Internet is no longer considered a luxury. From offices to homes and public places to educational institutes, the internet has become an essential part of everyone’s life.
Be it a student, an engineer, a scientist, a businessperson, an entrepreneur, or a kid, we all are heavily dependent on the internet.
To benefit from this necessity, one has to pay the price. Therefore, what is the cost of internet plans in the United States is the most common question asked by people.
In a few words, the average price of the internet is approximately $35 to $40 per month. However, natives of America are paying almost $60 per month.
In some parts of the United States, the average cost of the internet might go up to $100 or more on internet plans.
Do not forget to include other charges like installation fees, equipment rentals, and other petty expenses.
The cost of the internet also depends on the type of internet you subscribe to. As per the 2020 report, the most expensive internet was satellite internet.
While the least expensive was DSL. However, there were other factors as well that led to DSL’s fees being lower than one offered by other types of connections.
DSL internet speed is not as much as that of cable or fiber optic. In addition, satellite and DSL internet is more prevalent in rural areas where there is no infrastructure and limited cable and fiber availability.
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Type of Internet
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Average Cost of Internet Per Month
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DSL
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$50 per Month
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Satellite
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$123 per month
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Cable
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$52 per month
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Fiber
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$59 per month
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Top Internet Providers Plans and Pricing
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Provider
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Speed Range
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Starting Price
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Spectrum
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60-940Mbps
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$49.99
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Optimum
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300-1Gig
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$40.00
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Suddenlink
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200-1Gig
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$30.00
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Mediacom
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100-1Gig
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$79.99
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Xfinity
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15-2,000 Mbps
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$24.99
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Cox
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10-940 Mbps
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$29.99
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Frontier
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1-940 Mbps
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$27.99
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HughesNet
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25Mbps
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$49.99
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CenturyLink
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3-940 Mbps
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$49.00
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Verizon
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200-940 Mbps
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$39.99
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What Additional Fees Do Internet Providers Charge?
In most cases, service providers often show you the promotional price, which looks attractive and budget-friendly.
However, things are going to change after a while when you study deeply about their plans and pricing after the first year or so.
Not to mention, some other hidden charges and service fees that would inflate your bills and suck the money out of your bank account.
Here’s an overview of the additional fees service providers usually charge from subscribers.
Equipment Rental
One of the charges that would add up to your bill is equipment rental. Modem and router rentals can cost you anywhere from $10 to $20 per month, which accumulates to $120-$240 annually.
Some service providers might not charge a rental fee if you opt for higher plans.
The best way to save money on monthly internet bills is to buy your equipment from stores like Amazon and Best Buy.
Installation And Activation Fees
When you first subscribe to an internet plan, be ready to pay for installation and activation fees.
However, unlike equipment charges, installation and activation fees are charged only one time at the time of installation.
Some providers might waive off the fees for new customers. While others offer self-installation at a low cost.
Late Payment Fee
Late payment fees can vary from one location to another. Normally the late fee is charged at a flat rate of $20 or a small percent of your bill.
However, if your services are disconnected, the provider might charge extra to restore your service.
Termination Fee
If you have subscribed to an internet provider with contractual binding, you might need to pay for early termination.
The charges may vary depending on the time left for the contract to end. This could result in extra hundreds of dollars in most cases.
If you go for providers offering no-contract plans such as Verizon, Century Link, or Spectrum, you do not have to worry about early cancellation fees.
Extra Data Plan
If your provider offers a limited data cap on its plans, you might run out of data limits and need to pay extra for additional data. In the majority of the cases, you will be charged $10 for an additional 50 GB of data.
If your service provider does not charge an extra monthly fee, keep in mind that federal taxes will surge your monthly bills. Do the calculations before you subscribe to any of the plans.
How to Avoid Overpaying Internet Bills?
If you want to save on your internet bills, the best thing is to do some research before you subscribe to the plan.
Enter your zip code and find all the service providers in your area. Compare the pricing and plans to find the one you could afford.
If you want to save more on internet bills, you could opt for bundle plans that include a home phone and cable TV connection.
Moreover, avoid extra charges on equipment by buying your equipment. You could save as much as $120 to $240 per year.
