Streaming Costs Surge 7x Inflation by 2025

In 2025, U.S. consumers saw a sharp increase in the cost of streaming entertainment, outstripping the overall inflation rate by a wide margin. While goods and services went up by 2.7%, the expense of “subscription and rental of video and video games” surged by a whopping 19.5%. In comparison, cable, satellite, and live streaming TV saw only a 1.1% price hike.

According to a recent government report released on Tuesday, the typical American shell out about $46 each month on streaming services, with the average household holding three subscriptions. Netflix, tagged as the leading U.S. streaming service by Forbes, raised its standard plan price from $15.49 to $17.99 in 2025. Similarly, Disney+ pushed its ad-free tier from $13.99 to $18.99 per month, while Apple TV+ elevated its rate from $6.99 to $12.99.

As the streaming market continues to expand, some platforms are teaming up. For instance, Hulu’s content is slated to be integrated into Disney+, and Netflix is eyeing an acquisition of HBO Max, a move that could potentially unite the two platforms in the future. It’s a dynamic and evolving landscape, with changes and prices adjustments happening all the time.