Internet and mobile phone costs are a fixed household expense that many New Zealanders overpay on. NZ broadband prices have improved significantly since the ultrafast fibre rollout, but many households are on legacy plans or with providers charging well above the market rate.
The average NZ household pays $75–$100/month for fibre broadband and $35–$65/month per person for mobile. If you're paying more than $90/month for broadband or $60/month for mobile (without significant data needs), you're likely overpaying — switching providers typically saves $15–$40/month with no change in service quality.
Fibre Broadband — Average and Market Prices (2026)
NZ’s fibre network (UFB) covers approximately 87% of the population, with Chorus and LFCs providing the physical infrastructure. Retail providers sell internet access over the top.
Popular fibre broadband plans
| Provider | Plan | Monthly price | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skinny | Fibre 300 | $65/month | 300/100 Mbps |
| 2degrees | Fibre Start | $70/month | 300/100 Mbps |
| MyRepublic | Fibre 300 | $70/month | 300/100 Mbps |
| Slingshot | Fibre 300 | $72/month | 300/100 Mbps |
| Spark | Fibre 300 | $85/month | 300/100 Mbps |
| One NZ (Vodafone) | Fibre 300 | $85/month | 300/100 Mbps |
| Spark | Fibre 900 | $100/month | 900/500 Mbps |
| One NZ | Fibre 900 | $100/month | 900/500 Mbps |
What speed do you need?
| Household usage | Recommended plan |
|---|---|
| Basic browsing, streaming (1–2 devices) | Fibre 300 |
| Streaming HD/4K on multiple devices | Fibre 300 |
| Remote work with video calls | Fibre 300 (upload speed matters) |
| Household with multiple heavy users | Fibre 900+ |
| Gaming enthusiast | Fibre 300+ with low latency focus |
For most households, Fibre 300 is sufficient. The upgrade to Fibre 900 is rarely necessary for residential use.
Non-Fibre Options
Not all NZ addresses have fibre. Alternative options:
| Connection type | Monthly cost | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| VDSL (via copper) | $55 – $80 | 20–100 Mbps | Pre-fibre areas |
| Fixed wireless (4G/5G) | $70 – $105 | 25–200 Mbps | Rural / suburban areas |
| Starlink (satellite) | $175 – $200 | 100–300 Mbps | Remote rural areas |
| Rural broadband (RBI2) | $65 – $90 | 25 Mbps | Rural towns |
Starlink is significantly more expensive but has transformed internet access for remote farms and properties outside the fixed wireless coverage zone.
Mobile Phone Plans — NZ 2026
Prepay plans (no contract)
| Provider | Monthly cost | Data | Calls/texts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skinny | $10 | 2 GB | Unlimited NZ/AU |
| 2degrees | $14 | 3 GB | Unlimited NZ |
| Skinny | $19 | 6 GB | Unlimited NZ/AU |
| 2degrees | $24 | 8 GB | Unlimited NZ |
| Spark (Prepay) | $29 | 8 GB | Unlimited NZ |
Monthly plans (contract or SIM-only)
| Provider | Monthly cost | Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skinny | $29 | 10 GB | SIM-only, no contract |
| 2degrees | $35 | 15 GB | SIM-only |
| One NZ (Vodafone) | $40 | 12 GB | SIM-only |
| Spark | $40 | 15 GB | SIM-only |
| One NZ | $55 | 30 GB | SIM-only |
| Spark | $55 | 30 GB | SIM-only |
| One NZ | $75 | Unlimited | 5G capable |
| Spark | $80 | Unlimited | 5G capable |
Average Spend by Household Type
| Household | Internet | Mobile (combined) | Total monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person | $75 | $40 | $115 |
| Couple | $80 | $75 | $155 |
| Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens) | $90 | $170 | $260 |
| Flatmates (3 people, shared broadband) | $90 ÷ 3 = $30 each | $40 each | $70 each |
Are You Overpaying? — How to Check
Step 1: Find your current monthly broadband cost (check your bank statement or email receipts).
Step 2: Compare at broadbandcompare.co.nz or Glimp NZ — both aggregate current market prices.
Step 3: If you’re paying more than $90/month for standard Fibre 300, call your provider and ask for a retention discount. Providers routinely offer $10–$20/month discounts to customers who threaten to leave.
Step 4: If no discount is offered, switch. Most providers offer:
- $0 setup fee
- Pre-configured modem supplied or included in price
- Switch without interruption if staying on the same physical infrastructure
Bundling — Does It Save Money?
NZ providers often offer bundles of broadband + mobile + sometimes TV.
| Bundle type | Worth it? |
|---|---|
| Broadband + mobile (same provider) | Sometimes — compare unbundled prices first |
| Broadband + Sky TV | Rarely — streaming services are usually cheaper |
| Broadband + landline | Avoid — landlines are mostly unused |
Spark and One NZ frequently offer bundle discounts of $5–$15/month when you take both broadband and mobile from the same provider. This can be worthwhile if their individual prices are already competitive.
How to Switch Broadband Providers
- Choose a new provider and sign up online — most NZ providers handle the switch for you
- Your new provider contacts Chorus (or the relevant LFC) to transfer your connection
- Your current contract is cancelled — check your notice period (usually 30 days for month-to-month, or an early termination fee for fixed-term contracts)
- Most switches happen with less than 1 hour of downtime
The modem from your old provider stays with you if you owned it, or is returned if it was a rental.