How Much Do Internet and Wi-Fi Cost?

On average, Americans can expect to spend around $61 on internet each month—but that number varies a lot depending on your connection type and location.

Aside from connection type and location, other features like data caps and download speeds can throw your bill for a loop too. That means you need to consider all of the following items when you buy an internet plan:

• Connection type (DSL, cable, fiber, satellite, fixed wireless, or cellular)
• Your location
• Data caps
• Download speeds

Let’s take a look at how the pricing breaks down to see if you’re getting a good deal on your internet—and what to do if you’re not.

Your guide to this article:

• How much does internet cost?
• How much is DSL internet?
• How much is cable internet?
• How much is fiber internet?
• How much is satellite internet?
• How much is gigabit internet?
• Hidden fees you should know
• 4 things that affect your bill
• Recap
• Next steps
• Frequently asked questions

We compared prices across 22 different internet providers and found the average internet plan costs around $61 per month. If that seems high, it’s not just you. That average cost is up from $57 a month in December 2020.

If you don’t need the fastest service, you might be able to save some cash. We tallied up the average cost for internet plans with download speeds of 3–50 Mbps and found that slower plans will likely cost you about $55 a month.

Going for a DSL or cable internet plan instead of fiber (or instead of satellite) can also save you some cash. Prices for cable and DSL internet didn’t change much over the past year and ring in at an average of $51 a month.

Here’s what the average monthly cost looks like when you break it down by all internet connection types:

Technically, there is no monthly Wi-Fi bill, since Wi-fi is just how you access your internet wirelessly. But some internet service providers charge an extra fee for Wi-Fi enabled modems and routers. Usually, the average Wi-Fi cost for this is $5–$15 a month. Generally, your cost won’t change if you decide to hop on the Wi-Fi network or not since you need a modem and router to use your internet anyway.

If you prefer to skip the equipment rental fee, you can grab a Wi-Fi enabled modem or router for fairly cheap. These cost anywhere from $50–$200, depending on the features you’re looking for.

So the average monthly Wi-Fi cost is your equipment rental fee or purchase price on top of your monthly subscription fee.

We found that in October 2021, high-speed internet access costs an average of $56 per month.

That’s excluding any internet plans with speeds below 25 Mbps, since high-speed internet comes with 25 Mbps or more of download speed. And just to be clear, internet speeds of 25 Mbps are likely fine for one person, but if you have multiple people in your house all watching HD shows at the same time, you’ll need to double, triple, or even quadruple that speed.

That said, don’t pay extra for speed you don’t need. You don’t have to pay for one of those lightning-fast gigabit plans if all you really do is browse Facebook. But if you have nine kids and they all want to watch Hulu at the same time, gigabit internet might be worth the cost versus listening to complaints 24/7.

The average monthly bill for DSL internet is $50.57. The minimum cost out of the 39 different DSL plans we analyzed was $27 a month, and the max cost was $75 a month.

As DSL infrastructures age, we won’t be surprised to see DSL internet costs increase as providers (hopefully) upgrade their networks.

Some of the biggest DSL providers in the US are AT&T, CenturyLink, Earthlink, Frontier, Windstream, and Verizon. Here’s how DSL internet prices range for each of those providers.

View the Best DSL Internet Providers

The average bill is $50.94 a month a month for anyone rocking cable internet.

That’s a tad-bit higher than the average bill for DSL internet, but cable’s speeds generally outpace DSL. So cable is likely the better value.

There are also dozens more cable internet providers to choose from compared to DSL providers.

Check out prices for the top cable providers in the United States.

Most cable internet plans cost $100 or less, but there are a few exceptions: Cox, Sparklight, and Spectrum all offer gig plans with steep monthly prices over $100.

View the Best Cable Internet Providers

Fiber internet costs average out to $63.78 a month. That’s more than you’ll pay, on average, for DSL or cable internet. But fiber might be worth it thanks to its ability to deliver faster download and upload speeds.

Here’s a look at some of the top US fiber internet providers’ price ranges.

Despite the high prices for fiber internet, if you want download speeds for days that don’t kick the bucket during peak usage hours and fast upload speeds to match, fiber’s the way to go. It goes without saying that, if you have a choice, fiber internet is the créme de la créme for livestreamers, YouTubers, and WFH hustlers.

Many providers, like CenturyLink, Windstream, and Comcast Xfinity, use a fiber-hybrid type of connection that uses existing cable or DSL networks and enhances them with fiber-optics. These lines are still able to get you those fiber-optic download speeds, but might be lacking when it comes to upload speeds.

Connecting to satellite internet costs Americans $86.33 a month on average. That’s a pretty steep price, but when you’re out in the country and your city hasn’t even run water lines to your home, you may not have much of a choice.

Have a peek at prices for the top satellite internet providers in the United States.

If satellite internet is the best choice for you, take a look at our comparison review of Viasat vs HughesNet.

View the Best Satellite Internet Providers

If you’re feeling the need for one-gig speed, the average bill for gigabit internet is $73.39 a month. That’s about the same average monthly price as it was in December 2020.

Still, we’re seeing more affordable gig and near-gig speeds across the board, which is great news as working and learning from home becomes more of the norm.

Some of our favorite internet service providers that offer fast speeds at low prices include AT&T Fiber, CenturyLink, Astound Broadband, powered by RCN, and Xfinity.

Have a peek at prices for the top satellite internet providers in the United States.

But do you really need one full gig of eyeball-popping download speed? Chances are, no.

So before you go hog wild, get an idea of how many Mbps you really need. It’ll save you some money.

