Updated October 15, 2026. Data: U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Economic Analysis, state household spending for 2025, released September 30, 2026. Next update: fall 2027.
Americans spent $341 per person on home internet service in 2025, and the total rose 5.5% from 2024. The gap between states is wide: about 6 times from top to bottom. Spending per person was highest in Washington ($824), District of Columbia ($685) and Kansas ($600) and lowest in Idaho ($141), Wisconsin ($178) and Nebraska ($179).
This counts what households paid internet providers for access, such as cable, fiber, DSL and satellite service. Cell phone plans are counted separately, even though many people use them to get online.
A gap this big between states is unusual. Some of it may come from how the department splits bundled phone, TV and internet bills, and from how it assigns providers’ revenue to states, not only from real price differences. Treat the state ranks as rough.
Spending per person in each state
Total spending grew fastest in Colorado (+7.6%), Massachusetts (+7.3%) and Tennessee (+6.9%) and slowest in District of Columbia (-4.3%), Pennsylvania (+1.6%) and Nevada (+2.9%).
Every state: spending per person, 2025
Click a column to sort.
| State | Per person, 2025 | Per person, 2024 | Per person, 2019 | Total change, 2024–25 | Total, 2025 | Share of all spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $341 | $325 | $244 | +5.5% | $116.6B | 0.56% |
| Alabama | $185 | $176 | $138 | +5.6% | $0.96B | 0.38% |
| Alaska | $540 | $510 | $348 | +6.0% | $0.40B | 0.77% |
| Arizona | $231 | $223 | $198 | +4.5% | $1.76B | 0.40% |
| Arkansas | $210 | $200 | $155 | +5.6% | $0.65B | 0.44% |
| California | $447 | $424 | $290 | +5.4% | $17.60B | 0.64% |
| Colorado | $481 | $449 | $290 | +7.6% | $2.89B | 0.70% |
| Connecticut | $354 | $336 | $261 | +5.6% | $1.30B | 0.50% |
| Delaware | $209 | $200 | $169 | +5.4% | $0.22B | 0.33% |
| District of Columbia | $685 | $718 | $536 | -4.3% | $0.48B | 0.69% |
| Florida | $303 | $287 | $218 | +6.4% | $7.10B | 0.46% |
| Georgia | $338 | $320 | $228 | +6.5% | $3.82B | 0.61% |
| Hawaii | $363 | $344 | $264 | +5.6% | $0.52B | 0.57% |
| Idaho | $141 | $135 | $118 | +5.5% | $0.29B | 0.28% |
| Illinois | $291 | $276 | $232 | +5.6% | $3.70B | 0.46% |
| Indiana | $183 | $175 | $134 | +5.5% | $1.28B | 0.34% |
| Iowa | $180 | $173 | $151 | +4.2% | $0.58B | 0.35% |
| Kansas | $600 | $570 | $427 | +5.6% | $1.79B | 1.12% |
| Kentucky | $205 | $195 | $157 | +5.6% | $0.95B | 0.40% |
| Louisiana | $210 | $199 | $156 | +5.4% | $0.97B | 0.40% |
| Maine | $193 | $183 | $134 | +5.6% | $0.27B | 0.29% |
| Maryland | $320 | $304 | $242 | +5.4% | $2.00B | 0.53% |
| Massachusetts | $424 | $396 | $285 | +7.3% | $3.03B | 0.57% |
| Michigan | $193 | $188 | $157 | +3.0% | $1.95B | 0.34% |
| Minnesota | $287 | $274 | $213 | +5.6% | $1.68B | 0.47% |
| Mississippi | $189 | $179 | $140 | +5.6% | $0.56B | 0.41% |
| Missouri | $359 | $342 | $270 | +5.6% | $2.25B | 0.63% |
| Montana | $237 | $226 | $182 | +5.6% | $0.27B | 0.39% |
| Nebraska | $179 | $170 | $137 | +5.6% | $0.36B | 0.31% |
| Nevada | $195 | $191 | $132 | +2.9% | $0.64B | 0.33% |
| New Hampshire | $386 | $368 | $273 | +5.5% | $0.55B | 0.53% |
| New Jersey | $347 | $331 | $265 | +5.3% | $3.31B | 0.51% |
| New Mexico | $234 | $221 | $175 | +5.5% | $0.50B | 0.46% |
