The medium is cheaper—but the message is pricier

In recent years, thanks largely to increased competition and consumer protection—for example, shorter contract terms and the ability to keep one’s number when switching providers—many Canadians have been able to get a better deal on their cellphone bills.

Our Consumer Price Index data shows it’s been quite the drop! On an annual average basis, Canadians paid roughly half (-48.5%) in 2024 for cellular services than what they paid in 2019.

Users have generally enjoyed better value when it comes to the amount of mobile data needed for all that video and picture messaging, social media consumption, and streaming of songs, shows and movies.

Streaming at home on your TV, or on your phone using Wi-Fi? Prices for Internet access services decreased by 5.5% over the same period.

However, the cost to access the content itself has eaten into those savings. Prices for video and audio subscription services in 2024 have increased by more than one-fifth (+21.0%) from 2019, and by more than one-half since 2014 (+52.7%).

Household expenditures

Canadian households spent $11.3 billion (on a seasonally adjusted basis, in current prices) on cable, satellite and other program distribution services (including streaming services) in 2024.

This is a slight decrease from the $11.4 billion spent in 2023, but up from 2019 ($10.8 billion). In 2014, households spent $10.0 billion, while in 2004, they spent $5.3 billion.

More consumers in recent years have moved away from traditional cable and satellite and toward streaming. Subscriber prices have not only gone up, but consumers often need to subscribe to more than one streaming service to access all their favourite content. Some have also kept their cable or satellite service.

So far in 2025

In May 2025, prices for cellular services declined 5.5% from May 2024, while prices increased for Internet access services (+2.9%) and video and audio subscription services (+5.4%) over the same period.

In the first quarter of 2025, Canadian households spent $2.9 billion on cable, satellite and other program distribution services, up from $2.8 billion in the previous quarter.