Nournews: The cost of fixed-line internet around the world reveals major differences in the telecommunications economy. According to 2026 data, the average monthly price of a fixed internet subscription across 214 countries ranges from $2.61 in Iran to $373.88 in Wallis and Futuna. This is a gap of more than 143 times, showing that internet prices depend not only on technology, but also on geography, market structure, infrastructure costs, exchange rates, and economic policies.

Iran ranks first among the countries with the cheapest fixed internet. It is followed by Ukraine at $5.35, Ethiopia at $6.46, Bangladesh at $7.38, Mongolia at $7.41, Egypt at $7.91, Romania at $8.19, India at $8.82, Nepal at $9.22, and Russia at $9.71.

Next are Vietnam at $10.24, Indonesia at $10.66, Uzbekistan at $12.03, Kyrgyzstan at $13.95, Lebanon at $14.23, China at $14.30, Libya at $14.68, Georgia at $14.87, and Kazakhstan at $15.23.

Among other low-cost countries, Moldova and Belarus each have an average monthly cost of $15.66, followed by Pakistan at $15.96, Papua New Guinea at $17.30, Lithuania at $17.75, Türkiye at $17.76, Bulgaria at $17.87, Argentina at $18.14, Algeria at $18.54, Armenia at $18.71, Chile at $18.74, South Sudan at $18.99, Slovakia at $19.06, Tunisia at $19.10, North Macedonia at $19.23, and the Czech Republic at $19.60.

Myanmar, Peru, Azerbaijan, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, and Thailand also remain in the lower-cost range, with average prices of $20.12, $20.76, $21.18, $21.20, $21.31, $21.84, and $22.30, respectively.

At the other end of the ranking, Wallis and Futuna has the world's most expensive fixed internet, at $373.88 per month. It is followed by Turkmenistan at $286.24, the Turks and Caicos Islands at $252, Saint Barthélemy at $207.26, and Eswatini at $193.31.

Syria, Burundi, Comoros, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and Bermuda are also among the most expensive markets, with average monthly prices of $189.92, $186.46, $175.12, $167.39, $155, and $150, respectively.

Further down the list, the Republic of the Congo has an average cost of $136.54, followed by Seychelles at $134.30, Timor-Leste at $124.50, Curaçao at $121.96, Vanuatu at $117.38, Guam at $115, the Falkland Islands at $112.73, Greenland at $111.45, the U.S. Virgin Islands at $110, Anguilla at $108.29, Mozambique at $108.22, the United Arab Emirates at $105.92, Iceland at $105.08, and the Northern Mariana Islands at $104.99. The United States ranks 167th globally, with an average cost of $80.

A geographical analysis of the data shows that remote and island regions generally face higher costs for building and maintaining telecommunications networks. Polynesia is the most expensive subregion, with an average cost of $118.48, followed by North America at $98.40 and Micronesia at $92.61.

Eastern Europe is the cheapest region, with an average cost of $15.76. North Africa follows at $20.83, while South Asia ranks third at $32.11.

In the full regional ranking, Southern Europe has an average fixed-internet cost of $34.19, East Asia $34.36, Central America $36.23, Southeast Asia $38.64, South America $39.40, West Africa $53.54, Western Europe $55.64, Melanesia $56.72, West Asia $57.11, Northern Europe $58.28, Australia and New Zealand $58.33, East Africa $68.71, Central Asia $70.47, Central Africa $74.97, Southern Africa $83.25, and the Caribbean $90.04.

However, Iran's position requires an important analytical caveat. The figure of $2.61 does not necessarily mean that internet is the most affordable in Iran in terms of purchasing power. The study converts prices into U.S. dollars, and the depreciation of the Iranian rial against the dollar makes the nominal price of internet services in Iran appear extremely low.

Therefore, to assess whether internet is truly affordable, its price should be considered alongside household income, inflation, and other living costs. These factors are not directly measured by this ranking.

Market structure is also important. In Ukraine, the presence of multiple providers and the widespread development of fiber-optic networks have helped reduce prices. In Bangladesh, a fragmented market and low profit margins have kept consumer prices relatively low.

By contrast, in Turkmenistan, market control by a state-owned provider and limited competition are among the factors contributing to very high prices. In Wallis and Futuna, geographical isolation and the high cost of infrastructure are the main reasons for expensive internet services.