Broadband & Mobile Cost by Country
Last reviewed: 2026-06-01. Prices fluctuate with exchange rates and promotional offers — verify with providers before relocating.
| Country | Fixed broadband / mo (USD) | Mobile 20 GB / mo (USD) | Typical install (days) | Contract-free | Prepaid SIM for tourists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina | $8–15 | $4–8 | 5–14 | Yes | Yes Prices are very low due to ARS devaluation; quality varies significantly by neighbourhood. Claro and Fibertel dominate fibre. Travellers can buy Claro/Personal SIMs at kiosks. |
 Australia | $55–80 | $20–35 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes NBN-based broadband. Month-to-month plans widely available. Optus, Telstra, and Woolworths Mobile prepaid SIMs sold at supermarkets. |
 Brazil | $20–40 | $10–18 | 7–21 | Limited | Yes Fibre (FTTH) rollout is rapid in major cities. Most ISP contracts are 12 months; cancellation fees apply. Vivo and Claro offer good tourist SIMs. |
 Canada | $55–90 | $35–55 | 7–14 | Yes | Yes Among the most expensive in the developed world. Rogers, Bell, and Telus dominate. No-contract plans exist but cost more. Public Mobile and Lucky Mobile offer affordable prepaid options. |
 Chile | $25–45 | $12–20 | 5–14 | Yes | Yes Strong fibre penetration in Santiago and major cities. Movistar and Entel are leading providers. Prepaid SIMs widely available at pharmacies and convenience stores. |
 Colombia | $18–35 | $8–15 | 5–14 | Yes | Yes Claro Colombia and ETB offer fibre in Bogotá and Medellín. Contract-free month-to-month plans are common. Claro and Tigo prepaid SIMs easy to obtain. |
 Croatia | $22–38 | $12–20 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes HT (T-Mobile Croatia) and A1 are the main providers. Good coverage in coastal cities. Tourist SIMs available at airports and tobacco shops. |
 Czech Republic | $18–32 | $10–18 | 5–14 | Yes | Yes Affordable and fast. O2 Czech Republic and T-Mobile are dominant. Month-to-month plans common. Prepaid SIMs at any convenience store. |
 Estonia | $20–35 | $10–15 | 3–7 | Yes | Yes World-class digital infrastructure. Elisa and Tele2 lead. Fast installation, often same-week. e-Resident and digital nomad visa holders can open contracts with ID. |
 France | $28–45 | $8–15 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes Free (Iliad) and SFR offer very competitive pricing. Mobile prices are among the lowest in the EU. Orange and Bouygues also available. Tourist SIMs widely available. |
 Germany | $30–50 | $12–22 | 14–42 | Limited | Yes Broadband installation timelines are notoriously long (Telekom slot scheduling). Most ISP contracts are 24 months. Prepaid SIMs (Aldi Talk, Congstar) offer no-contract mobile. Fibre rollout accelerating post-2023. |
 Greece | $22–40 | $12–20 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes Cosmote and Vodafone Greece are dominant. Prices have dropped sharply since 2022. Month-to-month plans available. Tourist SIMs at supermarkets and airports. |
 Hungary | $15–28 | $8–14 | 5–14 | Yes | Yes Very affordable. Magyar Telekom and Vodafone Hungary cover most areas. Prepaid SIMs available at post offices and convenience stores. |
 Indonesia | $15–30 | $6–12 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes IndiHome (Telkom) dominates fixed broadband. Mobile is the primary internet method for most. Telkomsel, XL, and Indosat prepaid SIMs at every minimart. Quality varies heavily by island and neighbourhood. |
 Japan | $30–50 | $15–25 | 14–30 | Limited | Yes Extremely fast and reliable. NTT and SoftBank dominate broadband. Installation requires a Japanese address and can take 2–4 weeks. Prepaid data SIMs (IIJmio, OCN) widely available at airports for visitors. |
 Malaysia | $18–30 | $8–14 | 7–21 | Limited | Yes Unifi (TM) is the main fibre provider. Most broadband contracts are 24 months. Maxis, Celcom, and Digi offer excellent tourist prepaid SIMs; purchase at KLIA on arrival. |
 Mexico | $20–40 | $10–18 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes Telmex (fixed) and Telcel (mobile) dominate, both Slim-owned. Month-to-month plans available. Oxxo stores sell prepaid Telcel and AT&T SIMs on every corner. |
 Netherlands | $35–55 | $12–22 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes KPN, Ziggo, and T-Mobile NL are the main players. Month-to-month plans exist at a premium. Lebara and Lyca prepaid SIMs popular with expats; sold at supermarkets. |
