![Three wall-mounted split air conditioners with their BEE star labels visible - the product category compared in this August 2026 read of Vijay Sales and Croma air conditioner prices]()
We read both retailers' air conditioner shelves on 26 August 2026 - 27 models at Vijay Sales, 42 at Croma - and found six configurations that both shops stock at the same brand, tonnage, star rating and type. Those six are the only fair comparison on offer, and they do not point one way.
Vijay Sales is cheaper on four, Croma on two, with gaps from Rs. 1,300 to Rs. 4,211. The badges will not tell you which: the same Daikin is struck from Rs. 56,100 at one shop and Rs. 55,100 at the other, so each retailer is discounting against a number it chose itself.
📊 Read from both retailers' own listings, 26 August 2026
6 matched models · Vijay Sales cheaper on 4, Croma on 2
Same AC, two different MRPs · badges not comparable
📅 Update log:
26 Aug 2026 — first published. Twenty-seven air conditioner listings pulled from Vijay Sales and forty-two from Croma on the same day, matched on brand, tonnage, BEE star rating and type; where a retailer listed several models in one configuration we took its cheapest. Six configurations matched. Vijay Sales was cheaper on the Voltas 1.5 ton 3 star (Rs. 4,211), the Daikin 1.5 ton 5 star (Rs. 3,500), the Daikin 1.5 ton 3 star (Rs. 2,000) and the Daikin 1 ton 3 star (Rs. 1,501); Croma on the Godrej 1.5 ton 3 star (Rs. 2,000) and the Carrier 1.5 ton 3 star (Rs. 1,300). Stated MRPs differed between the two shops on five of the six. Croma showed customer ratings on 27 of 42 listings, maximum count 38; Vijay Sales showed none on any of 27. We re-check this comparison monthly through the cooling season and log every price that moves.
The six air conditioners both shops sell, priced side by side
We pulled both retailers' own air conditioner listings on 26 August 2026 - 27 models at Vijay Sales, 42 at Croma - and found six configurations that appear on both shelves at the same brand, tonnage, star rating and type. Those six are the only honest comparison available, because everything else on either shelf is a model the other does not stock.
Vijay Sales is cheaper on four of the six; Croma on two. Nobody wins this outright, which is the practical finding: if you are buying an air conditioner this month, the retailer worth using depends entirely on which model you have already chosen, and the gap is large enough - up to Rs. 4,211 - to be worth ten minutes of checking.
| Configuration | Vijay Sales | Croma | Cheaper |
|---|
| Voltas 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 33,779 | Rs. 37,990 | Vijay Sales, Rs. 4,211 cheaper |
| Daikin 1 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 35,989 | Rs. 37,490 | Vijay Sales, Rs. 1,501 cheaper |
| Daikin 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 37,490 | Rs. 39,490 | Vijay Sales, Rs. 2,000 cheaper |
| Daikin 1.5 ton 5 star inverter split | Rs. 48,990 | Rs. 52,490 | Vijay Sales, Rs. 3,500 cheaper |
| Carrier 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 35,490 | Rs. 34,190 | Croma, Rs. 1,300 cheaper |
| Godrej 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 34,490 | Rs. 32,490 | Croma, Rs. 2,000 cheaper |
💡 The Daikin pattern: all three Daikin configurations that appear on both shelves are cheaper at Vijay Sales - by Rs. 1,501, Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 3,500. If you have settled on a Daikin, that is the shop to check first.
The same air conditioner has a different MRP at each shop
This is the part that makes the discount badges on both sites unusable. A manufacturer's recommended price should be one number. It is not. Daikin's 1.5 ton 3 star is struck from Rs. 56,100 at Vijay Sales and Rs. 55,100 at Croma; the 5 star from Rs. 68,200 and Rs. 67,200; the 1 ton from Rs. 48,500 and Rs. 47,500. Voltas differs by Rs. 4,000 between the two shelves. Only Godrej states the identical Rs. 45,300 at both.
Because the denominators differ, the percentages differ - and a bigger badge can sit on the higher price. On the Carrier 1.5 ton, Croma's price is Rs. 1,300 lower AND its badge is larger, which is coherent. On the Voltas, Vijay Sales is Rs. 4,211 cheaper with a smaller-looking starting MRP. Compare the rupees.
