Over the last few years, we’ve regularly analyzed the differences in library sizes and monthly costs of Netflix subscriptions around the world, often finding a huge disparity. And this is no more so than in recent months.
So far, throughout 2022, Netflix has hit various countries with price hikes, including the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Argentina, Turkey, and Denmark (most of which saw similar price increases in 2021, too). In sharp contrast, however, Netflix recently announced it was slashing its prices in India in a bid to compete with Disney+ and Prime.
Previously, our study has often found that India is one of the most cost-effective countries to get a Netflix subscription in–and that was before its prices were decreased.
So, is India the place to be to get the most bang for your buck? And where are Netflix prices the least cost-effective?
Please note: the prices included in our study are the base price as advertised by Netflix. They do not include the various taxes and other charges users may face. We are aware that several countries, including Argentina, have these charges but our study focuses on the price charged by Netflix.
Is Netflix in your country good value?
To gather this data, we’ve taken a look at several different factors.
First, we looked at the figures based on the number of TV shows and movies available in 88 countries as per JustWatch and uNoGS. We then divided the total number of titles available by the monthly subscription price to establish each country’s cost per title per month. For the standard and premium plans, we also factored in the number of users for each account (2 and 4, respectively), multiplying the library total by this to give the number of titles available to all users.
Second, we evaluated the cost per month in each country and how these shape up against others (based on current exchange rates at the time of writing).
The results?
Our study shows a massive disparity when cost per title is analyzed between different countries.
Due to their incredibly cheap prices across all three plans, Pakistan, India, and Turkey are the most cost-effective countries to watch Netflix in. But with their near-average library sizes, Pakistan and India offer the best value for money. With library sizes of 5,974 and 6,086 titles respectively (compared to the average of 6,029 and Turkey’s 5,512) these two countries seem to get more while paying less.
This idea that you get more while paying less continues when we look at the countries with the biggest library sizes and their cost per month. The central, eastern, and northern European countries of Slovakia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia have access to the most titles (over 7,500 titles each) at a cost per month of €7.99, €9.99, and €11.99 for basic, standard, and premium plans. This sees them featuring within the top 20 countries for cost-effectiveness across all three plans.
While the UK also has a reasonably large library (7,193 titles in total), its recent price hikes have seen it plummeting through the rankings, especially for standard and premium plans.
TIP – How to access different Netflix catalogs: You can securely access your usual Netflix catalogs from different countries when traveling abroad with a VPN. However, not all VPNs work with all Netflix country catalogs. We recently tested 59 different VPNs with 30 different country catalogs so be sure to pick a VPN that works with the Netflix country version you want access to. You can see our list of recommended Netflix VPN services here.
Top 10 places where Netflix is good value for money
As we have seen, when it comes to value for money, Pakistan, India, and Turkey win hands down on cost-per-title value across all three plans.
The average cost per title for basic plans is $0.00127. Pakistanis, Indians, and Turks pay $0.00032, $0.00040, and $0.00045 respectively. This makes their cost per title 95 to 119 percent cheaper than average. They also pay at least 55 percent less per title for standard and premium plans respectively.
