The monthly cost of broadband varies wildly depending on where you live in the UK. Researchers have dug into the price of full-fibre internet in dozens of cities nationwide and revealed a huge disparity.
Cardiff has the most affordable broadband anywhere in the UK, costing on average £15 per month. At the other end of the scale, Scotland has been identified as the country with cities like Perth and Dunfermline boasting the most expensive broadband, with bills sitting at £24 per month.
This stark difference means Scottish broadband users pay up to 64% more than their Welsh counterparts.
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The study compared the cost of broadband plans with 100Mbps average download speeds. That’s a little faster than the average household broadband speed in the UK, which sits at 69Mbps.
Netflix recommends a minimum of 5Mbps to stream its shows and films in High Definition (HD), so average download speeds of 100Mbps will be more than enough for busy households with multiple people streaming video, backing-up data to the cloud, installing software updates, and more.
Researchers have mapped out the average price for 100Mbps download speeds across the UK, showing the disparity between costs in different cities
BROADBAND SAVVY
Openreach, also owned and operated by BT, is steadily upgrading 26 million homes to full-fibre broadband connections ahead of its self-imposed 2026 deadline. Back in April, Ofcom data confirmed that 8 out of 10 homes across the UK can now access eye-wateringly fast gigabit broadband speeds.
The latest research into broadband pricing was conducted by BroadbandSavvy.com on October 1, 2024. The findings reveal a growing digital divide in the UK, with some cities benefiting from competitive pricing from smaller full-fibre firms, while others face considerably higher costs for identical speeds.
According to the research, the presence of alternative network providers, so-called “alt-nets”, can contribute dramatically to cutting broadband prices in your local area.
Brands like Community Fibre, Gigaclear, KCOM, Zen Internet, and Hyperoptic are often hyper-localised internet suppliers focused on building out smaller networks of next-generation fibre-optic internet in rural areas or parts of major cities often overlooked by the biggest players.
If these alt-nets are available, these suppliers drive competition and undercut some of the biggest broadband providers, like BT, Sky, Vodafone, and TalkTalk.
For example, when the researchers looked into the affordable broadband prices in Wales, they discovered that suppliers like YouFibre and Ogi offer broadband for around £15 – £20 per month, contributing to Cardiff’s status as the cheapest city for broadband. In contrast, the largest Scottish cities typically rely on Virgin Media or City Fibre, which charge approximately £24 – £25 monthly for 100Mbps internet.
The impact of altnets is clear — their mere presence can substantially reduce broadband costs for consumers in certain regions, the researchers concluded. Interestingly, this study comes just a few weeks after new data confirmed that a record number of British broadband customers have turned their backs on brands that rely on infrastructure from BT-owned Openreach in favour of alt-nets. In total, 196,000 people ditched Openreach’s network in three months to the end of June — its worst drop yet.
The team at BroadbandSavvy.com overlaid the average price for 100Mbps broadband on a UK map.
There is a significant price disparity across UK cities. Hereford, Ripon, Truro, and Westminster in England, along with Bangor, St. Asaph, and St. Davids in Wales, have the most expensive broadband at £26 per month.
This is 76% more than Cardiff’s £15 monthly rate for the same download speeds.
In Cardiff, consumers can save £109.20 per year on broadband compared to the UK average. The disparity is stark when comparing different regions. For instance, over a 24-month contract, Scottish consumers could pay £231 more than those in Cardiff for similar services.
Large population centres generally benefit from lower prices due to the presence of multiple providers. London residents can typically access fast broadband for under £22 per month.
Smaller cities, however, are more likely to be limited to a single fibre network, like Openreach or Virgin Media, often resulting in higher costs.
This urban-rural divide in broadband pricing could have significant implications for consumers and businesses alike. Those in areas with limited alt-net presence may find themselves at a financial disadvantage.
As the digital economy continues to grow, addressing these regional disparities in broadband pricing could become crucial for ensuring equal access to affordable high-speed internet across the UK, the researchers have stated. Consumers are advised to research available providers in their area to secure the best possible deals.