Installing your internet service costs money, too. Installation fees can cost up to $200. Self-installation is the cheaper end of the spectrum — it’s free with providers like CenturyLink but could cost you as much as $35 with AT&T. If you self-install, you’ll receive everything in the mail and follow instructions to plug in and connect your service. Professional installations are sometimes required and always more expensive ($50-$200). Many promotional packages for new customers waive the installation fees, and if you don’t see a deal online, we’d recommend calling a representative. Or you can invest in your own wireless router to save money in the long run, and likely experience a smoother internet connection. Routers communicate on radio-like frequencies, so if all your neighbors are renting the same router from the local internet provider, there’s a local increase in traffic. The more demanding internet activity your household performs, such as video streaming, the larger the data allotment you’ll need. You’ll usually get a few courtesy warnings when you go over, but will eventually be charged about $10 for every additional 50 GB.
