Call now to find your best offers!Average Internet Bill in Ohio
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Is Ohio internet cheaper than New York City internet? Not often! So, if you’re in Ohio, you need to know how to find the best internet deal for you.
Learn what to expect from this guide to average internet costs in Ohio. We’ll also share some tips on how to reduce your monthly internet bill.
In 2024, the average Ohioan is shelling out about $60 a month for their home internet bill [1]. But that number will vary depending on which provider you pick, how fast you want your connection to be, and whether you’re bundling your internet with TV or phone service.
How does that stack up nationally? According to the 2023 Broadband Pricing Index released in late 2023, the average monthly internet price for the most popular internet packages nationally was $41.21, at speeds of about 100 Mbps [2]. The average price per month for the highest-speed internet packages (300 Mbps or more) was $75.48.
If you’re looking for internet in Ohio, some big names you’ll probably run into are Spectrum (Charter), AT&T, Frontier, Kinetic by Windstream, and Metronet.
If you’re living in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincy or Toledo, you’ll usually have more providers competing for your business, which means better deals. But if you’re in a more rural slice of the state, you might have slim pickings and steeper prices.
Ohio Cost of Living vs. Internet Cost
Ohioans enjoy a cheaper total cost of living than most people in the nation [3]. Even Cincinnati, the priciest of Ohio’s major cities, is 3% less expensive than the national average cost of living. Columbus and Cleveland both clock in at a cool 8% below average, while Youngstown is a whopping 18% cheaper than the norm. And if you venture out into the more rural parts of the state, your dollar will probably stretch even further. Ohio keeps things affordable with reasonable housing prices and lower state income taxes.
But just because Ohio is easy on the wallet overall doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be scoring a bargain on your internet bill. As we mentioned, rural dwellers often get the short end of the stick when it comes to internet prices, no matter which state they call home. The good news? The FCC says 90% of Ohio households can get cable or fiber internet, which are usually the two best options for performance and price [4].
Ohio cost of living is low
Average Cost for Different Types of Internet Technology
Which type of internet you can get will be the biggest factor in your monthly plan cost. Wired internet (cable, fiber-optic, and DSL) will give you more speed per dollar compared to satellite internet.
Of all the technologies, fiber-optic internet is far and away the fastest, and often the best value. But it’s not as widely available in Ohio as the other tech types. DSL and cable are much easier to find, and cable is going to give most people a fast enough connection.
Satellite internet can easily run you $80-100 a month once that initial promotional price wears off. But for rural Ohioans without cable or fiber in their neck of the woods, satellite might be the best way to get decent internet speeds at home.
Internet Providers in Ohio
Plenty of Ohio residents can take their pick between big providers like Spectrum, AT&T, Frontier, and Viasat. When a bunch of providers compete for customers in your area, that usually translates to more reasonable monthly rates. But if you’re an Ohioan with only one or two ISPs to choose from, you might be looking at a higher internet bill.
Population Density: The Biggest Factor in Internet Pricing
Denser urban and suburban spots benefit from providers trying to underprice each other, which means better deals for you. Out in the woods and away from towns, you’ll often find fewer internet options and higher prices thanks to limited infrastructure.
About 1 in 5 Ohioans are living the rural life [5]. That means over 2 million people might have slim pickings for internet providers [6]. If you’re one of them, you’ll want to really do your homework and shop around to find the best plan for your needs and budget.
Satellite internet serves rural areas
Need for Speed
Generally, the faster your internet and the more data you use, the more you’re going to pay each month. Starter plans with download speeds under 100 Mbps usually run between $30 and $60 per month.
Paying for more speed than you actually need based on your digital lifestyle is a surefire way to bloat your internet bill. Check out just how much internet speed your household really requires before locking in a plan.
Breaking Down Your Ohio Internet Bill
Your Basic Monthly Charge
This is your no-frills subscription fee for internet access at whatever speed tier you selected. If your best option is a DSL plan, you’re probably looking at $40-50 per month for download speeds somewhere between 6-50 Mbps and uploads around 3 Mbps.
Bump up to a cable internet plan with 100+ Mbps download speeds and 20 Mbps uploads, and you’re likely in the $50 to $100 range each month.
Fiber-optic internet usually starts around $30-50 monthly for matching upload and download speeds of at least 200 Mbps. Gigabit fiber plans tend to average $80 to $150 per month.
These are ballpark figures, and your mileage may vary depending on which providers are in your area. Different ISPs also serve up a variety of speed tiers.
Cable internet offers gigabit download speeds
Equipment Rental Fees
Some providers will include a modem/router combo with your monthly rate at no extra charge. But many ISPs will tack on an extra $5-15 each month for the privilege of borrowing their equipment. Bringing your own modem and router can nix these recurring rental fees, but you need to check for compatibility first.
Extra Fees and Charges
Read the fine print on your internet contract like a hawk. Keep an eye out for extra charges like taxes, franchise fees, and regulatory charges that can beef up your bill by $5-15 each month.
Also pay close attention when any promotional rates run out. The end of promotional rates is by far the most common reason for price hikes on your internet bill. Some internet providers are better than others about keeping their prices consistent.
How to Lower Your Ohio Internet Bill
Use your own modem
Invest in your own compatible modem and Wi-Fi router instead of renting from your ISP and watch those monthly equipment fees vanish. Just make sure you snag a DOCSIS 3.1 certified modem if you’re going with cable internet. You’ll probably make back what you spent within a year.
Downgrade your plan
If your household is fine with dialing back the speed, switch to a cheaper monthly plan with fewer Mbps. And if you can, try to avoid plans with data caps so you don’t get hit with overage charges.
Call customer support
Negotiate with your provider
There may come a time when your promo rates expire, and your new bill is too high. Get on the phone with your ISP and politely inquire about any promotions that could lower your monthly rates. As a loyal customer, you might have access to hush-hush loyalty discounts that newbies can’t get.
Be nice but persistent when you’re making your case. Also, be aware that the first rep you speak to may not have the authority to change your rates. Yelling at that person will not change anything.
Instead, politely and kindly insist on speaking to the manager or agent who is the next level up. And when you get on the phone with that specialist, also be polite. As grandmas used to say, “You’ll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.”
Finding the Best Internet Deal in Your Area of Ohio
Ultimately, your internet costs in Ohio hinge on your connection type, your provider, and your internet speed. All of those factors in turn depend on where you live. If you’re lucky and urban-dwelling, you can snag a basic plan for as little as $30 per month. If you’re in a rural area, even basic DSL is probably going to cost you $50. Though precise numbers are always hard to pin down, the average Ohioan is most likely to spend between $50 and $80 a month for their home internet setup.
Taking it step by step, you can keep your monthly internet costs in check.
4 steps to get the best internet price in Ohio:
1. Figure out what speed you actually need
2. Bring your own router to the table
3. Pick the right plan and provider
4. Negotiate your rate with your ISP when promos expire
Stick to the advice and insights we’ve laid out here, and you’ll be well on your way to securing the most budget-friendly high-speed internet package for your Ohio home.
Consider buying a router
Sources
[1] Yahoo Finance. “Internet Cost Across the United States."
[2] Nerdwallet.com. “How Much is Internet Per Month?"
[3] RentCafe.com. “Cost of Living in Ohio."
[4] FCC.gov. “National Broadband Map."
[5] RuralHealthInfo.org. “Ohio."
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