The cost of cell phone data rose by 68 percent year-over-year in the United States in 2022, as the cost of 1GB of data jumped to an average of $5.62.
According to a study done by Fair Betting Sites, the cost of 1GB of mobile data is 7x higher in the US than the UK ($1.72).
The data sourced from cable.co.uk compared the average cost of over 5,000 mobile data plans in 233 countries to calculate the cost of 1GB of data around the world.
Israel had the cheapest cost for 1GB of mobile phone data at just $0.04 USD while remote islands in South America and Africa offered the most expensive data plans.
In South America, 1GB of data in the Falkland Islands cost an average of $38.45 USD while Saint Helena topped the list with an average cost of $41.06 per 1GB of mobile phone data.
Overall, North America had the highest average cost for 1GB of data of any region in the world.
Here are the highlights from the study.
- Cost of 1GB of Data Jumps 68% YoY in the US to $5.62
- 1GB of Data Is 7x More Expensive In The US Than The UK
- North America Has Most Expensive Mobile Internet Of Any Region In The World
- Remote Island Nations Have Most Expensive Mobile Internet Plans
- Israel Offers Cheapest Mobile Internet In The World ($0.04 / 1 GB)
Cost of 1GB of Data Jumps 68% YoY in the US
The cost of mobile phone data in the US has risen dramatically over the past year.
In 2021, the cost of 1GB of mobile phone data in the US cost an average of just $3.33. However, that number has jumped by 68.7 percent to $5.62 in 2022.
By comparison, the cost of 1GB of data in the UK dropped from $1.42 in 2021 to $0.79 in 2022, a decrease of 44 percent.
Meanwhile, the price of 1GB of data in Canada increased by an average of 3.85 percent, going from $5.72 in 2021 to $5.94 in 2022.
1GB of Data Is 7x More Expensive In The US Than The UK
The changes in data prices have widened the gap between North America and the rest of the world.
While many developed countries have managed to improve their infrastructure and offer cheaper prices for mobile phone data, that hasn’t been the case in the United States.
In the US, the cost of 1GB of cell phone data is 7x more expensive than in the UK, where you can get 1GB of data for just $0.79 USD.
In fact, Canada ($5.94) and the US ($5.62) are among the developed nations that charge the most for mobile internet.
North America Has Most Expensive Mobile Internet Of Any Region In The World
Cell phone plans in North America are among the most expensive in the world, especially when it comes to the cost of data.
According to the report, the average cost of 1GB of data in North America was $4.98 USD, by far the most expensive of any region in the world.
In fact, 1GB of data costs nearly 60 percent more than the global average ($3.12).
At $5.94, Canada had the highest average cost of data of any country in Northern America while the US ($5.62), Bermuda ($5.00), and Greenland ($3.36) came in close behind.
Check out how average price of 1 GB of data differs in all 13 of the global regions examined in the study.
- Northern America — $4.98
- Sub-Saharan Africa — $4.47
- South America — $4.09
- Oceania — $3.88
- Near East — $3.65
- Caribbean — $3.45
- Western Europe — $2.72
- CIS (Former USSR) — $2.05
- Central America — $1.88
- Baltics — $1.79
- Eastern Europe — $1.67
- Asia (Excl. Near East) — $1.47
- Northern Africa — $1.05
Remote Island Nations Have Most Expensive Mobile Internet Plans
Getting cell phone data in remote places can be expensive, according to the study.
Mobile phone data was most expensive in remote islands in South America and Africa.
Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory, had the highest cost for 1GB of cell phone data at $41.06 USD while Falkland Islands finished second on the list with an average cost of $38.45 USD for 1GB of data.
Below, you’ll find the places with the highest average price for 1GB of mobile phone data.
- Saint Helena — $41.06
- Falkland Islands — $38.45
- São Tomé and Príncipe — $29.49
- Tokelau — $17.88
- Yemen — $16.58
Israel Offers Cheapest Mobile Internet In The World
Some countries, like Israel, have been able to offer mobile internet at a much cheaper rate.
In Israel, 1GB of data costs an average of $0.04, by far the lowest rate in the world. In fact, mobile phone data costs 3x less in Israel than the next-lowest country.
Countries with the lowest cost of mobile phone data have excellent mobile and fixed broadband infrastructure, which allows providers to offer large amounts of data for cheaper prices.
For example, in Italy, where the cost of 1GB averages around just $0.12 USD, 5G is now available to nearly 95 percent of residents.
Increased smartphone penetration is another reason why mobile phone data is cheaper in some countries than others. For example, approximately 75 percent of Israelis own a smartphone, which is even higher than in the United States.
In other countries, economic conditions play a factor in the price, which has to remain low so people can afford it.
Check out the countries with the cheapest cost for 1GB of mobile phone data below.
- Israel — $0.04
- Italy — $0.12
- San Marino — $0.14
- Fiji — $0.15
- India — $0.17