| Configuration | MRP at Vijay Sales | MRP at Croma | Gap |
|---|
| Voltas 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 60,990 | Rs. 64,990 | Rs. 4,000 |
| Daikin 1 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 48,500 | Rs. 47,500 | Rs. 1,000 |
| Daikin 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 56,100 | Rs. 55,100 | Rs. 1,000 |
| Daikin 1.5 ton 5 star inverter split | Rs. 68,200 | Rs. 67,200 | Rs. 1,000 |
| Carrier 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 68,500 | Rs. 68,290 | Rs. 210 |
| Godrej 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | Rs. 45,300 | Rs. 45,300 | identical |
| Configuration | Vijay Sales badge | Croma badge | Does the badge track the price? |
|---|
| Voltas 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | 45% off Rs. 60,990 | 42% off Rs. 64,990 | Badge agrees with price |
| Daikin 1 ton 3 star inverter split | 26% off Rs. 48,500 | 21% off Rs. 47,500 | Badge agrees with price |
| Daikin 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | 33% off Rs. 56,100 | 28% off Rs. 55,100 | Badge agrees with price |
| Daikin 1.5 ton 5 star inverter split | 28% off Rs. 68,200 | 22% off Rs. 67,200 | Badge agrees with price |
| Carrier 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | 48% off Rs. 68,500 | 50% off Rs. 68,290 | Badge agrees with price |
| Godrej 1.5 ton 3 star inverter split | 24% off Rs. 45,300 | 28% off Rs. 45,300 | Badge agrees with price |
₹ How to read this: both retailers compute their badge from their own stated MRP. Neither number is audited, and on five of these six models the two shops disagree about what the manufacturer's price is. The only figure that is the same object in both columns is the price you pay.
One shop publishes ratings. The other publishes none
Croma showed a customer rating on 27 of its 42 air conditioner listings. Vijay Sales showed one on none of its 27. That is a real difference in what you can find out before buying - but Croma's ratings need reading carefully, because the counts are tiny: a 5.0 from one voter, a 5.0 from two, a 4.8 from 33. The deepest sample on the entire Croma AC shelf is 38 ratings.
The practical consequence is that neither shelf can tell you whether an air conditioner is good. A 5.0 built on a single review is not evidence, and an absent rating is not evidence either. For a purchase of this size the useful information lives elsewhere - the BEE star label, the ISEER figure on the compliance sticker, and the manufacturer's warranty terms - none of which either listing puts in front of you.
| What the shelf publishes | Vijay Sales | Croma |
|---|
| Listings pulled on 26 Aug 2026 | 27 | 42 |
| Listings showing a customer rating | 0 | 27 |
| Largest rating count on the shelf | None published | 38 ratings |
| Listings rated by fewer than 5 people | Not applicable | 15 of the 27 rated |
| Cheapest AC on the shelf | Rs. 27,490 (Sansui 1 ton 3 star) | Rs. 26,490 (Daikin 0.8 ton 2 star) |
| Dearest AC on the shelf | Rs. 65,990 (Daikin 2 ton 3 star) | Rs. 55,890 (Daikin 1.8 ton 3 star) |
What a ton and a star actually cost this month
Strip out the badges and both shelves price the same two variables. Going from 1 ton to 1.5 ton in the same Daikin 3 star line costs Rs. 1,501 at Vijay Sales and Rs. 2,000 at Croma. Going from 3 star to 5 star in the same Daikin 1.5 ton costs Rs. 11,500 at Vijay Sales and Rs. 13,000 at Croma - roughly seven times what the extra half-ton costs.
That gap is the one decision on this page with a rupee answer. A 5 star inverter unit run six hours a day through an Indian summer saves in the region of Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,500 a year against a 3 star of the same tonnage, on typical domestic tariffs - so the premium repays in about three to four years and the machine lasts longer than that. Under-size the tonnage and no star rating rescues it: a 1 ton unit in a room that needs 1.5 runs at full load continuously and costs more to run than the 1.5 would.
How we matched the models, and what we could not match
- Both pulls are the retailers' own listing data, read on 26 August 2026: 27 air conditioners from Vijay Sales, 42 from Croma.
- A match required the same brand, the same tonnage, the same BEE star rating and the same type (split or window). Where a retailer listed more than one model in a configuration, we took its cheapest.
- Six configurations matched. Everything else is stocked by one shop and not the other - Croma's own house-brand ACs, Blue Star's Y, Z, M and I series, Sansui, Sharp, Mitsubishi Electric, OGeneral, Hitachi, Lloyd and Panasonic have no counterpart on the other shelf at the same configuration.
- A matched configuration is not necessarily the identical SKU. Model numbers, filter packages, convertible modes and warranty terms vary within a brand's line, so treat these as like-for-like on the specification a buyer shops by, not as proof the two boxes are identical.
- Neither pull includes delivery, installation, stabiliser, copper piping or old-unit exchange, all of which are quoted at checkout and can differ by more than the price gaps on this page.
The honest read
Check both, model in hand. Vijay Sales is cheaper on all three Daikin configurations and on the Voltas, by Rs. 1,501 to Rs. 4,211; Croma is cheaper on the Carrier and the Godrej, by Rs. 1,300 and Rs. 2,000. There is no shelf-wide winner to remember, only a per-model one, and the discount percentages will actively mislead you because each shop invents its own MRP.
Then price the installation before you commit, because on a Rs. 35,000 air conditioner the fitting, piping and stabiliser can move the total by more than every price gap on this page - and neither listing quotes them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vijay Sales or Croma cheaper for air conditioners?
