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US customers can pay 20 times more for their data plans than those in the EU
July 20, 2025
It’s no secret that some US customers spend a small fortune on mobile call and data plans, and with a new world of digital music and video content out there, big data bundles are becoming a way of life. However, the difference in price between the US and the EU turns out to be quite staggering. According to data collected by the International Telecommunications Union, the difference can be up to twenty times more expensive.
In the UK, France, and Sweden, unlimited data packages can be found for as little as £27 ($41), which is quite reasonable. The US has seen some price cuts, with unlimited call and data packages dropping from $180 to $80 a month at one operator, but that is at the very least double the price. At its most extreme, around 50 gigabytes of data, unlimited texts and international calls can be found in France for as little as €20 (€21.50) per month, while an equivalent plan the US can cost as much as $390.
The reason for the huge gap is said to quite simply be one of competition. The cheapest and most diverse mobile markets in the EU each have at least four major carriers and quite often a number of smaller networks buying up lines from wholesale. Although the US has a number of major players, coverage is more hit and miss across different regions, meaning that there may only be two major carriers and a smaller local option to choose from in some places. Less competition usually leads to higher prices.
Although the EU market may appear highly competitive from the consumer’s point of view, the European Commission has been heavily regulating parts of the industry and imposing mandatory downwards pressure on prices. The Parliament also recently announced a price cap on roaming charges for 2017, limiting the costs to the same as domestic charges.
Of course, not everyone buys this as a legitimate excuse to hike up prices or to impose expensive penalty charges on consumers for breaching allowances, something which is far more common in the US than in the EU.
There is clearly a major price difference between the two regions, but the US market has seen its share of increased competition lately, with a number of carriers shaking up their mobile plans. T-Mobile is now allowing customers to stream from popular video services without eating into their data allowance, while Verizon has just been given the all clear to bringWiFi calling to its network.
Do you think that your monthly mobile allowance and bill offers good value for money?
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