Comparing Internet Cafe Rates Worldwide

tcd004 writes "I recently began compiling the hourly rates from Internet cafes around the world into a map. The result reveals wildly different prices, even in countries with similar economic conditions and technological development. This often puts access out of reach for large populations in developing countries who live on less than $1 per day. It seems government policies and telecom deregulation (in countries like Nigeria) are often the strongest forces determining a cafe's hourly rates. If you want to do some of your own rate hunting, take a look at sites like Cybercafes.com."

Comments

Nice Cybercafe Listing

[Globe199]

Crappy cybercafe listing on Cybercafes.com. It still lists Cyber X in Minneapolis. That place has been out of business for many years.

The site doesn't even have a function to add or modify listings. All it has is a banner ad for cheese!

Globe199

Numbers are way off for India

[InfiniteWisdom]

At least in Bomba, where I lived till 2002, cyber cafes cost a lot less than the $1.35 claimed... Rs.60/hour. I think Rs.25-30 is more typical.

That said, maybe its different in smaller cities where cable/DSL isn't available, adn competition hasn't driven down ISP charges as much

Not accurate

[allanpatrick]

In Brazil, at least where I live, its hard to find a cybercafe that costs more than $1/hour.

Some of these prices are misleadingly high

[Ryu2]

$2.50/hr for China? Perhaps in hotels and other places that cater to businessmen or "rich" foreigners, but even in Beijing, in college areas, you can get online for 10 yuan (about $1.25)/hour at most. At some second-tier cities, the going rate is about 2 yuan (25 cents). You get exactly the same access -- the only difference is that you might be surrounded by smoking kids playing Counterstrike around you...

Serving Locals or Tourists...?

[Bubblehead]

I backpacked in Asia a few years ago, and it was great to have Internet access at reasonable prices virtually everywhere. But I had an interesting experience in Thailand (not covered by the comparison chart). Rates were around $1/hour. But then I visited the island Samui, where rates were $5. It was clear that (1) the main market were tourists, and (2) due to the small size of the island, a price cartel had formed.

Just looking at the numbers, the article seems to capture non-tourist prices. But it's important not to forget that prices are often not based on real cost, but on the customer's willingness to pay.

Screw cyber cafes

[Sparr0]

I travel on a regular basis and have to work away from my hotel for very long (but sparse) hours. This leaves me much free time where I wish I could get to a net connection. The solution? Public Libraries. Almost every library in the country even remotely close to a decent sized population will have some sort of internet connection available to patrons, for *FREE* 90% of the time.

Rate in Uzbekistan

[suso]

In Tashkent, Uzbekistan (right below Kazakstan) last December, I went into a cyber cafe that was $0.30/hour. I was impressed. But of course the average salary there is $50/month. Yes, per month. Average.

Its cheap here! (some things)

[Anonymous Coward]

Here in Venezuela the rate is 0.60$ (without subsidies)

Gasoline costs 0.03$ per liter (gasoline is cheaper than coke and water).

A BigMac costs 2$ (too expensive for the crap you get).

A Whoper costs 3$ (this is a good meal).

A Grand Cherokee Limited 2004 costs NaN$ (30,000$ basic model, ouch!)

BTW, the minimum wage is 90$ a month, a graduated computer engineer (at least me!) makes 6,000$ a year.