How Much Does Starlink Actually Cost? Full Breakdown for 2026

Equipment Cost

Every Starlink subscription requires a hardware kit. Here is what SpaceX currently charges:

Standard Kit: $349 — includes the dish (Gen 3), Wi-Fi router, cables, and base mount

Starlink Mini: $199 to $499 depending on availability — smaller, portable dish

High Performance Kit: $1,999 — larger dish for business and priority plans

The Standard Kit is what most residential customers buy. It ships to your door in a box that weighs about 15 pounds. SpaceX also charges around $50 for shipping and handling on top of the equipment price.

One thing that catches people off guard: there is no option to rent equipment in most areas. You buy the hardware outright. SpaceX does offer a 30-day return policy if you decide Starlink is not for you.

Monthly Service Plans

Starlink has restructured their plans over the past year. Here is where things stand in early 2026:

Residential 100 Mbps: $50 per month — entry-level plan with speeds up to 100 Mbps

Residential 200 Mbps: $80 per month — mid-tier, up to 200 Mbps, most popular for households

Residential MAX: $120 per month — up to 400 Mbps, unlimited priority data

Roam 100 GB: $50 per month — portable use with 100 GB data cap

Roam Unlimited: $165 per month — portable use with no data cap

Business Priority: Starting at $65 per month, scaling to $540 or more depending on data needs

No contracts. You can pause, downgrade, or cancel anytime. This is a genuine advantage over cable and fiber providers that lock you into 12- or 24-month commitments.

Professional Installation Costs

Self-installation is free, and SpaceX designed the kit to be set up by anyone. You place the dish outside, plug it in, and connect to Wi-Fi. For many people this works fine.

Professional installation from a company like ours typically runs $200 to $500 depending on the job. What affects the price:

Mount type: A simple tripod setup on a flat surface costs less than a roof mount or a 20-foot pole mount

Cable routing: Running the cable through a wall with a proper wall pass costs more than draping it through a window, but it looks better and lasts longer

Height and access: Two-story roofs, steep pitches, or properties with difficult access take more time and safety equipment

Network extensions: If you want Ethernet runs to an office, mesh Wi-Fi in a barn, or a weatherproof outdoor access point, that adds scope

Costs Most Guides Skip

Electricity: Starlink draws about 40 to 75 watts depending on weather and dish heating. That works out to roughly $5 to $10 per month on your power bill. The dish heats itself to melt snow, which uses more power in winter.

Replacement cables: The Gen 3 cable is proprietary. If a lawnmower or rodent damages it, a replacement cable from SpaceX runs about $35. Protecting the cable during installation saves you this headache.

Speed tier upgrades: Many customers start at the $50 tier and find they want more speed within a few months. Budget for the possibility that you end up on the $80 or $120 plan.

Mounting hardware: The kit comes with a basic base mount. If you want a roof mount, pole mount, or wall mount, SpaceX sells adapters for $35 to $85. Third-party mounts range from $20 to $150 depending on style and quality.

First-Year Total Estimate

For a typical residential customer on the 200 Mbps plan with professional installation:

Equipment: $349

Shipping: $50

Professional installation: $300 (average)

Monthly service: $960 ($80 times 12)

Electricity: $90 (estimated)

First-year total: approximately $1,750

Year two drops to about $1,050 since you have already paid for equipment and installation.

Compare that to the cost of extending fiber to a rural property, which can exceed $20,000 or more depending on distance. Starlink is the most affordable path to real broadband for most rural addresses.

If you want an exact quote for professional installation at your property, contact us or book directly.