Model
Miele K 2601 Vi
Rank #290 means 289 of the 1,000 refrigerator models we track cost less to run each year; the 89th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 89% of those models.
What does the Miele K 2601 Vi cost to run per year?
The Miele K 2601 Vi is a relatively cheap runner for its class: about $49 a year, rank #290 of 1,000. It uses 21% less energy than the U.S. federal standard model in its class, which would cost about $62/yr to run, a saving of roughly $13 a year. Once capacity is factored in, it outperforms 89% of the refrigerator models we track on efficiency, not just on headline running cost. At 13 cu ft, it is a mid-size refrigerator for the class, which runs 1.2 to 31.7 cu ft; size and efficiency are the two levers behind the figure above, and this dataset does not carry a separate efficiency-factor column for this class.
Immediately around it on the leaderboard, the Sapphire SR24-SSADA at $49/yr runs a little cheaper and the Danby DCR045B1****** at $49/yr runs a little more, a sense of how tightly models are packed at this point in the ranking. A refrigerator typically stays in service for somewhere around 12 years; over that span, the Miele K 2601 Vi's $49/yr adds up to roughly $588 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
By the numbers
The Miele K 2601 Vi normalized against its whole class, so each figure means something.
What it costs you over time
Running cost is an every-year number, so it compounds. At $49/yr, here is what the Miele K 2601 Vi adds up to before purchase price, water, or repairs enter the math.
Left running for a decade at today's US average rate, the Miele K 2601 Vi costs about $490. That is roughly $130 less than a standard model in its class, which would run closer to $620 over the same ten years.
How the Miele K 2601 Vi compares
The refrigerator class we track runs from $8 to $149 a year. At $49/yr, it runs about $15 a year cheaper than the class median of $64, and it is about $41 a year more than the cheapest refrigerator to run at $8. Against the US federal standard model for its class at about $62/yr, the Miele K 2601 Vi uses 21% less energy.
What drives its running cost
At 13 cu ft, the Miele K 2601 Vi is a mid-size refrigerator for its class, which spans 1.2 to 31.7 cu ft with a median of 12.6 cu ft, neither the size advantage of a small unit nor the size penalty of a large one applies here, so its running cost is a fairer test of efficiency alone.
- Interior volume. Cubic feet of interior volume is the first thing that scales a fridge's running cost up or down, before compressor quality even enters the picture.
- Counter depth vs standard depth. Counter-depth models sit flush with cabinets but usually hold less interior volume than a standard-depth model of the same width, which can nudge the per-cubic-foot running cost either way.
- Compressor technology. Newer variable-speed (inverter) compressors modulate output instead of cycling fully on and off, which tends to use less energy for the same cooling job than an older fixed-speed compressor.
- Placement and ventilation. A fridge pushed tight against a wall or cabinet, or standing next to an oven or in direct sun, works harder to shed the heat its compressor produces, which can push real-world cost above the published figure.
Common questions
Is the Miele K 2601 Vi cheap to run?
Yes, relatively. At $49 a year it ranks #290 of 1,000 refrigerator models we track, in the cheaper part of its class to run.
How much does the Miele K 2601 Vi cost per month?
Roughly $4.08/mo, spreading the $49/yr estimate evenly across twelve months at $0.1856/kWh. Actual monthly bills swing with your rate and usage pattern.
How is this running-cost figure calculated?
We take the model's published annual energy use of 264 kWh from ENERGY STAR and multiply it by the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, giving about $49 a year. It is an electricity-only estimate and does not include purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the Miele K 2601 Vi for its size?
89th percentile once size is factored in, a fairly typical result for the class.
Cheaper to run in the same class
| Rank | Model | Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 289 | Sapphire SR24-SSADA4.6 cu ft | $49 |
| 288 | Absocold ARD1033FW21R/L10 cu ft | $49 |
| 287 | Absocold ARD369A*14R/L3.6 cu ft | $49 |
| 286 | Frigidaire FFUE1326AV13 cu ft | $48 |
| 285 | Vissani MDAR33BK53.3 cu ft | $48 |
Source
ES_0031629_K 2601 Vi_02072019040259_70207296View certified refrigerator listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Miele and K 2601 Vi are used here for identification only and are not endorsements. Figures are computed by WattWise Labs from public ENERGY STAR data, not measured in our own lab.