You are not going to find a decent portable *new* for under 500. However, Second Use often has portables for sale for pretty cheap. Whynter is a more reliable brand. Try to test it in store to make sure it blows cold. As for your setup, you can cut cardboard to fit, then wrap it in reflectix and cut out a hole for the hose, then tape to the window frame.. looks ugly but it works lol
Two comments.
First, there are versions of portable AC units that evaporate water out the hot air exhaust, so that you don’t need to deal with emptying it or draining it. I have one from Wynter that I’ve been using for about six years now, and never once have I had to deal with water. They are more expensive than the other types, but I guess it depends on how much that convenience is worth it for you. I think I paid about $600 for the unit when I bought it.
Second, absolutely, 100%, without question, make sure you get a two hose version. Portable ACs that only have a single exhaust hose are literally useless. All that hot air blowing out of the exhaust, has to be replaced by air from somewhere else. That means that it’s sucking hot air into the room from elsewhere.
i've been through this exact search for my tiny home! honestly a dual-hose [portable AC unit](https://featherab.com/shopit?market=am&search_keywords=dual+hose+portable+air+conditioner) works way better than single-hose for actual cooling. i got a Whynter one that's been pretty quiet and handles humidity okay. what worked for me was also adding a small [dehumidifier](https://featherab.com/shopit?market=am&search_keywords=small+dehumidifier) for those muggy days - they're more efficient at drying the air than AC alone. look for units with inverter technology if you can, they're pricier but save money on electricity in the long run.
Dual hose air conditioning systems are worth the cost, and here's why: single hose systems pull from the indoor air to exhaust the heat outside, which creates a negative pressure, causing the hot air to be pulled back indoors through gaps & drafts around doors. A dual hose system pulls in outside air for cooling & exhausts the heat to the outside, so you do not have to fight the heat produced from your equipment with negative pressure. They will be much more effective in real-life applications.
In addition, if you have a home that is approximately 2,000 sqft then I am going to tell you straight out that no single portable unit will effectively cool your entire home. Portable AC units are designed to cool a room at a time. If you want to effectively cool an entire home you will either need multiple portable units or you will need to look for another solution, like mini-split systems or window units.
Brands worth considering: LG, Whynter, Midea are all brands with superior customer review ratings. Avoid brands that are off-brand or on Amazon, the compressor quality is usually of poor quality.
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