A/C uses a lot more electricity than a fan of any normal size. You could even use several fans and still use less.

Use the AC any time after noon when the sun is highest and it is the warmest, and use the small fan in cooler times at night after the sun is down. that might work

A/C uses much, much more. We haven't had one in years, in the south (not deep South). Put a box fan in one window, facing out, after dark, and open one window in each of your other rooms. Let the fan run all night. By morning you'll be chilly and the house will be cooler than you would dream of setting your thermostat. In the morning, close the windows and pull down the shades. If you are home, you can chase the sun around the house. Pull down the shades on the east and south side in the morning, west side in the afternoon. You can open them back up after the sun leaves that side. The house will stay comfortable until late afternoon. You'll have a few hot hours before the sun goes down. There will be a couple of weeks each in July and August where you may be uncomfortable at night, but put a fan directly on you those nights. I wouldn't recommend this in Texas or Arizona, but you can do this in a lot of the country. Just be aware that you might not want to do this if you are in a high crime area. I have a large dog, so I figure anyone who pops the screen and comes in will step on the dog first, then all bets are off. And if someone really wants in, all they have to do is break the glass even if its closed.

AC uses a lot more energy. I have a box fan in an upstairs window. I run it when the temperature outside is lower than inside. Of course all the windows downstairs are open to let the cool air in.