# How much is your monthly cell phone bill? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901 "2013-10-10T18:11:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/41 "2013-10-11T20:36:24Z")
We’ve got pay-as-you-go plans without data - $100 per phone for 365 days. Calls are 10¢ per minute, texts are 20¢ each sent or received. We’re retired, and I’ll be surprised if we burn thru the $100 before the year is up. We’ve got a land line that’s bundled with our TV and internet, and we use that for most of our calls. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/42 "2013-10-11T21:18:56Z")
T-Mobile pre-paid $30/mo., on an unlocked iPhone 5 purchased from Apple. 100 mins talk, unlimited text, unlimited _cough_ data, 4G/LTE. Los Angeles, west side. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/43 "2013-10-11T21:56:08Z")
$80 a month for Sprint Unlimited with an iPhone 4s. Just the one phone. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/44 "2013-10-12T00:46:39Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m with Straight Talk. $45.00 a month for unlimited talk, text, and data. About $49.00 with all the taxes and fees. I’m using the same iPhone I used with AT&T. They gave me an AT&T compatible SIM card, but if you have an unlocked iPhone, you also have the choice of using T-Mobile’s network. And despite some negative reviews, I’ve been with Straight Talk since January and have had no problems with them. > [@sitchensis](#): > > $45 - Straight Talk (AT&T) with a Nexus 4. Unlimited T/T/D but in truth the data gets throttled down after… 2Gb? We have Straight Talk (Verizon) at the same $45/month, with theoretically unlimited T/T/D. The hidden data limit doesn’t affect us as we don’t use our phones much for data. We bought $99 Samsung phones that work well enough (except that mine likes to spontaneously reset to GMT whenever it feels like it). We live in an area that gets very spotty coverage; even with a booster antenna on the roof, it’s an exciting day when signal strength reaches 2 bars. Works fine for texting, though, and that’s all I really need. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/45 "2013-10-12T01:03:39Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > $80 a month for Sprint Unlimited with an iPhone 4s. Just the one phone. How come you pay only $80, and I pay $132 for Sprint Unlimited and one Blackberry? Are you including all the taxes and fees and crap that gets added on? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/46 "2013-10-12T01:32:53Z")
My plan is $75, but with taxes and crap it’s $90. Includes the subsidized $700 phone after my initial $200 purchase. AT&T 4G LTE, grandfathered unlimited data, they throttle me at 5Gb a month, but I’m usually between 3Gb and 4.5Gb a month. I get a text when I get to 4Gb, and rarely use the thing for voice, just an occasional work call or my parents. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/47 "2013-10-12T02:09:41Z")
$20 every three months for tracfone. I currently have almost 1200 unused minutes, so you can tell that the 240 minutes a year that I’m required to buy is a lot more than I need. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/48 "2013-10-12T02:19:46Z")
$50 a month unlimited everything with smartphone. Boost Mobile. Will be reduced to 45 a month after 6 months on time payments, then $40 a month after that. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/49 "2013-10-12T02:21:18Z")
> [@Geek\_Mecha](#): > > T-Mobile pre-paid $30/mo., on an unlocked iPhone 5 purchased from Apple. 100 mins talk, unlimited text, unlimited _cough_ data, 4G/LTE. Los Angeles, west side. Walmart? ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/50 "2013-10-12T02:55:16Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Walmart? Direct through T-Mobile’s website. It’s mentioned here, just under the Pay by the Day section. > **[T-Mobile® Official Site: Get Even More Without Paying More](https://www.t-mobile.com)** > > Save on incredible benefits every month. Learn about unlimited plans, 5G internet & more. You bring your own phone and sign up for it through the T-Mobile website. You also need to buy their nano sim card activation kit for $10. > **[T-Mobile® Official Site: Get Even More Without Paying More](https://www.t-mobile.com)** > > Save on incredible benefits every month. Learn about unlimited plans, 5G internet & more. I had to trim my card down to get it to fit the iPhone 5 sim card slot, but as long as you’re careful not to cut into the chip, you’re fine. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/51 "2013-10-12T02:55:30Z")
35/month for virgin mobile. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/52 "2013-10-12T02:56:34Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > $20 every three months for tracfone. I currently have almost 1200 unused minutes, so you can tell that the 240 minutes a year that I’m required to buy is a lot more than I need. Aren’t tracfones doubling and tripling your minutes now? With my old phone I got double minutes and bonus codes, so a 60 minute card was actually good for 120 + 20-30 bonus minutes. Not that it’d matter if you have 1200 unused minutes. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/53 "2013-10-13T04:49:10Z")
Somehow, my completely asocial ass is very happy with his $13/month landline. And it has never dropped a call, or faded between towers. In knew people were joined at the hip to their phones, but some of these numbers… I’m old and quite sick (not cheap insurance) and still pay about 500 for health insurance. (yes, I am enrolled in ACA) [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/54 "2013-10-13T05:46:54Z")
40$ walmart unlimited everything plan, $5 taxes. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/55 "2013-10-13T06:29:28Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Somehow, my completely asocial ass is very happy with his $13/month landline. And it has never dropped a call, or faded between towers. Wow cheapest I can get Verizon landline is about $20 per month. I’ve known people with Sprint landlines that paid $40 per month. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/56 "2013-10-14T13:48:45Z")
> [@Geek\_Mecha](#): > > Direct through T-Mobile’s website. It’s mentioned here, just under the Pay by the Day section. > > [T-Mobile® Official Site: Get Even More Without Paying More](http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans) > > You bring your own phone and sign up for it through the T-Mobile website. You also need to buy their nano sim card activation kit for $10. > > [T-Mobile® Official Site: Get Even More Without Paying More](http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Nano-SIM-Card-Prepaid) > > I had to trim my card down to get it to fit the iPhone 5 sim card slot, but as long as you’re careful not to cut into the chip, you’re fine. You could have also ordered a nano SIM (Moto X) for $1.05, shipped. 😃 That’s what I did under the same plan, but use free VoIP to get unlimited minutes. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/57 "2013-10-14T16:33:54Z")
179/mo includes: 2 smart phone unlimited data (until I upgrade with VZ which I am resisting) for my wife and I. 1 dumb phone for mother in law 1 dumb phone for oldest son My company provides me another iPhone for work, but since they are on ATT I could not just have them pay a portion of my bill 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/58 "2013-10-14T21:29:36Z")
> [@Krouget](#): > > You could have also ordered a nano SIM (Moto X) for $1.05, shipped. 😃 That’s what I did under the same plan, but use free VoIP to get unlimited minutes. I actually did get it for 99 cents and free shipping. I can’t find it on T-Mobile’s website anymore, but either the card or a promo code seem to be available elsewhere online. Can’t vouch for those, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lurking\_Quahog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lurking_quahog/32/21274_2.png) [@Lurking\_Quahog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lurking_Quahog)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/59 "2013-10-15T16:53:28Z")
Another Virgin Mobile user here. $35/month for 300 minutes, unlimited texts and data. Comes to $38 and change with taxes. I almost never go over 300 minutes, but I keep a small balance in my account in case I do (I think they charge 10¢/minute over the 300 minute base). They also have a $45/month plan with 1200 minutes. I bought an LG Optimus smart phone on ebay for $30 that I bought just to see if I’d like VM. I do, and now I’m contemplating getting a better new phone from them. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901/60 "2013-10-16T15:55:36Z")
£26 or roughly $41 for a decent smartphone (Nokia 820) with unlimited data, unlimited texts, and 300 mins, IIRC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-monthly-cell-phone-bill/670901.md?page=4)