Neither, consistently - it depends on the model. We compared both retailers' own listings on 26 August 2026 and found six configurations stocked by both. Vijay Sales was cheaper on four of them: the Voltas 1.5 ton 3 star by Rs. 4,211, the Daikin 1.5 ton 5 star by Rs. 3,500, the Daikin 1.5 ton 3 star by Rs. 2,000 and the Daikin 1 ton 3 star by Rs. 1,501. Croma was cheaper on two: the Carrier 1.5 ton 3 star by Rs. 1,300 and the Godrej 1.5 ton 3 star by Rs. 2,000. The pattern worth remembering is the Daikin one - all three Daikin configurations were cheaper at Vijay Sales. Everything else on both shelves is stocked by one retailer and not the other, so there is no comparison to make.
Why do Croma and Vijay Sales show different MRPs for the same AC?
Because the MRP shown on a listing is a field each retailer fills in, not a number the manufacturer enforces on both. On five of the six air conditioners stocked by both shops the two disagree: Daikin's 1.5 ton 3 star is struck from Rs. 56,100 at Vijay Sales and Rs. 55,100 at Croma, the 1 ton from Rs. 48,500 and Rs. 47,500, the 1.5 ton 5 star from Rs. 68,200 and Rs. 67,200, and the Voltas 1.5 ton from Rs. 60,990 and Rs. 64,990 - a Rs. 4,000 gap. Only the Godrej states the same Rs. 45,300 at both. Since each badge is computed against its own shop's number, the percentages are not comparable across the two sites, and a larger badge sometimes sits on the higher price. Compare what you pay.
Is a 5 star AC worth the extra money over a 3 star?
On this month's prices, usually yes if you will run it daily through a full summer. Moving from 3 star to 5 star within Daikin's 1.5 ton inverter line costs Rs. 11,500 at Vijay Sales and Rs. 13,000 at Croma. A 5 star inverter unit run about six hours a day typically saves somewhere between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 4,500 a year against a 3 star of the same tonnage on ordinary domestic tariffs, which puts the payback at roughly three to four years - well inside the life of the machine. If the air conditioner will run occasionally, in a guest room or for a few weeks a year, the 3 star is the sensible buy. Note that this is arithmetic on published prices and typical usage, not a measurement of any specific unit; actual savings depend on your tariff, room, insulation and thermostat setting.
How much AC tonnage do I need for my room?
The rule of thumb used across the Indian market is roughly 0.08 to 0.1 ton per square metre of floor area for a normal ceiling height, which puts a 10 to 12 square metre bedroom at 1 ton, a 14 to 18 square metre room at 1.5 ton, and anything over about 20 square metres or an open-plan living area at 2 ton. Adjust upward for a top-floor room, a west-facing wall, large windows or a kitchen opening into the space. Under-sizing is the expensive mistake: a 1 ton unit in a room that needs 1.5 never reaches its set temperature, runs at full load continuously and uses more electricity than the correct-sized 1.5 ton would - which is why the tonnage decision comes before the star rating. On both shelves this month, the step from 1 ton to 1.5 ton within one Daikin line costs Rs. 1,501 to Rs. 2,000.
Do these AC prices include installation?
No. Both retailers list the appliance price only. Standard split-AC installation - mounting the indoor and outdoor units, up to about three metres of copper piping, drainage and electrical connection - is charged separately, and the extras add up fast: additional copper piping is billed per metre, a stabiliser is a separate purchase on many models, an outdoor stand or crane access on a high floor costs more, and core-cutting through a wall is extra again. On a Rs. 35,000 air conditioner these can easily exceed the Rs. 1,300 to Rs. 4,211 price gaps described on this page, so get the installation quoted before you decide which shop is cheaper. Old-unit exchange offers, where available, are applied at checkout and differ between the two retailers.
Prices & codes last verified: 26 August 2026
Every price, stated MRP, discount percentage and rating on this page was read on 26 August 2026 from Vijay Sales' and Croma's own product listings, pulled the same day. Twenty-seven air conditioners were returned by the Vijay Sales pull and forty-two by the Croma pull; six configurations matched on brand, tonnage, BEE star rating and type, and only those six are compared. A matched configuration is not proof of an identical SKU - model numbers, filter packages, convertible modes, refrigerant and warranty terms vary within a brand's range - so these are like-for-like on the specification buyers shop by, not on the box. Where a retailer listed more than one model in a configuration we took its cheapest, which is a choice that favours neither shop consistently. Stated MRPs are each retailer's own field and we have not verified that either figure was ever charged; every percentage here is arithmetic over a retailer's own two numbers. Rating counts are quoted as published: Croma's deepest AC sample was 38 voters and many listings show a score built on one or two, which is not a basis for judgement, and Vijay Sales published no ratings at all - neither situation should be read as evidence about product quality. The running-cost and payback figures for 3 star against 5 star units are general arithmetic on typical Indian domestic tariffs and usage patterns, not a measurement of any unit on this page; actual consumption depends on tariff, room size, insulation, usage hours and thermostat setting. Neither retailer's price includes delivery, installation, additional copper piping, stabiliser, wall core-cutting or old-unit exchange, all of which are quoted at checkout and can exceed the price differences described here. Prices change without notice - check both sites before you pay. Zoutons may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it does not change what you pay, and nothing here was reviewed or approved by either retailer.
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