However, Argentina overtakes India when it comes to cost-effectiveness for standard plans. Despite having a below-average library size of 5,535 titles, Argentinians pay just 0.00049 per title for a standard plan, making it the third most cost-effective country.
Top 10 most cost-effective countries for Netflix basic plans
| Country | Price (Local) | Price (USD) | # of TV Shows | # of Movies | Total Library Size | Price per Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 450 PKR | 1.94 | 2,301 | 3,673 | 5,974 | 0.00032 |
| India | 199 INR | 2.44 | 2,316 | 3,770 | 6,086 | 0.00040 |
| Turkey | 45.99 TRY | 2.48 | 1,910 | 3,602 | 5,512 | 0.00045 |
| Argentina | 429 ARS | 2.92 | 2,039 | 3,496 | 5,535 | 0.00053 |
| Colombia | 16900 COP | 3.76 | 2,031 | 3,614 | 5,645 | 0.00067 |
| Brazil | 25.90 BRL | 4.82 | 2,004 | 3,667 | 5,671 | 0.00085 |
| Hungary | 2490 HUF | 5.85 | 1,359 | 5,381 | 6,740 | 0.00087 |
| Ukraine | 4.99 EUR | 4.84 | 2,233 | 3,312 | 5,545 | 0.00087 |
| Philippines | 369 PHP | 6.27 | 2,418 | 4,340 | 6,758 | 0.00093 |
| South Africa | 99 ZAR | 5.54 | 2,222 | 3,667 | 5,889 | 0.00094 |
Top 10 most cost-effective countries for Netflix standard plans
| Country | Price (Local) | Price (USD) | # of TV Shows | # of Movies | Total Library Size | Price per Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 800 PKR | 3.45 | 2,301 | 3,673 | 5,974 | 0.00029 |
| Turkey | 69.99 TRY | 3.78 | 1,910 | 3,602 | 5,512 | 0.00034 |
| Argentina | 799 ARS | 5.44 | 2,039 | 3,496 | 5,535 | 0.00049 |
| India | 499 INR | 6.13 | 2,316 | 3,770 | 6,086 | 0.00050 |
| Colombia | 26900 COP | 5.99 | 2,031 | 3,614 | 5,645 | 0.00053 |
| Philippines | 459 PHP | 7.80 | 2,418 | 4,340 | 6,758 | 0.00058 |
| Slovakia | 9.99 EUR | 9.70 | 2,163 | 5,827 | 7,990 | 0.00061 |
| Hungary | 3490 HUF | 8.20 | 1,359 | 5,381 | 6,740 | 0.00061 |
| Bulgaria | 9.99 EUR | 9.70 | 2,162 | 5,619 | 7,781 | 0.00062 |
| Lithuania | 9.99 EUR | 9.70 | 2,157 | 5,464 | 7,621 | 0.00064 |
Top 10 most cost-effective countries for Netflix premium plans
| Country | Price (Local) | Price (USD) | # of TV Shows | # of Movies | Total Library Size | Price per Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 1100 PKR | 4.74 | 2,301 | 3,673 | 5,974 | 0.00020 |
| Turkey | 93.99 TRY | 5.07 | 1,910 | 3,602 | 5,512 | 0.00023 |
| India | 649 INR | 7.97 | 2,316 | 3,770 | 6,086 | 0.00033 |
| Philippines | 549 PHP | 9.34 | 2,418 | 4,340 | 6,758 | 0.00035 |
| Slovakia | 11.99 EUR | 11.64 | 2,163 | 5,827 | 7,990 | 0.00036 |
| Argentina | 1199 ARS | 8.16 | 2,039 | 3,496 | 5,535 | 0.00037 |
| Bulgaria | 11.99 EUR | 11.64 | 2,162 | 5,619 | 7,781 | 0.00037 |
| Lithuania | 11.99 EUR | 11.64 | 2,157 | 5,464 | 7,621 | 0.00038 |
| Estonia | 11.99 EUR | 11.64 | 2,158 | 5,453 | 7,611 | 0.00038 |
| Latvia | 11.99 EUR | 11.64 | 2,156 | 5,444 | 7,600 | 0.00038 |
The 10 places where Netflix isn’t good value for money
At the other end of the scale are Liechtenstein, Israel, and Switzerland where none of their plans are cost-effective.
With its library size being just below average (5,982) and its cost per month being well above average, Liechtenstein is the least cost-effective for basic, standard, and premium plans. Its cost per title is $0.00203, $0.00162, and $0.00106, making it around double the average cost. Switzerland shares the same price as Liechtenstein, but its above-average library size of 6,759 titles makes it slightly better on a cost-per-title basis.
Israel, meanwhile, has one of the worst library sizes with just over 5,000 titles. This, along with its above-average monthly costs, make it the second least cost-effective country for Netflix subscriptions.
When compared to the cheapest plans, Lichtenstein’s cost per title at least five times more expensive.
The US also features as one of the least cost-effective countries across all of its plans. This is due to its below-average library size and above-average monthly costs. It ranks as the sixth, fourth, and sixth least cost-effective country for its basic, standard, and premium plans respectively.