Just like most purchases, internet service comes with a few hidden fees. These are some of the common fees your ISP might tack on to your bill:

• Installation fee
• Equipment rental fee
• Data overage fees
• Early termination fee
• Reconnection/reactivation fee
• Late payment fee

Installation fees are a one-time thing and they usually cost around $50–$100. If you can get a self-install kit from your provider, that’s typically free or a lower cost than professional installation.

Some ISPs also offer free installation deals. Even if they don’t, you can ask them to waive the fee. No harm in trying, right?

An equipment rental fee is the price you pay to lease equipment (like a modem, a router, or both) from your internet service provider. You can get around this fee if you buy your own equipment, which may also save you money in the long run.

Data overage fees are what you might pay if you use more than your allotted data each month. Some internet plans have lower data caps but don’t make you pay fees for using too much data. For example, satellite internet providers often have soft data caps that range anywhere from 10 GB to 300 GB. If you use more data in a month, the ISP slows your download speeds—but you don’t have to pay any fees.

An early termination fee (ETF) only applies if you subscribe to an internet plan with a contract, or term of service. Usually, contracts last one to two years, and if you cancel your subscription before that time is up, you’ll need to pay an ETF.

ETFs range in cost from around $100 up to $500, depending on the provider and how much time is left on your contract. So be wary of canceling your service too early—or look into another provider that offers a contract buyout program, like Spectrum.

Reconnection or reactivation fees are charged when your internet service is suspended, either by you or by the ISP. These fees normally cost between $30–$50.

Late payment fees are fairly explanatory: If you’re late paying your bill, you’ll pay an additional fee on top of your normal bill. This usually amounts to $5–$10 per late payment, but be wary since that can add up quickly.

Having trouble paying your internet bill? You may be eligible for subsidies.

Don’t wait to rack up late payment fees, contact your internet provider ASAP if you’re struggling to pay your bill. Most ISPs have assistance or payment programs, and you may also be able to downgrade your service. Many providers also offer special internet plans for low-income families.

Aside from fees, there are a few other things that might make your internet bill jump up or dip down.

Download speed: In general, the faster your download speed is, the more you’ll pay per month. And if you have multiple devices or multiple people connected to the Wi-Fi, the more speed you’re going to need. Learn more about getting the right internet speed in our Mbps guide.

Internet Connection type: We usually see higher internet prices for fiber internet and satellite plans—but this is due to the high maintenance costs of building, launching, and keeping those satellites in Earth’s orbit.

That’s not to say you can’t find a great deal on satellite internet. When it comes for the best price for the fastest internet speeds, we recommend Viasat. But if you can make do with 15–25 Mbps speeds and not a lot of data, check out HughesNet‘s 15 GB and 50 GB plans.

Promotional deals: Promotions, like limited-time offers, can drop your final bill like a hot potato. These typically offer a low starting price for your internet service that lasts for a short while—usually one year.

On the other hand, once your promotional period is up, you can expect your final bill to shoot up like a pack of Mentos in a Coke bottle.

After the promotional price, you’ll start paying what most ISPs call a “standard” price. How much the standard price differs from the promo price depends on the provider and the deal you got, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $10–$20 more per month.

Price hikes: Sometimes your provider will raise the price of your internet above the original agreed-upon price. This is especially true in an inflated economy, so fully read your service agreement to know beforehand if your provider allows this.

Dwelling: If you live in a house that you own, your internet provider and therefore price are up to your discretion. If you live in a rental, you may have to get the internet provider your landlord dictates. But there’s good news with this—sometimes apartments have a uniform Wi-Fi provider with a bulk discount, and sometimes your Wi-Fi may even be included in your rent.

Where you live: Most ISPs that are available nationwide break their pricing down by region. For example, Xfinity offers different prices and plans for the northeastern, central, and western US. Astound Broadband, powered by RCN offers internet in a small part of the Northeast, but its prices change depending on whether you’re in DC, Lehigh Valley, Boston, or another city. And don’t even get us started on rural internet.

Even if you can’t get service from a provider that breaks down prices by location, you’ll likely see different prices if you ever tried to compare with, say, a friend who lives on the other coast. ISPs have even been known to charge different prices on different sides of the same street, so be sure to do a thorough comparison of what’s available in your area.

If your internet bill is at or near $61 a month, you’re right on par with most of the country. If you’re paying more, don’t worry. We can help you lower that bill.

And hey, depending on how you use the internet, paying more than the national average might be A-okay. For example, let’s say your family does a lot of video streaming and gaming. That means you’re likely paying more for faster internet speeds than the elderly couple next door who just sends emails and checks their granddaughter’s photos on Facebook.

Paying less? We’re jealous. Mind sharing your tips in the comments below?

How’d we get these averages? We’re glad you asked.

We took a look at plans and prices for 22 different well-known ISPs available across the US: AT&T, Buckeye Broadband, CenturyLink, Cox, EarthLink, Frontier, Google Fiber, Astound Broadband, powered by Grande Communications, HughesNet, XTREAM powered by Mediacom, MetroNet, Optimum, Astound Broadband, powered by RCN, Sparklight, Spectrum, Verizon Fios Home Internet, Viasat, Windstream, WOW! Internet, Comcast Xfinity, and Ziply Fiber.

To get the overall average for broadband internet costs and each internet connection type, we added up the promotional internet prices for all plans and divided by the number of plans. If a provider also offered no-contract plans, we did not include that pricing data in our calculations.

Still have questions about the cost of internet and Wi-Fi in the US? We can help.