To investigate the influences of different energy efficiency calculation methods on the energy consumption of residential buildings, and select the appropriate method to reduce heating energy consumption, the study calculated, simulated, and comparatively analyzed energy consumption of residential buildings in 10 typical cities in severe cold and cold zones by adopting the steady-state method elaborated in ‘Design standard for energy efficiency of residential buildings in severe cold and cold zones’ and the dynamic energy consumption simulation of EnergyPlus software. Findings indicate that indexes of heat loss of building obtained from both methods were different in typical cities with varied difference ratios. Cities of high altitude, strong radiation, and greater diurnal range, namely Lhasa and Xining, had difference ratios of as high as 43.83% and 21.20%, which were followed by Yinchuan and Lanzhou, with the maximum difference ratio of 19.69% and 18.81%, respectively. Thus, by analyzing main factors concerning the difference, dynamic energy consumption simulation was recommended over steady-state method for residential building energy efficiency calculation in the abovementioned zones with a difference ratio greater than 15%. In addition, for cities such as Xi’an, Beijing, and Hailar, with a difference ratio of 10%~15%, the dynamic simulation method was also suggested to improve the accuracy of building energy efficiency design, while for other cities with a maximum difference ratio below 10%, such as Urumqi, Changchun, and Harbin, steady-state method could be adopted. The results could provide a reference for residential buildings in northern heating areas of China to choose suitable methods for engineering application in energy efficiency design.