Mobile data prices around the world 2019.
For smartphone users fond of heavy streaming, mobile data doesn't always come cheap. In fact, the cost of a gigabyte of mobile data varies hugely between countries. UK-based price comparison website cable.co.uk recently released an extensive analysis of mobile data pricing across the globe which focused on 6,313 data plans across 230 countries. The analysis focused on 6,313 data plans in 230 countries with India being named the cheapest.
Indian smartphone users only have to pay $0.26 for a gigabyte of data, ahead of Kyrgyzstan ($0.27) and Kazakhstan ($0.49).
Zimbabwe is at the opposite end of the affordability scale with a gigabyte of data averaging $75.20, a whopping 289 times as much as in India. The following infographic provides an overview of pricing in 15 selected countries with disparities immediately evident in Europe. For example, one gigabyte of data in Italy averages $1.73 while the same amount costs nearly $7 in Germany. People have to pay even more in North America with a gigabyte costing an average of $12.02 in Canada and $12.38 in the United States.
Even though South Korea has been a trailblazer in exceptional mobile infrastructure and lightning fast internet for years, its prices are still quite hefty at around $15 for a gigabyte of mobile data. Smartphone users in Seoul are still better off than those in Switzerland where costs are in excess of $20. Commenting on the worldwide rankings, Dan Howdle, a consumer telecoms analyst at cable.co.uk, said that many of the cheapest countries have excellent mobile and fixed broadband infrastructure so providers can offer large amounts of data at cheap prices. In many cases, the economy dictates that prices must be low, as that's what people can afford.
