Ranked: The Most and Least Expensive Internet in the World

Ranked: The Most and Least Expensive Internet in the World

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The cost of getting online varies far more than many people realize. In some countries, a fixed broadband subscription costs just a few dollars per month, while in others it can exceed $300.

Using data from Broadband Genie, this graphic compares the world’s most and least expensive broadband markets based on average monthly subscription prices in U.S. dollars.

The results reveal a gap of more than 140-fold between the cheapest and most expensive markets. Geography is a major factor, with remote islands heavily represented among the world’s costliest places to access the internet.

The World’s Most Expensive Internet Markets

Wallis and Futuna leads the ranking by a wide margin, followed by Turkmenistan and Turks and Caicos. More broadly, geographic isolation stands out as a key pattern, with 18 of the world’s 25 most expensive broadband markets being island nations or territories.

Many of the world’s most expensive broadband markets have small populations and limited competition. In remote island territories, infrastructure costs must be spread across relatively few subscribers, helping explain why internet bills can be significantly higher.

Rank	Country	Average Monthly Cost of Fixed Broadband 2026 (USD)
1	Wallis and Futuna	$373.88
2	Turkmenistan	$286.24
3	Turks and Caicos	$252.00
4	Saint Barthélemy	$207.26
5	Eswatini	$193.31
6	Syria	$189.92
7	Burundi	$186.46
8	Comoros	$175.12
9	Cayman Islands	$167.39
10	British Virgin Islands	$155.00
11	Bermuda	$150.00
12	Congo	$136.54
13	Seychelles	$134.30
14	Timor-Leste	$124.50
15	Curaçao	$121.96
16	Vanuatu	$117.38
17	Guam	$115.00
18	Falkland Islands	$112.73
19	Greenland	$111.45
20	U.S. Virgin Islands	$110.00
21	Anguilla	$108.29
22	Mozambique	$108.22
23	UAE	$105.92
24	Iceland	$105.08
25	Northern Mariana Islands	$104.99
167	U.S.	$80.00

Broadband prices vary widely even as internet access becomes increasingly common worldwide. The share of the global population online has risen from 43% in 2015 to 68% in 2025, making affordability an increasingly important part of digital access.

In the U.S., rising competition has helped drive broadband prices lower. Since 2014, the price of popular broadband plans has fallen by roughly two-thirds, while internet speeds have doubled.

Where Internet Access Is Cheapest

At the other end of the ranking, several countries offer broadband for only a few dollars per month when converted into U.S. dollars.

Iran ranks as the least expensive market, driven by a collapsing rial and government subsidies. Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh follow. Ukraine had roughly 1,500 internet service providers before the war, with some apartment buildings having more than a dozen providers competing for customers.

Rank	Country	Average Monthly Cost of Fixed Broadband 2026 (USD)
1	Iran	$2.61
2	Ukraine	$5.35
3	Ethiopia	$6.46
4	Bangladesh	$7.38
5	Mongolia	$7.41
6	Egypt	$7.91
7	Romania	$8.19
8	India	$8.82
9	Nepal	$9.22
10	Russia	$9.71
11	Vietnam	$10.24
12	Indonesia	$10.66
13	Uzbekistan	$12.03
14	Kyrgyzstan	$13.95
15	Lebanon	$14.23
16	China	$14.30
17	Libya	$14.68
18	Georgia	$14.87
19	Kazakhstan	$15.23
20	Moldova	$15.66
21	Belarus	$15.66
22	Pakistan	$15.96
23	Papua New Guinea	$17.30
24	Lithuania	$17.75
25	Türkiye	$17.76

Cheap internet does not necessarily mean lower-quality service. Romania and Vietnam rank among the world’s least expensive broadband markets while also placing among the global leaders in fixed broadband speeds.

This suggests that market competition and network investment can sometimes deliver both affordability and performance.

The contrast is striking: broadband in Wallis and Futuna costs roughly 143 times more than the average subscription in Iran, the world’s cheapest market.

The Geography of Digital Infrastructure

The internet is often described as borderless, but the rankings tell a different story.

Submarine cables carry roughly 99% of global internet traffic, creating the physical backbone of the online world. Countries located farther from major network routes often face higher infrastructure costs, which can ultimately be reflected in consumer prices.

As digital services become increasingly central to work, education, entertainment, and communication, broadband affordability is emerging as an important part of economic accessibility.

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To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the cost of living around the world in 2026.

• Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-worlds-most-and-least-expensive-internet/