American households spend $164 billion each year on cable and internet services, according to a new report from doxo. That figure is about 4% of the amount spent on household bills each year.
Drilling down further into the doxoINSIGHTS Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spend Report for 2025 reveals that nearly three-quarters (73%) of U.S. households are paying a cable and internet bill, with the median charge of $121 per month, or $1,452 per year.
“High-speed connectivity is more essential than ever for consumers — driven by remote work, streaming, and smart home innovations — and is a foundational household expense. As we look ahead, we anticipate increases in cable and internet pricing may occur for consumers due to potential tariff impacts on cable and broadband equipment,” said Steve Shivers, doxo co-founder and CEO, in a press release about the report.
“However, some of this is expected to be counterbalanced by increased competition from wireless broadband options.”
States with the highest monthly median bills were:
- Delaware ($157)
- Rhode Island ($150)
- South Dakota ($147)
- Tennessee ($143)
- Alaska ($143)
Cities with the highest median monthly bills were:
- Pittsburgh ($221)
- Milwaukee ($192)
- Denver ($186)
- Portland ($170)
- Charlotte ($165)
Many consumers may be paying more than they expect due to confusing pricing, according to a separate recent report.
According to that report, from Review.org, 84% of American internet customers said the price they paid for the internet or related service (like cable) rose last year, and 59% say they felt misled by the pricing or terms of their plan, according to Review.org’s recent Consumer Trust Survey. The survey polled 1,001 Americans about their internet service.
