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Access to a smartphone is a necessity for most people, but depending on where you're based in the world, the price of running one can vary greatly. There are many factors that play a role when it comes to pricing—namely taxes, operational costs, and competition. But which nations pay the least (and the most) for a monthly cell phone plan?
In this gallery, you'll find the answer to this question. The average price of a standard plan with calls and 10GB+ data is calculated based on data from the cost of living site Numbeo. All prices are in US dollars. Click through to get started.
A cell phone plan in India is incredibly cheap, at $3.75 per month. Some areas struggle with broadband coverage, so mobile data is a good and affordable alternative.
Russia has a fairly competitive market when it comes to cell phone plan providers. Despite the increase in prices since the conflict with Ukraine broke out, they're still among the cheapest in the world, at $4.63.
Indonesia has a number of companies providing cell phone plans, and the competition helps keep prices down. Indonesians pay an average of $4.65 per month for a plan.
Ukraine operators managed to keep prices affordable despite the ongoing conflict with Russia. Kyivstar even made an agreement with Elon Musk's Starlink to bring direct-to-cell satellite connectivity to the country. Prices are around $5.04 per month.
High competition and low operational costs make Poland one of the cheapest countries in Europe to run a cell phone. Monthly plans come in at around $8.56.
Colombia is the cheapest country in the Americas to run a cell phone. Claro, Movistar, and Tigo are among the biggest market players. On average, Colombians pay $8.83 per month for a plan.
The prices of cell phone plans in Turkey have increased a lot over the last couple of years, but they remain fairly low overall, at $9.58 per month.
Malaysia has pretty affordable monthly phone plans, at $10.01 per month. Some residents also benefit from government subsidizing programs to afford them.
China's Great Firewall may block a lot of internet content from users, but it doesn't slow down the market, which is huge in the country. The price of a monthly plan in China comes in at around $10.41.
Peruvians pay an average of $11.34 per month for a plan that includes calls and 10GB+ data. Claro and Movistar are among the most popular providers.
Chile enjoys very similar prices to its neighbor Peru, with an average monthly price of $11.35 for a cell phone plan.
Italy has the most affordable cell phone plans in Western Europe. Monthly plans come in at $11.97, which is pretty cheap, considering the wages in this country.
Cell phones in Brazil can be expensive due to the import taxes imposed by the Brazilian government. Prices of monthly plans, however, are not as expensive, at $12.70 per month.
Thailand has a thriving cell phone market. The average price for a monthly plan is $13.14. AIS, True, DTAC, and Tot Mobile, are among the biggest market players.
The UK comes in second after Italy as the cheapest Western European nation to run a cell phone. Plan prices average $15.44 per month.
Singapore has seen prices of phone monthly plans decrease over the last decade. Nowadays, a monthly plan with Singtel, StarHub, M1, or any other provider, will set you back around $16.46.
Providers such as Claro, Movistar, and Personal dominate the market in the South American nation. Monthly plans cost around $17.86.
Spain still has relatively affordable cell phone plans, at an average of $17.88 per month. The introduction of mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) helped to keep prices competitive.
The cost of running a cell phone in Austria increased for most clients of traditional providers. Some newcomers have however kept prices relatively low. The average monthly plan costs $18.52.
Mexicans pay quite a lot for their cell phone plans, considering the national wages. The average monthly price comes in at $21.25.
Three, Vodafone and Eir dominate the Irish market, but they have plenty of MVNOS competition. A monthly plan comes in at around $21.32 per month.
Running a cell phone in Belgium doesn't come very cheap, but it's still relatively affordable, taking into account the salaries in the country. Monthly plans cost an average of $21.46.
Dutch customers can choose from a variety of providers, some of which offer competitive prices. When it comes to the average, a monthly plan costs $22.64.
French customers pay an average of $24.28 for a monthly plan including calls and 10GB+ data.
The Japanese market is dominated by providers such as Docomo, AU, and Softbank. Running a cell phone in Japan will set you back around $24.87 per month.
Aussie customers pay top prices when it comes to monthly cell phone plans. The cost averages at $25.70.
The German market is dominated by providers such as Telekom, Vodafone, and O2. As for prices, expect to pay around $25.96 for a monthly plan.
South Africa comes next on the list with pretty hefty prices, taking into account the country's average wages. Running a cell phone in South Africa costs around $29.60 per month.
For many years, the country only had two providers: Globe and Smart. The arrival of competitors such as Dito Telecommunity spiced things up, but prices remain on the expensive side, at $29.63 per month. This is especially high considering the average monthly salary is less than $400.
New Zealand has fairly high prices when it comes to cell phone plans, with an average of $32.88 per month.
KT, LG U+, and SK Telecom are the major players in the cell phone market in South Korea. As for prices, the monthly bill is around $38.01.
Canada is among the most expensive countries to run a cell phone. The three big providers are Bell, Rogers, and Telus. Customers pay an average of $43.64 for a monthly plan.
Switzerland is the most expensive country in Europe to run a cell phone. An average monthly plan costs around $48.42.
The US is the runner-up when it comes to the most expensive nations to run a cell phone. American customers pay around $56.69 for a monthly plan.
The top spot goes to the UAE. The country is known for being pricey, and cell phone plans are no exception at $59.88 per month.
Sources: (Love Money) (Numbeo)
See also: How your smartphone can lead to serious health problems
How much it costs to run a cell phone around the world
The most and least expensive countries
LIFESTYLE Money
Access to a smartphone is a necessity for most people, but depending on where you're based in the world, the price of running one can vary greatly. There are many factors that play a role when it comes to pricing—namely taxes, operational costs, and competition. But which nations pay the least (and the most) for a monthly cell phone plan?
In this gallery, you'll find the answer to this question. The average price of a standard plan with calls and 10GB+ data is calculated based on data from the cost of living site Numbeo. All prices are in US dollars. Click through to get started.