How Much Should I Be Paying for High-Speed Internet?

*For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement. Taxes and equipment not included. Regional price differences may apply.

†w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges.

‡Terms and Conditions: Plus taxes and fees. Service not available in all areas. If you live in an apartment or condo, Google Fiber’s ability to construct and provide Fiber is subject to the continued agreement between Google Fiber and the property owner. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.

§Paperless billing or prepay required. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Get the fastest internet speed available at your location (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).

The average internet bill costs $64 per month.¹ But internet plans come in a range of prices, and how much your own internet costs per month depends on a few crucial factors—including what internet speed you need, what’s available in your area, what type of connection you have (be it fiber, cable, DSL, or satellite), and what additional fees you have to pay.

Below, we’ve detailed how much each internet type costs on average per month and why. We’ll also show you how to find the best internet plans for your dollar.

What to know when buying internet

Monthly price and speed are often the primary concerns when deciding which internet service to order. But a few other important factors can impact your monthly Wi-Fi costs. Here’s a breakdown of what to consider when deciding how much you should pay for internet service.

• Internet connection type
• Availability
• Installation, equipment, and extra fees
• Price hikes
• Data caps
• Annual contracts

How to pay less for internet

If you’re looking to save money on your internet bill, here’s a quick rundown of tips and tricks. Read on farther down this page for more detailed explanations.

• Look for a provider that offers internet for under $50 a month
• Get an internet plan with no annual contract and no data caps
• Look for internet deals like rewards cards and waivers on extra fees
• Apply for government subsidies like the Affordable Connectivity Program, which could potentially get you internet at no cost at all
• Use a public Wi-Fi hotspot at a restaurant or coffee shop to avoid paying a monthly bill altogether

How much does internet cost per month?

Data as of 4/28/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

 *Percentages are based on internet availability data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

**Data not measured by the FCC.

The type of internet connection you have is the most significant factor in how much you should be paying for your Wi-Fi plan. Internet type determines the kinds of internet speeds you can get and has a big impact on the overall quality of your service.

You don’t want to pay too much for bum service—a trend that’s all too common, as a startling 42% of Americans recently reported being unsatisfied with the price of the internet they’re getting.³ Still, you also don’t need the most high-tech service if it’s out of your budget.

Internet cost and availability

Usually there’s only a handful of internet providers available in any given area; some rural areas have only a single provider. So no matter where you live, you’ll be limited to a set number of internet plans, prices, and download and upload speeds.

Internet cost and extra fees

Along with the monthly fee on your bill, you’ll also have to consider extra costs for things like installation, modem rental, and sales tax. These fees are sometimes tucked away in the fine print of an internet provider’s bill, so make sure to look into how much these will cost before you sign up.

There are some ways to reduce your extra fees—or get rid of them entirely. Here are a few suggestions:

How to save on extra internet fees

• Shop for deals and promotions that waive installation costs. We keep track of the best internet deals each month from major internet providers nationwide.
• Buy your own router. You can save money on rental costs by buying your own modem and router
• Sign up for a gigabit internet plan. Some providers will waive installation and modem rental costs for gigabit customers.
• Get Google Fiber. A Google Fiber plan folds extra costs into the total bill—you’ll get no monthly surprises and no annual price hikes.
• Try out 4G or 5G home internet. Neither T-Mobile Home Internet nor Verizon 5G Home Internet charge for installation or equipment rental.

Pro tip:

Looking to buy your own modem and router? We have lots of recommendations, whether you need a long-range router or a router for streaming and gaming. Our favorite overall is the Google Nest Wi-Fi Mesh System, thanks to its long range and easy use.

Amazon.com Price (as of 5/23/22 10:15 MST). See full disclaimer.

Internet cost and government subsidies

If you’re concerned about the cost of your internet bill, you can look into government subsidies to help lower the price. The Biden Administration recently announced an effort to provide eligible Americans with internet service at no cost through partnerships with major internet providers and the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).²

The ACP provides $30 per month toward a household’s internet bill, and in recent months 20 major internet providers agreed to adjust their speed and pricing tiers to allow for plans that don’t cost qualifying users anything once they’ve implemented the monthly stipend.

To qualify, someone in your household must be enrolled in certain social programs: Lifeline, SNAP, WIC, National School Lunch Program, and others. Or you can qualify based on your income.

Internet cost and price hikes

Internet providers often seek to attract new customers by offering low “promotional” prices on their internet packages—only to hike up the monthly price when the promo period ends (usually after 12 months). This is a common practice with cable, fiber, and satellite internet providers.

Sometimes price hikes aren’t a big deal. But, in other cases, the price hike buried in the fine print can turn a very cost-effective plan into a complete rip-off. When you’re signing up for new internet, we recommend taking the following precautions to make sure a seasonal price hike won’t bust your wallet in half.

How to deal with internet price hikes

• Look at the fine print. See if there are price hikes buried in your bill and do some number crunching to make sure the price will still be worth it.
• Try to get a no-contract internet plan. That way, you can cancel your plan without paying early termination fees when the price goes up
• Negotiate with customer service. When you’re getting close to the end of your 12-month honeymoon period, give your provider a call and push for a new deal.
• Switch to an internet provider like Google Fiber that gives you flat rates with no price hikes hidden in the fine print.

Internet cost and data caps

Data as of 4/28/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Many providers put a cap on the amount of internet data you can use per month—going over can lead to extra charges on your bill. But not all providers do this.

If possible, avoid overage fees and speed slowdowns by picking a plan that gives you unlimited data.

Internet cost and annual contracts

Depending on your internet plan, you may be required to sign an annual commitment with your provider. This means you’ll have a contract that renews every year. To cancel your service early, you’ll need to pay early termination fees (ETFs)—usually $10 to $12 for each month you have left on your bill.

Annual contracts probably won’t be a big deal for you if you’ve been with the same provider for a long time and haven’t had any issues. But they can be really inconvenient if you move around a lot or have a provider that delivers subpar service.

Thankfully, some internet providers offer Wi-Fi plans with no annual contracts. You can sign up for service and cancel any time afterwards without needing to pay those dreaded ETFs.

We recommend going with a no-contract provider if one is available in your area; otherwise, just be prepared to pay out some extra moolah if you want to break your contract early.

Best no-contract internet plans

*Terms and Conditions: Plus taxes and fees. Service not available in all areas. If you live in an apartment or condo, Google Fiber’s ability to construct and provide Fiber is subject to the continued agreement between Google Fiber and the property owner. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.

‡Requires a $35 modem purchase

§Per month internet plan. Download speeds up to 25 Mbps

║Paperless billing or prepay required. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Offer Details based on network uptime or availability.

**12 Month Internet Pricing. Equipment priced separately

Related content

• How to Get Free and Low-Cost Internet
• Best Internet Deals
• Best Cheap Internet Providers and Plans
• Why Can I Only Get a Few Internet Providers?

Sources

1. Cision PR Newswire, “Parks Associates: As of Q1 2021, 41% Of US Broadband Households Have Standalone Broadband Service, Paying an Average of $64 per Month,” June 16, 2021. Accessed November 18, 2021.
2. The White House, “Fact Sheet: President Biden and Vice President Harris Reduce High-Speed Internet Costs for Millions of Americans,” May 9, 2022. Accessed May 23, 2022.
3. Consumer Reports, “Broadband: A Nationally Representative Multi-Mode Survey” (PDF), June 2021. Accessed May 23, 2022.

Disclaimer

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. HighSpeedInternet.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.