| New York | $406 | $385 | $296 | +5.6% | $8.13B | 0.58% |
| North Carolina | $290 | $275 | $221 | +6.8% | $3.25B | 0.52% |
| North Dakota | $221 | $212 | $182 | +5.4% | $0.18B | 0.36% |
| Ohio | $250 | $237 | $183 | +5.6% | $2.97B | 0.45% |
| Oklahoma | $254 | $242 | $197 | +5.6% | $1.05B | 0.53% |
| Oregon | $210 | $198 | $121 | +6.2% | $0.90B | 0.35% |
| Pennsylvania | $317 | $312 | $282 | +1.6% | $4.14B | 0.51% |
| Rhode Island | $275 | $261 | $198 | +5.6% | $0.31B | 0.45% |
| South Carolina | $210 | $202 | $179 | +5.9% | $1.17B | 0.39% |
| South Dakota | $249 | $239 | $218 | +4.9% | $0.23B | 0.44% |
| Tennessee | $215 | $203 | $161 | +6.9% | $1.57B | 0.40% |
| Texas | $477 | $459 | $323 | +5.2% | $15.12B | 0.85% |
| Utah | $365 | $350 | $207 | +5.6% | $1.29B | 0.67% |
| Vermont | $205 | $192 | $149 | +6.5% | $0.13B | 0.31% |
| Virginia | $377 | $356 | $274 | +6.7% | $3.35B | 0.62% |
| Washington | $824 | $787 | $527 | +5.6% | $6.59B | 1.25% |
| West Virginia | $200 | $189 | $146 | +5.6% | $0.35B | 0.38% |
| Wisconsin | $178 | $171 | $151 | +4.4% | $1.06B | 0.31% |
| Wyoming | $299 | $284 | $225 | +5.6% | $0.18B | 0.48% |
Why it matters for small businesses
- Online businesses need reliable service. Internet cost and quality matter if you run a shop, a bookkeeping practice or a design studio from home.
- Home-based businesses still need paperwork. See how to set up an LLC and business license rules in each state.
- Working from home: compare with work from home rates in each state.
Running a business from home?
Form your LLC with ZenBusiness. For coverage, compare business insurance quotes from Simply Business.
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How we counted
- Source: U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Economic Analysis, state personal consumption spending by type of product (released September 30, 2026), category “Internet access,” 2019, 2024 and 2025, in current dollars (not adjusted for inflation).
- Per person: total spending divided by the department’s own population estimate for the same state and year.
- Where it’s counted: spending is assigned to the state where the buyer lives, as best the department can estimate.
- Change compares total spending in 2025 with 2024. Per-person change is a little lower because population grew.
Sources
Cite this data
Reporters and bloggers may use these numbers and charts. Please credit StartBusinessByState and link to this page.
Source: StartBusinessByState, “Internet Spending Was $341 a Person in 2025, and Ranged From $141 to $824,” https://startbusinessbystate.com/internet-spending/ (updated October 15, 2026).
FAQ
How much do Americans spend on internet service?
$341 per person in 2025, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Cell phone plans aren’t included.
Which state spends the most on internet?
Washington ($824 per person), followed by District of Columbia ($685) and Kansas ($600).
Which state spends the least on internet?
Idaho ($141), then Wisconsin ($178) and Nebraska ($179).
Is internet spending rising?
The U.S. total changed +5.5% from 2024 to 2025 before inflation. It grew fastest in Colorado (+7.6%).
Where is this data from?
The U.S. Commerce Department publishes household spending for each state and type of product every fall.
Last updated October 15, 2026 by StartBusinessByState.