How much is internet per person in an Australian share house?

The average NBN plan costs about $85 per month. In a 3-person share house, that's roughly $28 each per month. With 4 housemates it drops to about $21, and with 5 it's just $17 each. Internet is one of the biggest per-person savings in a share house.

What NBN speed tier does a share house need?

NBN 50 handles most 3-4 person share houses fine — it's enough for multiple streams, video calls, and general browsing at the same time. If you've got 5 or more housemates or someone games competitively, go for NBN 100 or even NBN 250 for just a few dollars more.

Should housemates split internet equally or by usage?

Equal split, every time. Internet is a flat monthly fee that doesn't change based on how much you use it. Whether you stream 8 hours a day or just check your phone, the bill is the same. Trying to split by usage creates unnecessary complexity for zero benefit.

What happens to the internet when a housemate moves out?

The remaining housemates split the full bill between fewer people until someone new moves in. If the account holder is the one leaving, transfer the account to another housemate or set up a new plan. Most providers can do a simple name change without disconnecting.

Can you have two internet connections in one share house?

Technically yes, but it makes zero sense financially. You'd be paying two full monthly plans instead of one. Better to get a faster tier on a single connection and maybe add a wifi extender if coverage is the issue.

Which NBN provider is cheapest for a share house?

Providers like Superloop, Spintel, and TPG tend to undercut Telstra and Optus by $10-20 per month for the same speed tiers. The service is identical — it's all the same NBN network. Check Whistleout or Finder for current deals and pick the cheapest plan at your needed speed.

How to Split the Internet Bill With Your Housemates

Internet is the one share house bill that's genuinely hard to argue about. Everyone uses it, there's one connection for the whole house, and it costs the same whether you're streaming Netflix or checking your email. This should be the easiest split you ever do.

The Internet Bill Split Calculator

How to Split The Internet Bill Fairly

1

Pick the right NBN tier

Your share house internet speed needs to match the number of people using it. NBN 50 is the most popular tier and handles 3-4 people comfortably for streaming and video calls. If you've got 5 or more housemates, or someone's a serious gamer, step up to NBN 100. No point saving $5 a month if the wifi dies every time two people try to stream.
2

Choose a provider together

There are dozens of NBN providers and the prices vary wildly for the same speed. Telstra is the default but often not the cheapest. Check Aussie Broadband, Superloop, or TPG for solid plans that cost less. The house should agree on the provider since everyone's stuck with the choice for at least a month.
3

Split it equally — seriously

Internet is a flat monthly fee regardless of how much anyone uses it. There's no usage-based component like electricity or water. Everyone in the house benefits from the connection equally. Just divide by the number of housemates and move on. This is the one bill where equal split is always the right answer.
4

Decide who holds the account

One person has to be the account holder and the one whose name is on the contract. Rotate this if you can, or at least make sure the account holder isn't also the one chasing everyone for payments. The account holder should share the login details so anyone can check the plan or troubleshoot.
5

Set up the router properly

A share house with three people streaming in different rooms needs decent wifi coverage. Put the router in a central spot, not tucked in a corner bedroom. If parts of the house get weak signal, a mesh wifi system or a cheap wifi extender solves it for under $100 — split that cost too.

Ways to Split The Internet Bill

Method	How It Works	Best For	Fairness
Equal split	Divide the monthly internet bill equally between all housemates. An $85 monthly plan split 3 ways is about $28 each.	Every share house. Internet is a flat fee — everyone uses it, everyone pays equally.	High
Usage-based split	Adjust shares based on estimated bandwidth usage — streaming, gaming, and working from home use more than casual browsing and social media.	Rarely worth it. Unless someone is running a home server, the flat-rate nature of NBN makes this unnecessarily complicated.	Low
Income-based split	Higher earners pay a larger share of the monthly internet cost. At $85 a month total, the actual dollar differences are tiny.	Houses that apply income-based splits to all bills for consistency, though the amounts are small enough that it barely matters.	Medium
Tier contribution split	If one housemate wants a faster NBN tier than the rest of the house needs, they pay the difference. For example, everyone splits the cost of NBN 50 ($88) equally, and the gamer pays the extra $5 to upgrade to NBN 100.	Houses where one person needs faster speeds for work or gaming but others are happy with a basic plan.	High

The Internet Bill Costs in Australia

Stat	Value
National average monthly NBN plan cost	$85
NBN 50 average monthly cost (most popular tier)	$88
NBN 25 average monthly cost	$73
NBN 100 average monthly cost	$93
NBN 250 average monthly cost	$102

Plan pricing is based on publicly available NBN provider data. For current plans and pricing, compare providers on WhistleOut, Finder, or Canstar Blue, or check provider websites directly.

Tips for Splitting The Internet Bill

Don't cheap out on speed

NBN 25 saves you $15 a month over NBN 50 but struggles with more than two people streaming or on video calls at once. In a share house, the few extra dollars per person for NBN 50 is worth every cent.

Position the router centrally

Wifi signal drops dramatically through walls and floors. Stick the router in a central hallway or living area, not in someone's bedroom at the end of the house. Everyone gets better wifi and nobody complains about buffering.

Change the default wifi password

Set a new wifi password when you move in and share it with housemates only. You don't want the neighbours or every visitor who's ever been to the house still connected and slowing things down.

Check for no-contract plans

Most NBN providers offer month-to-month plans that cost the same as contract plans. In a share house where people move in and out, avoiding a 12-month contract means you can switch providers or cancel without penalty.

The NBN 250 sweet spot

NBN 250 often costs only $1 more per month than NBN 100 — the pricing gap has nearly closed. If you've got 4 or more housemates, the upgrade is practically free when split between everyone.

Related Guides

Common Questions About Splitting The Internet Bill

How much is internet per person in an Australian share house?: The average NBN plan costs about $85 per month. In a 3-person share house, that's roughly $28 each per month. With 4 housemates it drops to about $21, and with 5 it's just $17 each. Internet is one of the biggest per-person savings in a share house.
What NBN speed tier does a share house need?: NBN 50 handles most 3-4 person share houses fine — it's enough for multiple streams, video calls, and general browsing at the same time. If you've got 5 or more housemates or someone games competitively, go for NBN 100 or even NBN 250 for just a few dollars more.
Should housemates split internet equally or by usage?: Equal split, every time. Internet is a flat monthly fee that doesn't change based on how much you use it. Whether you stream 8 hours a day or just check your phone, the bill is the same. Trying to split by usage creates unnecessary complexity for zero benefit.
What happens to the internet when a housemate moves out?: The remaining housemates split the full bill between fewer people until someone new moves in. If the account holder is the one leaving, transfer the account to another housemate or set up a new plan. Most providers can do a simple name change without disconnecting.
Can you have two internet connections in one share house?: Technically yes, but it makes zero sense financially. You'd be paying two full monthly plans instead of one. Better to get a faster tier on a single connection and maybe add a wifi extender if coverage is the issue.
Which NBN provider is cheapest for a share house?: Providers like Superloop, Spintel, and TPG tend to undercut Telstra and Optus by $10-20 per month for the same speed tiers. The service is identical — it's all the same NBN network. Check Whistleout or Finder for current deals and pick the cheapest plan at your needed speed.

Skip the Spreadsheet

Internet is the simplest bill to split — so stop overcomplicating it. Add your NBN cost to Split, divide between housemates, and get back to actually using the wifi.

Start splitting