Internet costs about $76 per month

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Key findings

• Allconnect analysis of over 150 internet plans found the average monthly price of internet to be about $76
• Monthly prices depend on the type of internet connection
• Satellite has the highest average plan price at $110.00/mo.
• Fixed wireless has the lowest average price at $45.00/mo.

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Once a luxury, high-speed internet service has become a utility nearly as commonplace and essential in homes as power or water. In fact, Consumer Reports surveyed Americans on internet accessibility and found that “78% of respondents say that they agree that Internet is as important as electricity and water.”

As such, you can plan on fitting internet somewhere in your monthly budget, but just how much should you be allocating for it?

How much does internet cost per month?

The average price of internet plans offered in the U.S. is $75.72/mo., according to an Allconnect analysis of more than 150 plans from the country’s top cable, fiber, satellite and fixed wireless internet providers. This puts the average annual cost of internet service at just over $900.

Average speed by provider 

Another way to look at it is by speed. According to Ookla Speedtest data from top ISPs across the country, the average speed from all major connection types (cable, fiber, satellite and fixed wireless) is about 242 Mbps. This differs slightly from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index rankings, which place the U.S. as sixth in the world for fixed broadband speeds with a median download speed of 290 Mbps.

Internet costs broken down by internet type

During our analysis, we broke down the average price of internet by the major connection types: cable, fiber, satellite and 5G.

5G internet had the lowest average price of just $45.00/mo. due to 5G providers — such as Verizon, T-Mobile and Starry — offering cheap starting prices of less than $50.00/mo. 5G providers have no contracts or price hikes, and often provide a bundling discount if you pair internet with a mobile plan, as is the case with T-Mobile and Verizon.

Cable internet providers, including Xfinity, Cox and Spectrum, offer the next lowest average monthly cost at just over $67.00/mo. Cable is widely available across the U.S. but offers slower upload speeds and is a bit less reliable than fiber internet service.

Fiber internet is the fastest and most reliable internet service available, but depending on the provider, you may pay a bit more. With an average cost of about $86.00/mo., fiber connections cost more than the overall average internet plan — but with symmetrical download and upload speeds ranging up to over 1 Gbps, it may be worth it.

The most expensive internet type is satellite, which comes as no surprise. High starting prices coupled with steep equipment costs consistently make satellite the most costly option. We calculated an average price of $110.00/mo., not including equipment costs, which can amount to hundreds of dollars. Despite the high cost, satellite is available to 100% of the U.S. and is often the only type of internet available in rural areas.

• Cable – $67.06/mo.
• Fiber – $86.21/mo.
• Satellite – $110.00/mo.
• Fixed wireless – $45.00/mo.

Analysis shows a decline in broadband price

Now that you have an idea of the cost of internet, let’s take a look at what the future of broadband costs may look like. 

According to USTelecom’s 2024 Broadband Pricing Index (BPI), prices for high-speed internet service continue to decline even as upload and download speeds increase.

Here are some key findings from the report:

• Real prices for more popular broadband services are down 9.4% year over year and down 60% since 2015
• Download speed from the most popular broadband service offerings has increased by 113.5%, and upload speed has increased by 88.5%
• Broadband prices continue to lag inflation
• Gigabit broadband prices declined 21.4% from 2017 to 2024

So, what does this mean for you? Well, according to US Telecom, internet customers are getting more bang for their buck. 

While the internet may still be an expensive necessity, customers can reap the benefits of high-speed connections in spite of that cost. As internet tech continues to advance, you can expect to see more choices and purchasing power when it comes to your home internet service.

Want to know more? We broke down the entire BPI report from USTelecom.

Top internet provider plans and pricing

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. Updated as of 05/27/25.
**Plus taxes (w/ eligible Autopay & Paperless bill). Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
***Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line.
†Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET ADVANTAGE: Offer based on eligibility requirements. Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. ©2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
†Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Capable modem required for all Gig speeds. For a list of capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. ©2025 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
††Price guarantee for 3-5 years, depending on the internet plan, for new and existing myHome customers. Auto Pay & paper-free billing required. Mobile + Home Discount: $15/mo savings on Verizon Home Internet plans when combined with any Verizon postpaid mobile phone plan (excludes business and data-only plans). Enrollment req’d for Fios Home Internet plans. $99 setup and other terms apply. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Fios avail. in select areas. Wired speeds advertised. Wireless speeds may vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. © 2025 Verizon.

What added fees do internet providers charge?

