Top 10 Cheapest Internet Countries in Africa (2025) — complete guide for users & site owners

Affordable internet matters — for students, small businesses, content creators and travellers. In 2025 several African countries stand out for offering some of the lowest mobile-data and consumer internet prices on the continent. This article lists the top 10 cheapest internet countries in Africa, explains how the rankings are measured, gives approximate price references (cost per 1 GB) and offers quick tips for users and website owners who target traffic from these markets. All price references below are drawn from recent industry price studies and regional reports (see citations at the end of each section).

How the “cheapest” list is calculated

Most international affordability studies compare the average advertised cost of 1 GB of mobile data across many consumer tariffs in each country. That approach is widely used because mobile data is the primary way most people in Africa access the internet. Major comparators include crowd-sourced tariff databases and specialist studies (for example Cable.co.uk’s global mobile-data pricing series) and regional telecom reports from organisations such as the ITU and GSMA. Where possible I use the most recent 2024–2025 datasets to assemble this list. Note that prices vary by provider, bundle size, regional promotions and currency moves — treat the numbers below as representative averages rather than fixed retail prices.

The top 10 cheapest internet countries in Africa (2025)

Below are the ten countries that consistently rank among the most affordable for mobile data in Africa in recent 2024–2025 analyses, shown with an indicative average cost per 1 GB and a short explanation of why prices are low in each market.

1. Uganda — ~US$0.02 per GB

Uganda has frequently topped global lists for extremely low advertised 1 GB costs thanks to aggressive pricing from multiple mobile operators and highly competitive prepaid bundles. Heavy competition, high data-bundle volumes and regular promotional packages explain the very low headline rates. (Indicative source: recent Cable.co.uk derivative reports and regional coverage).

2. Mauritius — ~US$0.02 per GB

Mauritius is a small but well-served market with modern infrastructure and a competitive operator landscape. Its per-GB prices are exceptionally low in many international comparisons — a combination of compact market size, regulatory environment, and operators offering large low-cost bundles for residents and tourists.

3. Comoros — ~US$0.07 per GB

Comoros appears in several lists of affordable African markets despite its small population. The presence of a few dominant mobile operators offering bulk or promotional bundles pushes down the average cost per gigabyte.

4. Ghana — ~US$0.07–0.40 per GB

Ghana regularly ranks among the cheapest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Strong competition among multiple operators, frequent promotional bundles, and a growing data-hungry population help explain the low per-GB averages reported by price trackers. Depending on the dataset (and month), Ghana’s per-GB cost can appear very low compared with continental averages.

5. South Africa — ~US$0.07–0.40 per GB

South Africa’s market is large and competitive. While some premium postpaid plans are expensive, the prepaid and data-bundle market offers excellent value — particularly on bulk, long-validity bundles and discounted promotions from major providers. These lower-tier bundles bring the average per-GB price down in many studies.

6. Nigeria — ~US$0.13–0.40 per GB

As Africa’s most populous market, Nigeria benefits from fierce competition between major operators. A vast prepaid market and regular promotional data bundles contribute to relatively low headline prices per GB in many international comparisons.

7. Kenya — ~US$0.20–0.60 per GB

Kenya’s mobile internet ecosystem — a pioneer regionally in mobile money and app ecosystems — supports aggressive data pricing by several operators. Although price per GB varies, Kenya is frequently listed among the more affordable East African markets.

8. Morocco — ~US$0.25–0.65 per GB

North African countries often report lower per-GB prices than many Sub-Saharan markets. Morocco’s telecom market has seen sustained investment and competitive bundles from major operators, which shows in its relatively low average data cost.

9. Egypt — ~US$0.30–0.70 per GB

Egypt consistently appears among the cheaper North African markets in global broadband and mobile reports. Large urban subscriber bases and the presence of several national operators offering varied bundles push the average cost down. Egypt also tends to have inexpensive fixed broadband packages relative to regional peers.

10. Malawi / Rwanda / Ethiopia (tie region) — ~US$0.38–0.60 per GB

Different datasets place countries such as Malawi, Rwanda or Ethiopia inside the top-10-cheapest lists depending on the quarter and exchange-rate movement. For example, Malawi was reported among the very cheapest in some 2025 lists, while Rwanda and Ethiopia have also offered low-priced monthly bundles through national operators and targeted affordable-data initiatives. Regional price volatility and differing methodologies mean this slot can vary from report to report.

Why some African countries are cheaper than others

1. Market competition — more operators and aggressive promotions push prices down.

2. Bundle strategy — large prepaid bundles sold at significant discounts lower the implied per-GB cost.

3. Currency moves — local currency depreciation can make USD-priced comparisons appear cheaper in some quarters, and vice versa.

4. Regulation & investment — pro-competition regulation or infrastructure investment (submarine cables, fiber) can lower operator costs and consumer prices over time.