 Poland | $14–25 | $6–12 | 5–14 | Yes | Yes Excellent value. Orange, Play, and T-Mobile Poland offer competitive rates. No-contract plans widely available. One of the best value internet markets in the EU. |
 Portugal | $30–50 | $12–20 | 7–14 | Yes | Yes NOS, Vodafone Portugal, and MEO are the big three. 24-month contracts common but monthly options exist at a small premium. NOS and MEO tourist SIMs at Lisbon and Porto airports. |
 Romania | $10–18 | $6–10 | 3–7 | Yes | Yes Among the fastest and cheapest in Europe. Digi (RCS & RDS) is the dominant provider with outstanding value. Month-to-month plans normal. Prepaid SIMs at any supermarket. |
 Singapore | $30–50 | $15–25 | 3–7 | Yes | Yes World-class connectivity. Singtel, StarHub, and M1 compete aggressively. No-contract fibre plans common. Tourist SIMs available at Changi Airport arrival halls. |
 South Korea | $25–40 | $20–35 | 3–7 | Limited | Yes Fastest average speeds in the world. KT, SK Broadband, and LG U+ dominate. Most contracts require a Korean ID (ARC). Tourist data SIMs (KT Olleh, SK Telecom) at Incheon Airport. |
 Spain | $30–50 | $10–18 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes Movistar, Vodafone Spain, Orange Spain, and MásMóvil compete. Month-to-month plans widely available. Spain has some of the best fibre coverage in Europe. Prepaid SIMs at tobacconists (estancos) everywhere. |
 Taiwan | $20–35 | $10–18 | 7–14 | Limited | Yes Chunghwa Telecom, FarEasTone, and Taiwan Mobile dominate. Most broadband contracts are 12–24 months. Excellent tourist prepaid SIMs at Taoyuan Airport 7-Eleven and FarEasTone counters. |
 Thailand | $15–28 | $8–15 | 5–14 | Yes | Yes AIS, DTAC (now True Move H), and True Move H are the main mobile operators. Fixed broadband via True Online and AIS Fibre. Month-to-month plans normal. Tourist SIMs available at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. |
 Turkey | $10–20 | $6–12 | 5–14 | Yes | Yes Turk Telekom and Superonline for fixed broadband; Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, and Türk Telekom for mobile. Low prices in TRY terms due to currency weakness. Tourist SIMs require passport registration at point of sale. |
 United Arab Emirates | $60–110 | $25–45 | 3–7 | Limited | Yes Etisalat (e&) and du are the only providers (government duopoly). Prices are high. Most broadband plans are 12-month contracts bundled with TV. Tourist SIMs widely available at airports and malls. |
 United Kingdom | $35–60 | $12–22 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes BT, Virgin Media, Sky, and Hyperoptic are main broadband providers. No-contract 30-day plans available (often via rolling monthly deals). Three, Giffgaff, and SMARTY offer no-contract SIM-only plans. |
 United States | $50–80 | $25–45 | 7–21 | Yes | Yes Comcast/Xfinity, Spectrum, and AT&T Fiber dominate, with significant regional variation. Month-to-month plans available but often cost more. T-Mobile Prepaid and Mint Mobile popular no-contract options. |
 Vietnam | $8–18 | $5–10 | 3–7 | Yes | Yes Exceptional value. VNPT, Viettel, and FPT Telecom offer fast fibre at very low prices. Month-to-month plans normal. Viettel and Vietnamobile prepaid SIMs at airports and convenience stores. |
How to read this table
- Fixed broadband / mo reflects a typical entry-level to mid-tier fibre or cable home plan in USD equivalent at 2024–2025 exchange rates. Actual prices vary by speed tier, city, and provider.
- Mobile 20 GB / mo is a representative SIM-only or prepaid plan with at least 20 GB of data. Many markets include unlimited plans at the upper end of the range shown.
- Contract-freemeans genuine no-commitment month-to-month home broadband plans are available without cancellation penalties. "Limited" means most plans require a 12–24 month commitment, though rolling monthly add-ons or MVNO/mobile substitutes may exist.
- Prepaid SIM for tourists indicates whether a visitor can easily purchase a working data SIM without a local ID or address. Some markets require passport registration at point of sale but still qualify as tourist-accessible.
- Install time is the typical calendar-day wait from order to working home broadband service. It can vary significantly in rural areas and apartment buildings requiring new infrastructure.
See also: Internet speed by country · Healthcare & insurance by country · Expat-friendly city rankings.