Broadband Pricing Changes: 2016 to 2022

Examining pricing data from fifty national and regional providers, we’ve found that prices have decreased across all major download speeds (25Mbps up to 1Gbps+) and technologies (cable, fiber, DSL and fixed wireless). This study utilizes average pricing of broadband internet plans for 50 providers since 2016. Prices have fallen since 2016, with the highest speed plans falling the most. When looking at the average price for internet in each speed bucket starting in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021:

• The average price decreased by $8.80 or 14% for 25 – 99 Mbps.
• The average price decreased by $32.35 or 33% for 100 – 199 Mbps.
• The average price decreased by $34.39 or 35% for 200 – 499 Mbps.
• The average price decreased by $59.22 or 42% for 500+ Mbps.

Fiber tends to be cheaper than cable for most high-speed plans, even as fiber is generally considered to be the most robust and highest quality type of wired internet connection.