The average Aussie household pays $84p/m for NBN, which is way too much IMHO

Tom's Guide

22-05-2025

Cost of living pressures in the past few years have made everything more expensive, including groceries, petrol and, of course, everyday utilities like home broadband. And it's never been more true for the latter, with new research revealing that Aussies are overspending on their NBN plans.
ACCAN's Cost of Connectivity report calls for more affordable broadband, as findings show that almost a third of households spend over 5% of their income on a standard internet bundle, and almost half spend between 2-5% of their income on internet connectivity. ABS data shows the average Aussie salary is around AU$1,975.80 per week, which means some Aussies are forking out at least AU$98.79 (or more) on their monthly internet bill.
Out of the surveyed participants, the average household internet cost was AU$84p/m, which again, is rather exorbitant. To put this into perspective, AU$84p/m costs the same as the average NBN 50 plan, which is great for smaller households of up to 4 users, but not so much for the average family with multiple internet-connected devices.
Further, ACCAN's report found that some 14% of home internet consumers would accept slower download speeds to reduce their bills. This said, NBN Co has indicated that, by 2030, the average Australian household will have at least 40 internet-connected devices – so slower speeds than those currently offered through the NBN may not be viable in the future.
Finding the best NBN deals is my bread and butter, so I know better than most that it pays to shop around for a bangin' bargain on your internet bill — and I refuse to accept that you couldn't get better value on your NBN connection. There are plenty of great cheap NBN plans out there that don't compromise on speeds and service, and offer an insanely attractive price tag.
I've gathered three of my top-rated plans below, all costing under the AU$84p/m average, and overdeliver when it comes to speeds, service and savings. I am no magician, but when it comes to analysing NBN prices, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve. So to add some extra sparkle to the plans I've selected below, all offerings average less than AU$84p/m for the first year, even when the introductory discounts end. That's a huge win in my books.
So without further ado, let the savings begin!
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SpinTel | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$80p/m
Advertising 240Mbps download speeds during the typical evening hours, this SpinTel deal has slashed its introductory outlay completely, now AU$80p/m ongoing. The plan now provides pretty incredible value compared to other providers, as one of the cheapest NBN 250 plans, and it costs less than the average NBN 50 plan, for nearly 5x the speeds!
Do note, though, that this SpinTel plan is only available for addresses with FTTP and HFC connections.
Total minimum cost: AU$80 | Total yearly cost: AU$960
Mate | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$60p/m using code FUTURE30 (for 6 months, then AU$90p/m)
Mate's NBN 100 plan is one of the most inexpensive offerings around, providing 97Mbps speeds during the typical evening hours. This plan is great for up to 4 users working from home, 4K streaming or gaming, and comes complete with unlimited data.
Using our exclusive code FUTURE30, you'll save AU$180 during the first six months with Mate. You'll even get a free subscription to sports streamer, Bein Sports, typically retailing at AU$14.99p/m. Plus, if you want to bundle a phone line, you can add a home voice plan and score an extra AU$10 off discount!
Total minimum cost: AU$60 | Total cost for first year: AU$900 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,080
TPG | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$64.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$94.99p/m)
If you're after a big three plan within the AU$84p/m budget, the options are far and few between. Right now, TPG has some pretty appealing offers on its NBN plans. Its 100Mbps plan is the cheapest compared to other major NBN operators like Optus and Telstra, costing just AU$64.99p/m for the first six months.
There is a slight catch, though; if you do require a modem, you'll need to pay AU$114.95 upfront for a TPG-supplied one. But for AU$180 total savings, this TPG plan is hard to pass up.
Total minimum cost: AU$64.99 | Total cost for first year: AU$959.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,139.88