The Cost of Staying Connected in 2026

Home internet is so fundamental to daily life that it barely registers as a subscription anymore. Now, it’s an essential utility, on par with electricity and running water. Yet as household budgets remain stretched from years of elevated prices, a growing share of Americans are quietly straining under the weight of their monthly internet bill. However, this is one cost they cannot afford to cut. This report is based on a BroadbandNow survey of 954 U.S. adults conducted in March 2026, combined with our analysis of active plans from more than 2,100 internet providers. Key findings include:

• The national average monthly cost for a home internet plan is $81.16. Prices range from $65.43 in New Jersey to $109.88 in Alaska.
• Though most households have not experienced recent internet service price hikes, nearly 1 in 4 Americans (23%) say internet bills stress their household budgets.
• 1 in 5 Americans (19%) worry about paying their internet bill each month; that number spikes to 41% among former Affordable Connectivity Program recipients.
• Women are nearly twice as likely as men to worry about affording internet service (24% vs. 14%).
• 1 in 5 households (19%) say their current internet plan doesn’t meet their needs, rising to 28% among former ACP households.

[April 16, 2026]