The Cost of the Internet by State in the USA

With a contagious virus wreaking havoc in our lives, having a reliable internet connection is more important than ever before. You need it to attend classes, work remotely and fulfill the social quota necessary for maintaining your connections and not to forget your mental health. It’s no wonder that people are upgrading their internet plans and switching to providers with quality service. However, the type of service you get and the cost you have to bear, are closely linked to the area you reside in. Based on your location the options available to you can be many or limited.

So, which area is the best adapted to deal with the pandemic? Well, in terms of internet capabilities it’s easy enough to figure out. Here you’ll find a comparison of internet prices, measured in cost per Mbps, across the country. This should give you a pretty good idea as to how much does internet cost and what you should be paying for the service. If you think you’re paying more than the average, you should consider switching to a more budget-friendly provider (here’s a guide to the best cheap internet providers) or negotiate with your provider for a better offer. So, are you ready to find out where you stand? Let’s get started!

Cost of the Internet by State

The cost of the internet cannot be the sole metric for measuring which internet USA service is the best. Factors like reliability, lag, bandwidth, speed, and others play just as important a role. However, for the sake of this article, we’re keeping it simple.

The cost metric is quite useful and using it as a baseline, you can make an informed decision about which provider and plan you should go for. To keep the comparison fair though, we have taken into account the type of broadband connection i.e. DSL, cable, and fiber-optic. It is only with the inclusion of this variable can we get a fair idea of the cost of the internet in the US. Thus, you will find below the cost of internet per Mbps for each state, categorized by the type of internet.

Cost of the Internet by State: DSL

The cost of DSL internet can greatly vary across states. Starting at $0.60/Mbps it can go all the way up to $2.40/Mbps. The service is cheapest in South Carolina so if you’re living there and have a DSL connection it shouldn’t cost you more than $0.60/Mbps. If, however, you’re located in states like North Carolina and Oklahoma, expect to pay higher prices.

State	Avg. DSL Internet Cost per MB (per month)
South Carolina	$0.06
Indiana	$0.90
North Dakota	$0.92
Illinois:	$1.00
Ohio	$1.00
Nebraska	$1.04
Iowa	$1.16
New Jersey	$1.16
New York	$1.16
Texas	$1.20
Wisconsin	$1.20
Kansas	$1.26
Kentucky	$1.44
Minnesota	$1.66
Missouri	$1.66
Montana	$1.66
Maryland	$1.80
Pennsylvania	$1.80
Virginia	$1.80
West Virginia	$1.80
Colorado	$1.83
South Dakota	$1.83
Wyoming	$1.83
Idaho	$1.94
Oregon	$1.94
Arkansas	$2.00
Utah	$2.00
North Carolina	$2.40
Oklahoma	$2.40

 Note: The table has skipped a few coastal states, but given that DSL internet is not as widespread in these areas, the data available was not enough for accurate analysis.

Cost of the Internet by State: Cable

Cable internet is the cheapest type of internet, going as low as $0.12/Mbps. Its cost hardly exceeds $1.00/Mbps so if you’re looking for internet service that fits a small budget, this is the one you could easily opt for. For people living on the east coast, the service might cost more when compared to how much residents of the rest of the country pay. However, given the prices of other internet service types, we think cable is the cheapest option available to them. Internet Service Providers like Spectrum, Mediacom, and Cox, bolster their cable network with fiber backbone. This enables them to offer download speeds as high as that of fiber broadband but at the cheaper price tag of cable. What’s more, they’ll save even more with cheap cable and internet bundle deals.

State	Avg. Cable Internet Cost per MB (per month)
Texas	$0.12
California	$0.27
Massachusetts	$0.40
Michigan	$0.44
Iowa	$0.50
Alabama	$0.55
Arizona	$0.55
Arkansas	$0.55
Idaho	$0.55
Illinois	$0.55
Indiana	$0.55
Kansas	$0.55
Louisiana	$0.55
Minnesota	$0.55
Mississippi	$0.55
Missouri	$0.55
New Mexico	$0.55
North Dakota	$0.55
Oklahoma	$0.55
Oregon	$0.55
South Dakota	$0.55
Tennessee	$0.55
Washington	$0.55
Nebraska	$0.65
New Hampshire	$0.65
New Jersey	$0.65
Ohio	$0.65
Connecticut	$0.67
West Virginia	$0.70
Utah	$0.75
Colorado	$0.83
Florida	$0.83
Georgia	$0.83
Kentucky	$0.83
Maine	$0.83
Maryland	$0.83
New York	$0.83
North Carolina	$0.83
Pennsylvania	$0.83
South Carolina	$0.83
Vermont	$0.83
Virginia	$0.83
Wisconsin	$0.83
Delaware	$0.85
Wyoming	$1.00

Cost of the Internet by State: Fiber Optics

Fiber-optic internet connections deliver Gigabit level symmetrical internet speeds, unbeatable bandwidth, and unlimited internet data. Thanks to providers like AT&T Fiber, CenturyLink, and MetroNet, the pure fiber internet is now cheaply available in most regions. With the minimum cost per Mbps as low as $0.04/Mbps, this is the ideal connection to opt for if available. However, fiber optic internet availability is not as widespread as other broadband types. If you’re located in dense urban and suburban areas you’ll likely have the option of using this service. If not you’ll have to contend with having a DSL or cable internet connection.

