Indonesia has positioned itself among the countries with the most affordable internet prices in the world. According to the Global Broadband Price League 2026, the country ranks 12th globally in terms of the cheapest fixed broadband internet costs. In the Southeast Asian region, Indonesia performs even better, securing second place, only behind Vietnam.
The study, conducted by Broadband Genie, reveals that the average monthly cost of fixed broadband internet in Indonesia is around USD 10.66, or approximately IDR 181,000. This makes internet access relatively affordable for a large portion of the population compared to global standards. Vietnam, which tops the Southeast Asian ranking, has a slightly lower average cost of USD 10.24 per month.
Within the regional context, Indonesia stands ahead of several neighboring countries, including Malaysia, the Philippines, and even Singapore in terms of affordability. This highlights a significant advantage in internet pricing for Indonesian consumers, especially when compared to more developed digital economies in the region.
On the other end of the spectrum, Timor Leste is identified as the most expensive country for internet services in Southeast Asia. The average monthly cost there reaches approximately USD 124.50, which is significantly higher than its regional counterparts. This sharp contrast reflects the wide disparity in digital infrastructure development across the region.
The variation in internet pricing between countries is influenced by several key factors. Geography plays a major role, particularly in countries composed of islands or remote regions. Indonesia itself, being an archipelago, faces challenges in infrastructure deployment across thousands of islands. However, improvements in fiber optic networks and government-backed digital expansion programs have helped keep prices relatively low.
Infrastructure availability, market competition, and regulatory policies also heavily influence pricing structures. Countries with stronger competition among internet service providers tend to offer more affordable packages to consumers. Additionally, government investment in digital infrastructure can significantly reduce operational costs, leading to lower retail prices.
Despite Indonesia’s advantage in affordability, the country faces a major challenge in internet quality, especially when measured by speed efficiency. While prices are low, performance does not always match global standards. Indonesia’s average internet speed is approximately 31.2 Mbps, which places it behind many regional competitors.
When evaluating cost per Mbps, Indonesia is less competitive. The estimated cost per Mbps stands at around USD 0.34, indicating that users receive relatively lower speed value for the price paid compared to other countries. This suggests that although internet access is cheap, efficiency remains limited.
In contrast, countries like Singapore demonstrate significantly better performance efficiency. Despite having higher overall infrastructure costs, Singapore achieves an average internet speed of up to 410 Mbps. This results in a much lower cost per Mbps, around USD 0.08. Thailand shows a similar level of efficiency, also averaging USD 0.08 per Mbps due to its higher-speed internet infrastructure.
At the global level, Iran ranks as the country with the cheapest fixed broadband internet. The average monthly cost there is approximately USD 2.61, making it the most affordable in the world according to the report.
Overall, Indonesia’s position reflects a mixed digital landscape. While internet access is relatively affordable and widely accessible, the challenge moving forward lies in improving speed, reliability, and infrastructure efficiency. Balancing affordability with higher-quality service will be key to strengthening Indonesia’s digital competitiveness in the coming years.