As with many services, the initial price you see for internet is not exactly what you can expect to pay. Fees will vary by provider, but some of the added costs that could inflate your bill include:

• Equipment rental – Modem and router rentals can add $10 – $20/mo. to your internet bill. Some providers may include equipment at no extra cost, especially with their higher-tiered plans. Others may allow you to use your own compatible equipment to avoid paying the equipment rental fee
• Installation/activation fees – Installation costs are thankfully one-time fees, but they can add $100 or more to the initial cost of internet. Many providers waive the installation fee for new customers or offer self-installation at a reduced cost. In addition to the installation fee, an activation fee may also apply
• FCC Universal Service Fund fee – The FCC charges internet providers a quarterly fee to help fund the expansion of broadband access to rural and low-income areas. Internet providers often pass these fees on to their customers. The fees typically aren’t much, around $5/mo. or less, but the exact fee will vary by provider
• Late payment fee – Penalties for late payments vary from state to state, but you could be charged a percentage of your bill or a set fee of $20 or higher for late fees. And if your internet service is disconnected due to non-payment, you may be charged an additional fee to restore service
• Cancellation fee – Terminating service before the end of your contract can levy high cancellation fees. Most internet providers prorate early termination fees (ETFs) depending on how many months are left on your contract and may charge hundreds of dollars for opting out of your service. Some providers — such as CenturyLink, Spectrum and Verizon — do not require annual service agreements, so you don’t have to worry about ETFs
• Data overage fee – If your provider does not offer unlimited data, then you may run into charges for going over your monthly data allowance. Most providers charge $10 for every 50 GB you go over your data cap

Even if your internet provider does not charge added monthly or one-time fees, regional and federal taxes will add to your monthly internet costs. Check out our guide to internet fees for more information about internet fees from specific providers.

Why does internet cost so much?

Equipment and installation: One of the main reasons internet prices run high is the cost of equipment and installation in new service areas. Fiber optic cables are expensive, so fiber optic internet providers may have higher prices to recoup the costs of installing new lines. The same goes for satellite internet — those satellites aren’t cheap. This is also why DSL internet, which uses existing phone lines to deliver service, is commonly one of the cheaper internet options.

Speed capabilities: The plan you choose also has much to do with how much you pay for internet. More often than not the faster a plan is, the more it will cost. Cable and fiber optic internet often give you the most speed choices, so these two service types will have some of the highest-priced plans, should you opt for faster speeds.

Hidden fees: Of course, as with any home service, you can expect fees and hidden costs to factor into your bill as well. Equipment rental fees, installation costs, Wi-Fi fees and data overages, if applicable, can inflate your monthly payment. Unfortunately, these fees often aren’t clearly stated in the advertised price, so it pays to do a little research before committing to a new internet service.

Lack of competition: One of the more frustrating reasons why internet often costs so much is that most internet providers don’t have any real competition in their areas. As a result, they can charge more than necessary. For instance, The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) reported in 2020 that at least 83.3 million Americans can only access broadband through a single provider.

So how much should I be paying for internet?

Asking how much you should pay for high-speed internet is like asking how much you should pay for TV service. There’s no precise answer because it all depends on what you need.

For a basic internet package, you can expect average monthly costs of around $60 or less.

For high-speed internet packages at or over 100 Mbps, your bill will likely range from $60 to over $100/mo.

How to lower your monthly internet bill

A Consumer Reports survey noted that, “over a quarter of Americans (27%) who have a broadband service at their home say it’s somewhat or very difficult to afford their monthly broadband costs.”

Unfortunately, there isn’t one magic trick to lowering your internet bill, but there are several things you can try that can help save you money in the long term. First, determining what your internet needs are and finding a plan that best fits them is the best way to keep from overpaying for internet. Additionally, it will also help you avoid getting stuck in a plan you’re not happy with.

• Pick a plan that fits your needs – The simplest way to lower your internet bill is to downgrade the speed you’re getting
• Buy your own equipment – Save money on your internet bill by buying your own modem and router
• Look at hidden fees on your bill – You might be accruing extra charges you didn’t know about. If you’re getting hit with data overage fees, you can monitor your data usage to ensure you stay under it going forward
• Take advantage of government subsidies – Programs like Lifeline provide a subsidy of $9.25/mo. toward your internet or phone bill. You might be eligible for other internet assistance programs, check your eligibility by provider
• Negotiate your bill – Call your internet provider and see if you can get a lower rate. It won’t always get you a lower price, but it can’t hurt to ask
• Switch internet providers – Many providers offer incentives for new customers including promotional pricing, contract buyouts or free streaming subscriptions when you sign up. Do a thorough search of internet providers in your area to see how these options compare to your current bill

Learn more from our experts about how to lower your internet bill

Get more of your internet questions answered at the Allconnect FAQs hub.

Internet cost FAQs