Top 10 least cost-effective countries for Netflix basic plans
| Country | Price (Local) | Price (USD) | # of TV Shows | # of Movies | Total Library Size | Price per Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liechtenstein | 11.90 CHF | 12.17 | 2,221 | 3,761 | 5,982 | 0.00203 |
| Israel | 32.90 ILS | 9.33 | 1,693 | 3,356 | 5,049 | 0.00185 |
| Switzerland | 11.90 CHF | 12.17 | 2,064 | 4,695 | 6,759 | 0.00180 |
| Denmark | 79 DKK | 10.31 | 1,767 | 4,338 | 6,105 | 0.00169 |
| French Polynesia | 8.99 USD | 8.99 | 2,088 | 3,258 | 5,346 | 0.00168 |
| United States | 9.99 USD | 9.99 | 2,162 | 3,833 | 5,995 | 0.00167 |
| Costa Rica | 8.99 USD | 8.99 | 2,032 | 3,429 | 5,461 | 0.00165 |
| French Guiana | 8.99 EUR | 8.73 | 2,032 | 3,427 | 5,459 | 0.00160 |
| Uruguay | 8.99 USD | 8.99 | 2,032 | 3,601 | 5,633 | 0.00160 |
| Moldova | 7.99 EUR | 7.76 | 1,678 | 3,248 | 4,926 | 0.00157 |
Top 10 least cost-effective countries for Netflix standard plans
| Country | Price (Local) | Price (USD) | # of TV Shows | # of Movies | Total Library Size | Price per Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liechtenstein | 18.90 CHF | 19.33 | 2,221 | 3,761 | 5,982 | 0.00162 |
| Israel | 54.90 ILS | 15.56 | 1,693 | 3,356 | 5,049 | 0.00154 |
| Switzerland | 18.90 CHF | 19.33 | 2,064 | 4,695 | 6,759 | 0.00143 |
| United States | 15.49 USD | 15.49 | 2,162 | 3,833 | 5,995 | 0.00129 |
| San Marino | 12.99 EUR | 12.61 | 1,832 | 3,246 | 5,078 | 0.00124 |
| Denmark | 114 DKK | 14.88 | 1,767 | 4,338 | 6,105 | 0.00122 |
| Andorra | 12.99 EUR | 12.61 | 1,843 | 3,355 | 5,198 | 0.00121 |
| Costa Rica | 12.99 USD | 12.99 | 2,032 | 3,429 | 5,461 | 0.00119 |
| Uruguay | 12.99 USD | 12.99 | 2,032 | 3,601 | 5,633 | 0.00115 |
| French Polynesia | 11.99 USD | 11.99 | 2,088 | 3,258 | 5,346 | 0.00112 |
Top 10 least cost-effective countries for Netflix premium plans
| Country | Price (Local) | Price (USD) | # of TV Shows | # of Movies | Total Library Size | Price per Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liechtenstein | 24.90 CHF | 25.47 | 2,221 | 3,761 | 5,982 | 0.00106 |
| Israel | 69.90 ILS | 19.81 | 1,693 | 3,356 | 5,049 | 0.00098 |
| Switzerland | 24.90 CHF | 25.47 | 2,064 | 4,695 | 6,759 | 0.00094 |
| San Marino | 17.99 EUR | 17.47 | 1,832 | 3,246 | 5,078 | 0.00086 |
| Andorra | 17.99 EUR | 17.47 | 1,843 | 3,355 | 5,198 | 0.00084 |
| United States | 19.99 USD | 19.99 | 2,162 | 3,833 | 5,995 | 0.00083 |
| Denmark | 149 DKK | 19.45 | 1,767 | 4,338 | 6,105 | 0.00080 |
| Saudi Arabia | 61 SAR | 16.20 | 1,984 | 3,480 | 5,464 | 0.00074 |
| Oman | 15.79 USD | 15.79 | 1,986 | 3,355 | 5,341 | 0.00074 |
| Costa Rica | 15.99 USD | 15.99 | 2,032 | 3,429 | 5,461 | 0.00073 |
The cheapest places to get Netflix
Turkey’s, Pakistan’s, Argentina’s, and India’s unbeatable cost-per-title prices are, undoubtedly, due to their incredibly cheap costs per month–and that’s even after Turkey’s and Argentina’s recent price increases.
For example, despite increases of 50 cents to $1 across its plans, Turkey’s plans are up to four times cheaper than average. Turkey’s premium subscription of $5.07 per month is also over a whopping $20 cheaper than Switzerland’s and Liechtenstein’s huge cost of $25.47.
On a cost-per-month basis, the US doesn’t fare well as it features as the fourth most-expensive country for a Netflix subscription across all plans.
With the average cost per month being $7.58 for basic plans, $10.70 for standard, and $13.91 for premium, the US is over $2 more expensive for its basic plan, nearly $5 more expensive than average for its standard plan, and over $6 more expensive than average for its premium plan. It’s also $15 more expensive per month than Turkey’s premium plan.
How expensive is Netflix relative to average income?
We’ve analyzed the monthly cost of Netflix relative to the average monthly income in a country to determine where Netflix may “feel” more expensive.
The most expensive places to get Netflix
What’s clear from the above is that the most expensive monthly subscriptions for Netflix tend to be in European countries and the US.
What’s more, if you live in Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you’re paying over $4 more than average for a basic plan, nearly $9 more than average for a standard plan, and almost $12 more than average for a premium plan.
If you are looking to securely access your Netflix library from abroad, here are the best VPNs for Netflix currently available on the market.
Sources
For the full datasheet for all countries and plans, click here.
https://data.oecd.org/earnwage/average-wages.htm
https://www.worlddata.info/average-income.php
Why is Ukraine a blank space on the map? There is Ukrainian Netflix with local language support, the map shows there’s nothing at all
Unfortunately, the data we use doesn’t have library size figures for Ukraine so it isn’t one of the 46 countries we cover in this study. However, we’re always looking to expand this–so it may be something we include soon!
For Israel in the image has 3,631, but in the charts 4951, what gives?
We had some new data come in right before publishing. Everything got updated except the map, but it’s been fixed. Thanks for pointing it out!
WOW, really fast response, Thanks!