Streaming Costs Increase Sevenfold Compared to Inflation in 2025

In 2025, streaming entertainment costs in the U.S. took a big leap, rising at seven times the rate of overall inflation. A recent government report revealed that while goods and services saw a 2.7% increase, the cost for “subscription and rental of video and video games” shot up by a whopping 19.5%. This surge far surpassed the more modest 1.1% increase in prices for cable, satellite, and live streaming TV services.

According to a Forbes report from November, the average American shells out around $46 per month for streaming services, juggling an average of three subscriptions. Netflix, one of the top streaming services in the U.S., upped its standard plan price from $15.49 to $17.99 in 2025. Meanwhile, Disney+ increased the monthly rate of its ad-free tier from $13.99 to $18.99, and Apple TV+ raised its cost from $6.99 to $12.99.

As the streaming market continues to grow, we’re starting to see some services teaming up. Hulu’s content is expected to be integrated into Disney+, and there are talks of Netflix potentially acquiring HBO Max, which could lead to a merger of the two platforms down the line.