Compare: Internet Cost In NZ And Australia

Date Dec 8, 2021
Blog category Broadband
By Staff Writer
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How does the internet cost in NZ differ from that of Australia's? People outside of NZ and Australia tend to refer to these countries as one — as if both are the same in terms of inhabitants, services, culture, and infrastructure.

If you’re from NZ and moved to Australia or vice-versa, you’ll notice a difference in internet speed and cost. After all, it’s the most essential thing for travellers and immigrants. Without the internet, it will be difficult to reach family and friends overseas.

To start, let’s check the average internet speed in NZ and Australia

In the latest Worldwide Broadband Speed League rankings, New Zealand landed at the 20th spot and Australia at 55th out of 224 countries.

NZ recorded an average download speed of 92.05 Mbps and upload speeds of 24.61 Mbps.

Meanwhile, Australia got an average download speed of 51.89 Mbps and upload speeds of 18.15 Mbps, which is significantly slower than the country's recorded mobile internet download speed of 126.97 Mbps.

Source: Statistica 

Average internet cost per month: NZ versus Australia

New Zealand 

Cost per month 
Entry Level (60GB; 10Mbps) $65
Medium user (150GB; 30Mbps) $73
High-user (500GB-unlimited; 100Mbps) $73
Ultra-high user (500GB-unlimited; 900Mbps) $73

Read more about it here: How Much Internet Speed Do You Really Need At Home?

Australia

Cost per month 
Entry Level (60GB; 10Mbps) $51
Medium user (150GB; 30Mbps) $65
High-user (500GB-unlimited; 100Mbps) $85
Ultra-high user (500GB-unlimited; 900Mbps) $150

Read: The Best Broadband Providers For Streaming

Another distinction is that NZ’s Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB) is far more available throughout the country than Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN).

This means that in New Zealand, regardless of location, all households, schools, businesses, and other establishments have access to lightning-speed broadband or fibre, wireless, and satellite connections.

In Australia, priority is given to central business districts and universities, primarily in major cities, with copper-wire broadband plans available in the rest of the country.

  • NBN 12 plans (basic speed 12Mbps download/ 1Mbps upload ) - $50 to $70 per month
  • NBN 25 plans (standard 25Mbps download/ 10Mbps upload) - around $60 to $75 per month
  • NBN 50 plans (standard plus 50Mbps download/ 20Mbps upload) - around $65 to $100 per month
  • NBN 100 plans (premium 100Mbps download/ 20-40Mbps upload) - around $85 to $130 per month
  • NBN 250 plans (home superfast 250Mbps download/ 25Mpbs upload) - around $110 to $140 per month
  • NBN 1000 plans (home ultrafast 1000Mbps download/ 50Mbps upload) - around $150 to $180 per month

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Read: How Much Is The Average Grocery Bill In NZ?

Is internet in NZ more expensive than Australia?

The cost of the internet in New Zealand is higher than in Australia due to the national maintenance and construction of internet cables and other infrastructure. As fibre becomes more available in most parts of the country, Kiwi-owned broadband providers encourage households to upgrade from VDSL and ADSL to fibre.

Looking for fast and stable broadband near you?

Get lightning speed internet when you compare NZ broadband plans and providers using the CompareBear comparison tool for FREE. Browse through our catalogue of internet providers and find which plan suits you best. #MakeASwitch today!