Having a good home internet connection is essential for many of us, especially if you work from home or love to kick back and watch some Netflix. However, broadband isn’t free – so just how much is the average internet bill in Australia?
If you’re curious about how your internet bill stacks up, we’ve got all the details on how much the average Aussie household pays for the NBN. This guide uses research conducted by Canstar Blue, taken from our customer satisfaction ratings for NBN providers, published in 2023.
What is the average internet bill for NBN?
The average Australian household pays $75 per month for their NBN plan, which works out to be $900 per year. Customers in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania spend the most on the NBN ($76), while those in South Australia are spending the least ($73). Here is a breakdown of how much people pay, on average, for their internet (NBN) by state:
- New South Wales: $75
- Queensland: $76
- South Australia: $73
- Tasmania: $76
- Victoria: $76
- Western Australia: $74
It’s clear that there isn’t too much of a difference between what households pay from state to state. However, prices have risen across the board when compared to data collected in previous years.
Our reporting shows a consistent $2 increase in price year-on-year, with an average monthly cost of $73 in 2022, an average of $71 in 2021, and an average of $69 in 2020.
If you’re curious about what sort of NBN plans and speeds you can get around that $65-$75 price mark, the following table shows a selection of comparable published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
How does speed impact your internet bill?
Of course when it comes to NBN plans, cost isn’t the only measure. There are several different speed tiers on offer, and the speed plan that you choose may determine how much you pay. While this average price is a good guide for you to consider if you’re setting a budget, you might be better off finding which speed tier you want first, and compare prices for that speed to help better determine a good NBN plan for you.
Our 2023 research found that 27% of respondents are signed up to a plan on the NBN 50 speed tier, followed by 18% on NBN 25, 11% on NBN 100 and 5% on NBN 12, 3% on NBN 250 and just 1% on NBN 100. Many providers tend to offer plans around the average $75 price point on the more popular NBN 50 speed tier.
However, 34% of respondents stated they were unsure which speed tier their plan was on. If you, like those 34% of respondents, don’t know which speed tier you are on, it’s easy to find out. Knowing your current speed tier can help you work out if you are paying too much for a speed you don’t need, or if that speed is slower than what your household requires.
NBN plans and providers
Average costs got you thinking about a new NBN provider or plan? Check out some options below. The table below contains affiliate links.
The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50), and Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.
 |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $79.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps
|
Unlimited Data/month |
$79.99 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
 |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $85) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps
|
Unlimited Data/month |
$85.00 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
 |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $99.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps
|
Unlimited Data/month |
$89.99 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
Unlimited Home Standard (NBN 50) Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited Home Fast (NBN 100) Plans
The table below shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 100 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Average internet bills by NBN speed tier
Considering that prices for NBN plans tend to differ between speed tiers — the cheapest plans are typically NBN 12 and the most expensive are NBN 100, NBN 250 and NBN 1000 — choosing a plan around that $75 price mark might not be possible if you’re looking at certain speed tiers.
As the majority of survey respondents were on NBN 25 or NBN 50 plans, it makes sense that the average bill was around $75 per month, as that’s a fairly standard price point for both of these speed tiers. A number of NBN providers also offer some fairly generous discounts on plan fees, with price cuts on the first six months quite common.
So, if you’re wondering how much you’ll pay for a plan on different NBN speed tiers, the below prices are rough estimates based on plan data found on Canstar Blue’s internet comparison tool. This comparison tool is free to use and can help you to compare plans from a range of NBN providers. For the sake of comparison, the below prices reflect plans with unlimited data.
- NBN 12 plans: around $50 to $70 per month
- NBN 25 plans: around $60 to $75 per month
- NBN 50 plans: around $65 to $100 per month
- NBN 100 plans: around $85 to $130 per month
- NBN 250 plans: around $110 to $140 per month
- NBN 1000 plans: around $150 to $180 per month
Of course, these prices are only a guide based on information available from our comparison tool, and excluding discounts. Some of the higher prices might also include bundled plans, whether that is internet bundled with a home phone or entertainment extras. All of those extras can easily add an extra $10 or more onto your internet plan each month, so consider if these additions are worth the extra price before signing up.
All in all, choosing the best NBN plan for your household should be a balance between cost and choosing the right speed plan. While everyone likes to save a bit of money, signing up to a cheap NBN plan could cause you grief if your household needs are greater than those provided by the speed tiers that are typically cheaper.
What is the average internet bill for other internet types?
If you’re looking at other types of home internet, you can see what the average monthly cost was for home wireless and mobile broadband in 2023 below.
Home wireless average internet bill
One of the more popular NBN alternatives, home wireless broadband (sometimes referred to as home wireless, 5G home internet or 4G home internet) can be a slightly cheaper alternative to NBN, depending on whether you choose 5G or 4G internet, along with data inclusions and speed caps.
Based on survey results from our 2023 Most Satisfied Customer rating for home wireless broadband, the average internet bill for home wireless broadband was $69 per month ($828 per year).
Mobile broadband average internet bill
Mobile broadband is similar to home wireless in that it uses a mobile network to access the internet, however, mobile broadband is more portable and can come in the form of a data-only SIM card that can be used in a portable modem, dongle, tablet or even a smartphone. Some mobile broadband plans will include a dongle or modem, while others might just be the SIM card.
Using research from our 2023 Most Satisfied Customers ratings for mobile broadband in 2023, the average monthly cost for a mobile broadband bill was $57 per month ($684 per year).
Share this article