Mobile data price per GB by country: the most complete ranking for travelers [2026]

In short: the average cost of 1GB of mobile data worldwide will be $2.59 in 2026, down from $8.18 in 2019, according to Cable.co.uk's Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing study (237 countries, 5,603 plans). The cheapest is Israel ($0.02) and the most expensive is Zimbabwe ($43.75): a difference of more than 2,000 times.

What this ranking actually measures and where the data comes from

Each year, the British comparison site Cable.co.uk compiles thousands of mobile data tariffs from operators worldwide and calculates the average price per gigabyte in each country. In the 2026 edition, the study analyzed 5,603 mobile data tariffs in 237 countries and territories, making it likely the most comprehensive data price comparison exercise globally.

The report's headline is striking: the global average price per GB will be $2.59 in 2026, down from $8.18 in 2019. This is a very significant drop in just seven years, and it confirms something that any frequent traveler intuitively knows: mobile data, generally speaking, has become much cheaper much faster than almost any other travel expense.

That said, a global average hides brutal differences between countries. And that's where this ranking becomes really useful for travelers: not all destinations are the same, not by a long shot, and that information matters when deciding how you're going to connect while away from home.

The extremes of the ranking: the cheapest and most expensive countries on the planet

According to Cable.co.uk, the country with the cheapest mobile data GB in the world in 2026 is Israel, with an average price of just $0.02 per gigabyte. At the other extreme is Zimbabwe, where the same gigabyte costs an average of $43.75. To get an idea of the magnitude: buying 1GB in Zimbabwe is equivalent, in price, to buying more than 2,000GB in Israel.

This gap is not due to differences in per capita income or the size of the economy, but mainly to how much real competition there is between operators in each market and what network infrastructure is deployed. A country with several aggressive operators vying for customers tends to have very low prices; a market with few operators, limited networks, or unstable economic environments tends to have very high prices, even if the country's income level is low.

A rich country doesn't mean cheap GB (nor vice versa)

This is probably the most useful lesson from Cable.co.uk's ranking: a country's economic development level does not predict the price of its mobile data. The United States, the world's largest economy, ranks 219th out of 237 with an average price of $6.00 per GB, one of the highest on the planet. Switzerland, at $7.29 per GB, fares even worse. Canada is at $5.37 and New Zealand at $5.89.

And yet, Australia — also a developed economy — has an average price of just $0.44 per GB. Denmark is at $0.69 and Germany at $2.14. Three rich countries, three completely different results and very far from what Americans, Swiss, Canadians, or New Zealanders pay.

The usual explanation from industry analysts has nothing to do with the country's wealth, but rather with how many operators truly compete for customers, how aggressive that price competition is, and what type of regulation exists in the telecommunications market. Markets with few large operators and strong sector control tend to maintain high prices even in highly developed economies.

Developing countries leading the lowest prices

According to Cable.co.uk, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Kyrgyzstan are among the ten countries with the cheapest GB of data in the world, in the same bracket as Israel. This is a pattern that is repeated edition after edition of the study: some of the cheapest data markets on the planet are in Central and South Asia, not Western Europe or North America.

In these markets, there is usually a combination of a large population, several operators aggressively competing for market share, and, in some cases, a regulatory framework that has favored the entry of new competitors. The result is that data prices plummet for local consumers, even if the country as a whole has a much lower per capita income than the U.S. or Switzerland.

Why the global average price has fallen so much since 2019

The drop from $8.18 per GB in 2019 to $2.59 in 2026 — a decline of approximately two-thirds in seven years, according to Cable.co.uk — is no accident. Generally, qualitatively, the factors typically cited to explain this type of global price reduction are the maturation of 4G and 5G networks in an increasing number of countries, the entry of new operators into previously highly concentrated markets, and increasing price pressure among providers competing for the same customer.

In the specific case of Europe, it is worth remembering a verifiable regulatory fact unrelated to this study: since 2017, the "Roam Like At Home" (RLAH) mechanism has been in force in the European Union, eliminating roaming surcharges between the 27 member countries. This means that a Spaniard traveling to France, Italy, or Portugal uses their home data plan at no additional cost. This regulatory framework is not reflected as such in Cable.co.uk's local pricing ranking — which measures what a local resident pays, not a tourist roaming — but it helps to understand why a traveler's experience within the EU is so different from that of someone leaving that bloc.

Outside the European Union, however, a traveler using their Spanish operator's roaming pays tariffs set by agreements between international operators, which do not necessarily bear any relation to the local price per GB in the destination country. That's why destinations with very cheap local data — like the Asian countries mentioned above — can still be very expensive for roaming if measures are not taken to avoid it.