State	Avg. Fiber Internet Cost per MB (per month)
California	$0.04
Nebraska	$0.06
New York	$0.10
Oregon	$0.13
Utah	$0.14
Minnesota	$0.17
Kentucky	$0.18
Ohio	$0.18
Tennessee	$0.18
Michigan	$0.20
Missouri	$0.20
Wisconsin	$0.20
Illinois	$0.33
Louisiana	$0.33
Texas	$0.33
Hawaii	$0.40
Kansas	$0.40
Florida	$0.42
Washington	$0.46
Wyoming	$0.48
Alabama	$0.50
Arkansas	$0.50
Colorado	$0.50
Connecticut	$0.50
Georgia	$0.50
Indiana	$0.50
Nevada	$0.50
New Mexico	$0.50
North Carolina	$0.50
Pennsylvania	$0.50
South Carolina	$0.50
Delaware	$0.55
Maine	$0.55
Maryland	$0.55
Massachusetts	$0.55
New Jersey	$0.55
Rhode Island	$0.55
Virginia	$0.55
Iowa	$0.57
North Dakota	$0.73
South Dakota	$0.78
Montana	$0.80
Oklahoma	$0.82
Idaho	$1.00
Arizona	$1.20
New Hampshire	$2.00

Noteworthy Internet Trends

Numbers are a great way to gauge a situation but without an analysis of these values, you can’t get a comprehensive picture of what’s going on. The same applies to figuring out the pricing structure of the internet across the country. To help you gain a better understanding of how much does internet cost and why the cost of the internet varies by state, here are some trends you should acquaint yourself with.

Hopefully, this analysis enabled you to understand why the cost of an internet connection varies the way it does. Along with these trends, we think that delving into how each provider has adapted to the pandemic is equally important if one is to make an informed decision about their choice of internet connection.

How ISPs Have Adjusted to the Pandemic?

The Internet has given much respite from a world of chaos and served as a lifeline to education, entertainment, and businesses. In the face of the pandemic, many Internet Service Providers have gone the extra mile in ensuring that Americans stay connected.

It all started in mid-march of 2020 when Keep Americans Connected initiative was launched by FCC. It encouraged ISPs to help everyone stay connected via the internet. Many providers, including Spectrum, Xfinity, Suddenlink, and Optimum, signed the pledge and offered internet free of charge to students and the like.

These offers are no longer available but you’d be happy to learn that many providers have tweaked their plans, especially the low-income internet packages to better serve the new internet consumption trends. Here are some of the changes they’ve made:

With these changes in place, the overall cost of the internet is sure to have decreased. Or if anything, helped improve the quality of service received.

Additional Fee That Drive Up Cost

When it comes to the actual cost of the internet, calculating the additional hidden charges is just as important. The numbers above however only take into account the cost of the internet plan. For a more holistic view, you’d do well to inquire about the following costs along with your internet plan:

As you can see, the research has its limitations and so to help better understand the findings, here’s a bit of an explanation for the methodology used for the data in this article.

Methodology Used

To calculate the numbers and the conclusion, only the data set of plans with a minimum of 25 Mbps speed were included in the analysis. Furthermore, we focused on the low-cost options in each state.

It is worth noting that internet prices are subject to change and the cost of the internet may vary from the cost listed above. In addition to that, the average cost for each state is just that average, so you might get a completely different rate depending on your city and locality.

Final Words

There you go, hopefully knowing that how much does internet cost by each state is helpful in your purchase decisions. Internet is an essential service that you’ll need to pay for, much like housing, electricity, and food. How much you pay however is up to you. With this knowledge, you should be able to find a plan that offers a fair price. You can compare the pricing and offers by ISPs in your area by entering your Zip Code at BuyTVInternetPhone or by calling 1-855-349-9328. With that said, happy hunting!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do ISPs still offer free internet access in a pandemic?

Finding free internet these days is difficult. However, you’ll find that providers are offering special low-income internet plans for limited-income families, seniors, and students.

Is DSL cheaper than fiber?

Well, if you calculate the cost of internet per Mbps, you’ll find that a fiber-optic connection is cheaper than DSL. However, when the total cost of each plan is compared, fiber tends to more expensive. Find out the cheap internet plans in your area at BuyTVInternetPhone.

Is the internet cheaper in urban areas?

Yes, the rural and urban divide in the internet department is deep and clear, and urban residents enjoy the advantages of fast and cheap internet due to higher competition among ISPs.