases separate from recurring bills.
- If you already own the Pi: treat its purchase price as a sunk cost when comparing future monthly costs. Include electricity and any recurring costs you actually incur.
- If you need to buy or assemble a Pi setup: list the hardware purchase separately. If you want to compare it over time, state an amortization period rather than silently folding it into the electricity estimate.
- For either option: account separately for storage, attached devices, internet service, and maintenance where applicable. Measure or estimate each from your own setup rather than assuming it is included in the Pi’s published wattage.
For prerecorded loops, compare a hosted relay
If “24/7 stream” means repeatedly playing uploaded recordings or a playlist, a hosted prerecorded-video relay is the closer service comparison to a Pi running a replay. YTStream’s vendor page describes uploading videos, arranging a playlist, connecting a YouTube key, and letting the service run. It lists these vendor-published prices per stream per month:
Rank #3
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- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
| YTStream resolution plan | Vendor-listed price |
|---|---|
| 1080p | $19/month |
| 4K | $39/month |
| 8K | $99/month |
YTStream also advertises a $1, 100-hour trial. Prices, trial terms, and plan availability are vendor claims on its accessed page, not independently confirmed performance or checkout terms. For a matching 1080p prerecorded-loop use case, compare the listed monthly fee with your Pi’s measured electricity cost and any hardware cost you still need to recover. Do not treat the two as identical if their quality, storage, or operating arrangements differ.
Keep managed live encoding in a separate comparison
A managed encoding and distribution API is not simply a more expensive version of a prerecorded replay host. It processes a live input and configured outputs, and billing depends on the active channel and chosen resolutions and services. Google Cloud’s Live Stream API rate table lists H.264 HD input at $0.14 per active hour and H.264 HD output at $0.45 per active hour. One of each for 720 active hours comes to:
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($0.14 + $0.45) × 720 = $424.80
This is a calculation from the displayed USD rates, before other services, discounts, taxes, and regional or currency effects. Google says active channel time can count even without an input; duration is rounded up to the nearest minute after a ten-minute minimum, and the API has no free-use tier. Multiple outputs, codecs, higher resolutions, distribution streams, and endpoints can add charges. See the Google Cloud Live Stream API pricing table and calculate the actual configuration you plan to use. These rates are for Google Cloud’s API, not a YouTube fee for ingesting a stream.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check whether your stream and connection can sustain the plan
A low electricity bill does not establish that a Pi can encode and send your chosen video reliably. Resolution, frame rate, encoder settings, and upstream capacity matter. YouTube’s current H.264 guidance recommends 8 Mbps for 720p30 and 14 Mbps for 1080p30. It also lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265, and AV1, up to 60 fps, constant bitrate (CBR), and a recommended two-second keyframe interval, not over four seconds. The bitrate is a network requirement, not an estimate of electricity cost.
Best Value
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- Run a speed test and confirm your sustained upload capacity can support the encoder’s bitrate, with headroom for normal connection variation.
- Test with representative motion and audio before relying on a stream continuously; a static test can conceal problems that appear during real playback.
- Use YouTube’s Live Control Room to check detected encoder settings and monitor stream health while testing.
- Use the YouTube Live server URL and stream key in the encoder or service. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance explains the setup; its verified hardware and software encoder list includes cloud services, but a listing alone does not establish price or suitability for every use.
YouTube says it automatically transcodes a live stream into output formats so viewers across different devices and networks can watch. That viewer-side transcoding does not remove the need to send a stable, correctly configured source stream. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions guidance for current settings and testing advice.
Or let it run in the cloud
For a continuous prerecorded YouTube stream, StreamNeo offers an alternative to keeping a Pi or other computer running: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Its cloud service loops the uploaded videos, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams your uploads as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; if YouTube drops the stream, StreamNeo automatically attempts recovery. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month.
See StreamNeo for the service details, or start your free first day.
Quick Recap
Personalize the comparison
- Choose the job: replay uploaded prerecorded material, or process a live input with managed encoding. Do not compare those as if they were the same service.
- For the Pi, measure the full setup’s wall draw during representative playback or encoding. Multiply watts ÷ 1,000 by 720 for a 30-day month, then multiply kWh by your marginal electricity price.
- List one-time hardware separately from recurring electricity, storage, internet, and maintenance assumptions.
- For a replay host, compare the appropriate vendor-listed plan and resolution with your Pi’s ongoing cost. For a managed API, add the configured input, outputs, channel-active hours, and any additional services using the provider’s pricing table.
- Confirm the stream’s bitrate and resolution are compatible with the encoder, service, and sustained upstream connection you have available.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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