Finding the real cost of your mobile broadband plan is surprisingly complicated. Providers will advertise a single monthly price for their service. Then, as you continue through the order process, you find out about additional fees, restrictions on your usage and mid-contract price rises.
All of these factors mean there’s some additional calculation required to find the real cost of the plan.
How to find the real cost of your broadband plan
In simple terms, you can find the real cost of your mobile broadband plan using this formula:
((Monthly cost x the number of months it applies for) + (increased monthly cost x the number of months it applies for) + (one off fees)) ÷ (the total contract length) = The real monthly cost
However, there are a few other things to take into consideration before arriving at your final figure.
Compare like with like
If you’re comparing two contracts, make sure they’re as similar as possible to make the comparison accurate. For example, some mobile broadband packages include less powerful equipment, a cap on monthly data use, or deliberately restrict speeds at busy times.
These packages might be cheaper on paper, but if the service offered is not suitable for the purpose, they don’t represent a good deal.
Include hidden fees
It’s mentioned in our formula above, but it’s worth repeating - not all contract fees are obvious. Most plans will include a substantial setup fee that covers delivery, equipment costs and activation. However, there may be other fees for exceeding your data allowance or requesting network extenders if the router’s coverage is insufficient. You’ll need to include all of these costs in your calculation to get an accurate monthly cost.
Multiple price rises in one contract
Even savvy shoppers need to stay on their toes, as some plans now include multiple price rises in a single contract. While you may think you’re agreeing to one monthly price for the duration, the small print shows that in fact, the cost is set to increase year-on-year, even while you’re still under contract.
The penalties for leaving your contract early are often severe, so consumers have no choice but to remain on a plan that’s significantly more expensive than the one they agreed to.
EE vs Connectivity: The real cost of broadband case study
To show this calculation in action, we compared two unlimited data mobile broadband plans - one from a major UK provider, EE and one from Connectivity.
Initially, the two plans look very similar - a cheaper set-up fee for Connectivity, but only a 1p difference in monthly costs. However, after running the full calculation, we found there’s a price difference of £100 between the two contracts. Plus, at the end of the initial contract period, EE’s price is set to increase even further.
Connectivity | EE | |
Upfront setup cost | £49 | £100 |
Initial monthly cost | £49.99 | £50 |
Monthly cost after 1 year | £49.99 | £54 |
Monthly cost after 2 years | £49.99 | £57 |
Total cost after 24 months | £1248.76 | £1348 |
Average monthly cost | £52.03 | £56.16 |
Prices shown are from the latest EE Smart 5G Hub 7 Pro 18-month Plan and Connectivity 24-month 5G plan, as of 20 March, 2026.
Beyond cost: Extra features and perks
The monthly cost might not be the only factor you take into consideration when shopping for your mobile broadband plan. However, calculating it accurately provides a good starting point for comparisons. You can then look at the additional included features to see which is the best plan for you.
For example, Connectivity plans not only offer a lower monthly cost than EE, but they also include:
Multi network broadband, allowing you to switch to the best mobile network for your home if availability changes, or if you move
A guarantee of no mid-contract price rises
Friendly, UK-based support if you ever need assistance with your plan