What all this means for you as a traveler

Cable.co.uk's ranking measures the price paid by a local resident with a local line from that country, not what a tourist pays with international roaming. These are two distinct markets and, almost always, two different prices. Even so, the data is very useful for travelers:

• Check if your destination is in the EU with RLAH. If you are traveling within the 27 countries of the European Union, your home data plan should work without extra cost since 2017. Outside this bloc, it is advisable to plan your connection before leaving.
• Don't confuse "cheap country to live in" with "cheap country for roaming." As you can see in the ranking, neither the United States nor Switzerland have particularly cheap local data, and roaming from Spain to those destinations is usually even more expensive than the local price.
• Compare before leaving, not upon arrival. The local price of a country doesn't tell you what you will pay as a visitor; what you can control is contracting a travel eSIM before your flight, with the price and GB locked in beforehand.
• Think about data, not just price per GB. A slightly more expensive plan per GB but with more reliable coverage at your destination might be more worthwhile than chasing the lowest possible price.

This is where a travel eSIM like PuraSIM comes in: it allows you to activate data in more than 200 destinations before leaving home, with the plan price fixed from the start, without depending on the local GB price in the country you're visiting or your Spanish operator's roaming rates. And if anything goes wrong during your trip, you have 24/7 email and WhatsApp support to resolve it without needing to find a physical store in a country you don't know.

If you want to better understand the difference between traditional data roaming and a travel eSIM, you can read our guide on what data roaming is and this comparison of eSIM vs. roaming. And if you've never used an eSIM, the activation process is simple: we explain it step-by-step in how to install an eSIM.

How travel eSIM prices compare across destinations

This article focuses on the price per GB for a local resident, which is the data measured by Cable.co.uk. If you're looking to specifically compare the cost of a travel eSIM by destination, we have an analysis dedicated to that in our eSIM price ranking by destination, where we go into detail about which areas of the world are more cost-effective for specific travelers, not residents.

It's also worth reviewing how roaming specifically from Spain behaves, with our own data on the consumption habits of Spanish travelers abroad, which you can consult in our roaming statistics for Spaniards abroad. And if your profile is that of someone who travels extensively or works while on the go, you'll be interested in our guide for digital nomads, with recommendations designed for longer stays than a vacation trip.

For specific destinations with a high volume of Spanish travelers, you can directly check the available plans: for example, the eSIM for Europe if you're traveling within the continent outside your operator's coverage, or the eSIM for the United States, a destination that, as we've seen, has one of the highest local data prices in the world ranking.

Frequently asked questions about the price of data GB by country

Which country has the cheapest data GB in the world in 2026?

Israel, with an average price of $0.02 per gigabyte, according to Cable.co.uk's Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing study (2026 edition). India, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Kyrgyzstan are also among the ten cheapest countries in the ranking.

Which country has the most expensive data GB in the world?

Zimbabwe, with an average price of $43.75 per gigabyte, according to the same Cable.co.uk study. It is the highest price among the 237 countries and territories analyzed.

What is the average cost of data GB worldwide in 2026?

$2.59, down from $8.18 in 2019, according to the Cable.co.uk report based on 5,603 tariffs analyzed in 237 countries.

Why is mobile data so expensive in the United States if it is a rich country?

According to Cable.co.uk, the U.S. ranks 219th out of 237 with an average price of $6.00 per GB. A country's wealth level does not determine the price of its data: factors such as the number of truly competing operators and the degree of market regulation have a greater influence. Australia, for example, is also a developed country and its average price is only $0.44 per GB.

Is the local GB price in a country the same as what I will pay for roaming when I travel there?

No. Cable.co.uk's ranking measures what a resident with a local line from that country pays, not what a tourist pays with international roaming. Both prices can be very different: therefore, it is advisable to compare travel eSIM options before leaving instead of assuming that the local price will apply to you.

Does roaming within the European Union still have a surcharge?

No, since 2017 the "Roam Like At Home" mechanism has been in force in the 27 countries of the European Union, eliminating roaming surcharges between these countries. Outside the EU, each operator applies its own roaming rates, which are usually much higher.

Do I need a travel eSIM if I go to a country with cheap local data, like India?

It depends on how long you will be staying and whether it is worth the hassle of getting a local line. The cheap local price measured by Cable.co.uk applies to residents with local documentation, it is not always equally accessible for a passing tourist. A travel eSIM activated before leaving saves you that hassle, with the price fixed from home and coverage in more than 200 destinations.

Conclusion

Cable.co.uk's ranking sends a clear message to any traveler: the price of mobile data does not depend on whether a country is rich or poor, but on how much real competition exists between its operators. And although the global average has dropped from $8.18 to $2.59 per GB since 2019, this improvement coexists with extremes such as Zimbabwe's $43.75 or Israel's $0.02. For the Spanish traveler, the practical conclusion is simple: the local price of your destination is not the price you will pay, so compare and decide on your connection before leaving, not upon landing.

Written by Marc González Sáez Founder of PuraSim and a specialist in eSIM and connectivity for travelers. He has been helping people travel connected worldwide for years without overpaying for roaming, and personally tests eSIMs in each destination before recommending them.