This statistic shows the average price of cellular data per gigabyte in the United States from 2018 to 2023. In 2018, the average price of cellular data was estimated to amount to 4.64 U.S. dollars per GB.

When asked about "Most common mobile data plans", 17 percent of U.S. respondents answer "3-5 GB". This online survey was conducted in 2024, among 9,241 consumers.

Italy is the country with the cheapest mobile data in Europe, with mobile customers paying an average of 0.27 U.S. dollars per gigabyte of data as of February 2021. Among the selected European countries, Norway had the highest average price for mobile data, with 5.81 U.S. dollars per gigabyte. This is, however, a significant decrease compared to 2019, when the average cost in Norway was 13.21 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Cameroon cost, on average, 1.63 U.S. dollars in 2023. Out of 24 plans measured in Cameroon, the lowest price observed was 0.54 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 5.88 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Senegal cost, on average, 1.63 U.S. dollars in 2023. Out of 28 plans measured in Senegal, the lowest price observed was 0.47 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 1.63 U.S. dollars.

Zimbabwe had the most expensive mobile internet in Africa as of 2023. One gigabyte cost on average 43.75 U.S. dollars in the African country, the highest worldwide. Overall, the cost of mobile data varied significantly across the continent. South Sudan and The Central African Republic also recorded elevated prices for mobile data, positioning among the 10 countries with the highest prices for data globally. By contrast, one gigabyte cost 0.38 U.S. dollars in Malawi, the lowest average price registered in Africa.

Determinants for high pricing

On average, one gigabyte of mobile internet in Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to 3.31 U.S. dollars in 2023, one of the highest worldwide, according to the source. In Northern Africa, the price for mobile data was far lower, 0.86 U.S. dollars on average. Few factors influence the elevated prices of mobile data in Africa, such as high taxation and the lack of infrastructure. In 2021, around 57.1 percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa lived within a range of 25 kilometers from fiber networks.

Mobile connectivity

Over 530 million people are estimated to be connected to the mobile internet in Africa as of 2022. The coverage gap has decreased in the continent but remained the highest worldwide in 2022. That year, 15 percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa lived in areas not covered by a mobile broadband network. Additionally, the adoption of mobile internet is not equitable, as it is more accessible to men than women as well as more spread in urban than rural areas.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Niger cost, on average, 1.63 U.S. dollars in 2022. Out of 34 plans measured in Niger, the lowest price observed was 0.78 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 8.17 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Egypt cost, on average, 0.65 U.S. dollars in 2023. The country ranked 62 in 237 countries worldwide, from the cheapest to the most expensive for mobile data. Out of 22 plans measured in Egypt, the lowest price observed was 0.46 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Singapore cost, on average, 0.63 U.S. dollars in 2023. Data pricing significantly decreased over the period. Out of 18 plans measured, the lowest price observed was 0.07 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Mozambique cost, on average, 0.78 U.S. dollars in 2023. Out of 27 plans measured in Mozambique, the lowest price observed was 0.17 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 39.05 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Uganda cost, on average, 1.32 U.S. dollars in 2022. Out of 59 plans measured in Uganda, the lowest price observed was 0.49 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 15.81 U.S. dollars.

In January and February 2020, one gigabyte of mobile data cost on average 4.8 yuan in China, plunging from 131.4 yuan in 2014. The average price for mobile data continued to decrease over the past years, resulting from the development of telecommunications infrastructure.

One gigabyte for mobile internet in Nigeria cost on average 39 U.S. cents as of August 2023. The country ranked 31st in a list of 237 countries worldwide, from the cheapest to the most expensive for mobile data. In the regional comparison, Nigeria was among the nations with lower costs for mobile data in Africa. Out of 55 plans analyzed in the country, the lowest price observed was 0.13 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 1.64 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Indonesia cost, on average, 0.28 U.S. dollars per month, in 2023. Data pricing significantly decreased over the period. Out of 59 plans measured, the lowest price observed was 0.02 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Burundi cost, on average, 1.1 U.S. dollars in 2022. Out of 51 plans measured in Burundi, the lowest price observed was 0.24 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 3.53 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Togo cost, on average, 1.45 U.S. dollars in 2023. Out of 22 plans measured in Togo, the lowest price observed was 0.27 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 3.63 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Chad cost, on average, 4.09 U.S. dollars in 2023. Out of 19 plans measured in Chad, the lowest price observed was two U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 40.86 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Côte d'Ivoire cost, on average, 1.18 U.S. dollars in 2023. Out of 38 data plans measured in the country, the lowest price observed was 0.64 U.S. dollars per 1GB, for 30 days. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 7.36 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in Rwanda cost, on average, 0.55 U.S. dollars in 2023. Out of 17 plans measured in Rwanda, the lowest price observed was 0.24 U.S. dollars per 1GB, for a 30 days plan. In the most expensive plan, 1GB cost 1.66 U.S. dollars.

One gigabyte of mobile internet in South Africa cost, on average, 1.18 U.S. dollars in 2023. The country ranked 149 in 237 countries worldwide, from the cheapest to the most expensive for mobile data. Out of 46 plans measured in South Africa, the lowest price observed was 0.1 U.S. dollars per 1GB for a 30 days plan.