How Much Is the Average Phone Bill Per Month?

According to JD Power, the average cell phone bill for a single line is $141/month.

Of course, averages can be deceiving. Costs vary widely depending on whether you go with a major carrier, want a data plan, need multiple lines, etc. Here's a quick look at cost ranges:

Major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon):

• One line: $55-$105
• Two lines: $90-$180
• Family plans: $100-$280

Prepaid and MVNO plans:

• One line: $10-$65
• Two lines: $18-$115
• Family plans: $34-$180

TextNow:

• $0 per line

Understanding how phone plans work and assessing what you actually need can help you pay much less than the average cell phone bill — or even get service for $0 a month.

What influences the cost of the average cell phone bill? 

As you can see, a phone bill for one person runs from $0 on the low end to well over $100. The type of carrier and type of plan you choose makes a big difference.

Let's start with the type of carrier:

• MVNOs can offer lower prices because they lease space on cell networks instead of building their own. They typically offer prepaid plans, without a contract or credit check, making them even more attractive.
• Major carriers build their own networks, which means higher prices. You're probably familiar with the Big 3 major carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Their plans usually require a contract and you pay after each month of service, making them postpaid plans.

The kind of plan makes a difference, too. Ranging from lowest to highest cost, your choices are:

• Free phone service such as TextNow's Free Flex Plan, which gives you free talk & text plus 1GB of free data for specific apps (email, finance, maps, rideshare, and iHeartRadio).
• Talk & text only plans, which have no data but let you message and call.
• Plans with some mobile data, letting you access the internet on the go away from Wi-Fi.
• Unlimited data plans, which might not be truly unlimited but still give you enough mobile data to allow for lots of streaming and other data-intensive activities.

>> Read more: How much data do you really need?

What is the average phone bill for two people?  

Sometimes the price for two lines is the same as simply buying two separate lines of service, but often you do save a little on per-line costs. For example, the top-of-the-line T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan costs $100 for a single line but $170 for two.

Among the MVNO offerings there’s a wide price range, with US Mobile’s By the Gig 2GB plan running only $18 for two lines. But Straight Talk’s Platinum Unlimited plan costs $115 for two. 

>> Read more: The best phone plans for 2 lines

How much is a phone bill for a family plan?  

With family plans, you pay more overall but the per-line cost will likely be lower thanks to multi-line discounts.

On the extreme low end you could pay $34 total for four lines on US Mobile’s lowest By the Gig plan. The catch is all the lines share 2GB of data.

At the high end, T-Mobile's Experience Beyond can run $280 unless you meet all the conditions for its current “third line free” offer. 

>> Read more: The best family phone plans

Tradeoffs that affect how much a phone bill costs

As you can see, there's a huge price range so "the average phone bill" doesn't have to be what you pay. Before you choose a phone plan, consider these trade-offs:

• While postpaid plans tend to be more expensive than prepaid, they are more likely to give you prioritized data and perks like streaming subscriptions. Keep in mind, though, perks are only worth it if you’ll actually use them. See if what's offered actually aligns with your needs. 
• Look over the fine print so you know what you'll get. The Broadband Facts sheets will explain things like data and network speeds and whether taxes and fees are extra or included. Read the plan details to see whether you'd face early termination fees to quit a plan, etc.
• Investigate any discounts, for example when you sign up for AutoPay and/or paperless billing. Some providers offer discounts on cell phone plans for seniors, for military and veterans, etc. You also might be able to get a deal on a new phone (though it may require signing up for a higher-end plan) or on add-ons like streaming services. And .    
• Not every carrier offers family plans or they may offer family plans without a multi-line discount. If there's a discount, learn the requirements. For example, many carriers require all the lines to be new service and you might also lose the discount if you later remove a line.
• Consider a group plan with shared data if you have a mix of light and heavy data users; it can be cheaper than plans that give each line its own data allotment. Some service providers even let you mix and match plans, choosing the right service level for each person. 

>> Read more: Reviewing your phone bill can reveal if you're paying too much.

Switching plans is an easy way to reduce your phone bill cost  

The best time to cut your phone bill is when shopping for a new provider, like when your current postpaid contract is up. Even if you have some time left on your postpaid contract, you might find a contract buy-out offer from another carrier trying to win you over.

Some other tips to help your budget:  

Explore whether changing carriers or switching from postpaid to prepaid makes sense. Prepaid MVNO phone plans tend to be cheaper — although they may not offer as many perks — and they have the added benefit of not endangering your credit score if you pay late.  

Review your mobile data use, too. You’re probably paying too much if you never get close to using your monthly data amount. 

Resist the temptation to upgrade your phone frequently. And when it is time to replace a phone, use a phone bill calculator to figure out whether you can save money by buying a phone outright versus financing through a carrier over time.  

If you’re considering getting off your parents’ phone plan, understand how the added expense will fit your budget. If it’s too costly, consider offering to pay your share of the family plan. 

Explore whether you might qualify for Lifeline, a federal program that helps low-income households pay for phone and internet service.