Is $90 a Month Too Much for Internet in Texas?

If you live in Texas and you are paying $90 per month for internet service, the direct answer is: you are probably above average, but it depends significantly on where in Texas you live and what speed tier you are on. The statewide average for a standard broadband connection in Texas sits at approximately $65 per month according to current data from BroadbandNow, which means $90 puts you roughly 38% above that baseline.

That gap is not necessarily the result of bad luck or an unusually expensive plan. It is more likely the result of a promotional rate that expired, a market with limited competition at your address, or simply the fact that you have not called to negotiate in the last 12 months.

What the Data Shows for Texas

Texas is an enormous state with enormous variation in broadband availability and pricing. The major metropolitan areas, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, have genuinely competitive broadband markets with multiple providers including AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber (in Austin and expanding), Spectrum, and Comcast. In those markets, $90 is clearly above what competitive pricing looks like in 2026.

Rural Texas is a different story. In areas served by only one provider, often a legacy cable company or a regional DSL provider, prices can be significantly higher for slower speeds simply because there is no competitive pressure to keep them down. If you are paying $90 in rural West Texas for 50 Mbps, you may be paying a fair market rate for your specific location, even if that rate feels unjustifiably high compared to what urban Texans pay.

The FCC National Broadband Map shows that approximately 15% of Texas households still have access to only one high-speed internet provider. In those areas, the pricing dynamic is fundamentally different from competitive urban markets.

Speed Tier	Texas Average	National Average
100-200 Mbps	$45-$58	$42-$55
300-500 Mbps	$58-$72	$55-$68
1 Gbps (Fiber)	$65-$80	$60-$80
Legacy DSL / Rural	$70-$110	$65-$105

If you are paying $90 for anything below 500 Mbps in a major Texas metro, you are paying above market rate and have clear leverage to negotiate.

Why You Might Be Paying More Than You Should

The most common reason Texas internet customers end up at $90 when the average is $65 is the promotional rate cycle. ISPs operating in Texas, primarily Spectrum, AT&T, and Comcast in urban areas, use introductory pricing as a customer acquisition tool. New subscribers get rates of $40 to $55 for the first 12 months. After that, the rate climbs to the standard tier without any prominent notification.

Because most customers are on autopay, the increase goes through as a slightly larger bank draft that many people do not notice for months. By the time someone realizes their bill has gone from $55 to $89, they have often been paying the higher rate for six months or more.

This practice, which industry insiders call the promotional rate expiration cycle, is documented extensively in consumer complaint data filed with the FCC. It is not illegal, but it is deliberately designed to minimize the visibility of price increases.

The second common reason is competitive boundary effects. Your neighbor one street over may be paying $55 because AT&T Fiber recently expanded to their block. Your address may still be in Spectrum's territory with no fiber alternative. ISPs use address-level data to determine how aggressively to price in each micro-market, and if you are in a zone without a real fiber competitor, your rate reflects that lack of pressure. For more on how this works, read our analysis of the ZIP Code Monopoly Tax.

How to Check If Your Rate Is Fair

The most useful first step is establishing a real baseline for your specific situation. Knowing that the Texas average is $65 is useful, but knowing whether your speed tier and ZIP code are above or below that average is more actionable.

Our internet comparison tool uses current state-level data to show you exactly where your bill falls relative to other Texas customers. The comparison is free, takes about 10 seconds, and does not require an email address or account creation.

If the tool shows you are above average, you have the data you need to make the retention call actually work. Vague complaints about a high bill rarely produce meaningful discounts. Specific data points produce results.

What to Do If You're Above Average

Call your ISP and use the word "cancel" when the automated system asks why you are calling. That single word routes you to the retention department, which has access to discount tiers that standard billing does not. Retention agents in Texas markets, particularly in areas with AT&T Fiber competition, have been authorized to offer promotional rate extensions of 30% to 40% below the standard rate to prevent churn.

Before you call, have two numbers ready: the state average for your speed tier, and a specific competing offer from another provider at your address. If AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber, or T-Mobile Home Internet serves your address, get their current new customer rate. That specific number is the most powerful piece of leverage in the retention conversation.

For the complete word-for-word negotiation framework, read our guide on cutting your internet bill by $30 per month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Texas one of the more expensive states for internet?
Texas is approximately average for broadband pricing nationally, but within the state there is enormous variation. Major metros with fiber competition are at or below the national average. Rural areas without competition are significantly above it.

Q: What is the average internet bill in Houston vs. Dallas?
Both cities have similar competitive dynamics with Comcast, AT&T Fiber, and in some areas Spectrum competing for customers. Post-promotional rates in both metros typically run $65 to $80 for standard plans, with fiber options available at $55 to $70 for comparable speeds.

Q: Is T-Mobile Home Internet available in Texas?
Yes, T-Mobile Home Internet has broad coverage across Texas at $50 per month with no annual price increases on your current plan. For customers currently paying $90 or more on a cable provider in areas with adequate T-Mobile signal, it is worth testing during the trial period before canceling existing service.

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Sources & Methodology

Texas broadband pricing data from BroadbandNow Texas ISP Report and the FCC National Broadband Map. Speed tier averages based on publicly available provider rate cards as of Q1 2026. National comparison data from current FCC broadband performance benchmarks.