Cheapest and Most Expensive States for Internet Service in 2024

The type of internet you have is the biggest factor in determining your speeds. Below is a broad overview of what you can expect from your local providers. 

Satellite internet: With this tech type, your signal gets beamed to a satellite, which beams it back down to a hub on earth before connecting to the regular internet. This means slow speeds and terrible latency, but very high prices. Satellite is usually a choice of last resort for internet access.

Fixed wireless, 4G LTE, and 5G home internet: This type of internet uses the same technology cell phones use, and speeds can vary a lot based on how close you are to the nearest tower. Promotional prices tend to be low but can creep up after a few months. 

DSL internet: This type of internet works over legacy copper phone lines, and it is common in rural and economically disadvantaged areas. Speeds top out around 100Mbps but are often much slower. Prices, however, tend to be higher than fixed wireless plans and even some fiber plans.

Cable internet: This tech works over the same network of coax cables used for cable TV, and speed and reliability is improving all the time. Prices range from $25 per month to more than $100 per month, depending on speed and location. Cable internet is common in cities and suburban areas.

Fiber internet: Short for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), fiber is the gold standard for internet speed and reliability. Download speeds of at least 1,000Mbps are common. Prices for these ridiculously fast speeds are usually the same, or lower, than prices for competing DSL and cable plans.