Internet is Most Expensive in Uruguay; Cheapest in Paraguay

Paraguay is your best option for cheap Internet in Latin America.

The monthly cost of Internet and phone services in Paraguay amounts to only US$19.80, the lowest in the region. In contrast, Internet is most expensive in Uruguay, where the average monthly bill is around US$45.30.

The second and third most expensive countries for Internet services are Ecuador and Mexico, with average monthly prices of US$35.70 and US$32.50, respectively. Peru (US$30.40), Colombia (US$26.10), Chile (US$24), Brazil (US$23.40) and Argentina (US$21) round out the rankings.

Experts point to infrastructure, government regulations and competition as key factors influencing these price variations.

In Uruguay, for instance, limited competition and high operational costs might be driving the high prices. Conversely, Paraguay’s focus on fostering competition through policy initiatives appears to be paying off, leading to lower costs for consumers.

Argentina and Paraguay have similar internet access prices. However, Argentina boasts a much higher internet penetration rate at 86.4%, second in the region only to Chile’s (90.7%).

This high penetration rate coincides with a government decree in August 2020 that classified telecom services as essential public utilities and established price regulation through the National Communications Entity (Enacom).