How Much Does 1GB of Data Cost in Your Country? Find Out Now!

More than half of the world’s population relies on mobile phones daily.

Even in a highly competitive market, mobile networks have continued to broaden their reach.

Almost a billion people have gained access to mobile data services in the last five years alone.

Despite the increasing Prevalence of these networks globally, the cost of gaining access – particularly mobile data – can vary greatly from country to country.

This article is for you if you want to know the average price of one gigabyte of data in other countries.

This chart uses data from Cable.co.uk to show what network providers charge for 1GB of data in 155 different countries and jurisdictions.

Despite the mobile economy’s ever-expanding global reach, it’s clear that it is not anywhere near complete accessibility.

Differences in mobile data cost

Study authors have pinpointed several vital factors influencing the variations in mobile data rates between countries.

1. Available infrastructure (or lack of it) might sound contradictory, but most service providers rely on a fixed-line connection. Therefore, countries with available infrastructure can offer mobile plans with more data and cheaper rates. This is the case for Italy and India. At the same time, countries with little or no infrastructure rely on more expensive connection alternatives like satellites.
2. Reliance on mobile data: When mobile data is the primary source of the internet in a certain region, adoption can become nearly universal. This increased demand typically increases competing providers, reducing the cost. An excellent example of this is Kyrgyzstan.
3. Low data consumption: countries with poor infrastructures tend to use less data. The average cost of data in such regions may skew higher since the available mobile plans offer smaller data limits. Examples of companies under this category are Benin and Malawi.
4. The average income of consumers: Mobile services are relatively higher in wealthy nations since most of the population can afford to pay more; the operating costs for service providers are higher. This is apparent in countries like Germany and Canada.

Cheapest Countries for 1 GB of Data

The cost variation among the cheapest countries for mobile data is still significant. Here’s a list of the top five most affordable countries for one gigabyte of data.

India is at the number one spot at $0.09 per GB, a 65% drop in price compared to the country’s average price in 2019.

But the big question is, why is data so cheap in India? A major factor is the country’s fierce market competition, influenced by Reliance Jio – a telecom company owned by one of the largest conglomerates in India, Reliance Industries.

Launched in 2016, Reliance Jio started offering customers free trial periods and monthly plans for less than a dollar.

This pushed other providers to drop their pricing, crumbling the overall cost of data in the region.

However, India’s cheaper-than-usual prices may soon end, as they are likely unsustainable in the long term.

Another country worth mentioning is Kyrgyzstan, ranked third with $0.21 per GB, ahead of Italy and Ukraine.

This ranking is a shock given the region’s minimal fixed-line infrastructure and overpopulated rural setting.

Researchers believe the low cost results from the country’s heavy reliance on mobile data as the major source of the Internet.

Most Expensive Countries for 1GB of Data

Making the top five list of most expensive countries for one gigabyte of data.

A major player behind the high data price in SSA is its lack of infrastructure. With overworked networks, the data bundles offered in the region are generally smaller.

This results in a spike in the average cost per GB compared to countries with unlimited packages.

Another factor influencing SSA’s high costs is its lack of market competition. Countries with multiple competing network providers, like Nigeria, tend to have reduced costs.

The Full Breakdown

The table below has a comprehensive list of all 155 countries and jurisdictions included in the research.

It helps showcase the stark contrast in the price of mobile data between the cheapest and most expensive countries globally.

Fascinatingly, the cheapest average cost is 30.000% less than the highest average price.

The Technology Gap

Will we continue to see an increase in the technology gap between countries, or will we attain a point of equal accessibility across the globe?

With the adoption of 5G networks, just seven countries are expected to constitute the majority of 5G-related investments. Only time will tell what this means for global adoption.