Most air conditioning [AC] units are divided up into different types or categories. For example, Windows units, packaged units, ground mounted, geothermal, and yes even some solar units are starting to appear on the market. For a specific answer I would need to know the manufacturers name and the model number of your AC.
The best and easiest way to determine how many watts are in an air conditioner [or used by an AC] is to find the nameplate data from the manufacturer. For window units it is normally located on the left or right side of the unit near the grill that sticks into the house. For other types of AC units it can usually be located by just looking around. Please don't confuse BTU's and Watts. BTU's are a measure of how much cooling capacity the AC has. Watts are a measure of how much electricity the AC uses.
I believe you are interested in the wattage so here is a typical example. A 12,000 BTU window type AC typically uses about 1200 watts of electricity. If your electric utility charges .10 [10 cents] per kilowatt hour it would cost about 12 cents per hours to run the AC. There are of course all kinds of variables involved; age of the AC, how efficient the compressor and fan motors are, etc.
If you are talking about a whole house AC unit the sizes can also vary considerably and there are many variables to consider. A typical new home of about 1400 ft. sq. located in the desert southwest area of the US would have a 3 Ton AC unit or 36,000 BTU ground or packaged AC unit.
3500 watts - Central Air Conditioner
600-1440 watts - Window Unit Air Conditioner
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