Introduction
If you’ve noticed your cable bill creeping up year after year, you’re not imagining it. The average US cable TV bill hit $156/month in 2026, that’s $1,872 a year just to watch TV.
Streaming services have been around long enough that most people assume they’re automatically cheaper than cable. But the reality is more complicated, it depends entirely on which streaming services you pick and what you actually watch.
This breakdown shows you the real numbers, side by side.
What the Average American Actually Pays for TV in 2026
Before comparing, let’s establish what “cable” actually costs most households:
| What you’re paying for | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Cable TV (base package) | $85–120 |
| Sports add-on (NFL, RSN) | $15–25 |
| Premium channels (HBO, Showtime) | $15–30 |
| Cable box rental fees | $10–20 |
| DVR fee | $10–15 |
| Regional sports fee (often hidden) | $8–15 |
| Broadcast TV surcharge | $5–10 |
| Total (realistic) | $148–235/month |
Most people budget $100 for cable and end up paying $150–180 when all the fees hit.
Option 1: Cable Only
Average cost: $156/month | $1,872/year
What you get:
– 200–500 channels (most unwatched)
– Local channels included
– Live sports (with add-ons)
– DVR (with fee)
– Contract (often 1–2 years)
– Equipment rental fees
– Annual price increases (average 4–6% per year)
Cable’s biggest advantage: it’s a single bill, everything works, and you don’t have to think about it. The biggest problem: you’re paying for hundreds of channels you never watch.
Option 2: The Streaming Stack (Multiple Apps)
Many people who “cut the cord” end up subscribing to multiple streaming services and spending nearly as much as they did on cable.
Typical streaming stack:
| Service | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Netflix (Standard) | $17 |
| Disney+ | $14 |
| Max (HBO) | $16 |
| Hulu (No Ads) | $18 |
| Peacock Premium | $8 |
| ESPN+ | $11 |
| Paramount+ | $12 |
| Apple TV+ | $10 |
| Total | $106/month |
And that’s before a live TV add-on for sports and local channels. Add YouTube TV ($73/month) or Hulu + Live TV ($77/month) and you’re at $179/month, more than cable.
This is called “streaming fatigue” and it’s the most common cord-cutting mistake. People cancel cable, subscribe to 5–8 streaming services, and end up spending the same money for a worse experience (multiple apps, different interfaces, content scattered everywhere).
Option 3: Live TV Streaming Service (The Smart Play)
Instead of stacking 6 subscriptions, a single live TV streaming service replaces cable at a fraction of the cost.
KrushTV, $20/month:
| What’s included | Details |
|---|---|
| Live channels | Hundreds of channels |
| Sports | NFL, NBA, Premier League, UFC, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, Golf |
| Movies on demand | 35,000+ titles |
| TV Series | Full seasons, current and classic |
| International | 50+ countries represented |
| Devices | Firestick, Android TV, phones, tablets |
| Streams | 2 simultaneous |
| Contract | None, month-to-month |
At $20/month, KrushTV is the most cost-effective full cable replacement available.
Cost comparison:
| Setup | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Cable (average) | $156 | $1,872 |
| Streaming stack (Netflix + Disney + HBO + live TV) | $106–179 | $1,272–2,148 |
| KrushTV only | $20 | $240 |
| KrushTV + Netflix | $37 | $444 |
The 10-Year Cost of Cable
This is the number that should really hit home:
At $156/month with a 5% annual increase (industry average):
| Year | Annual cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,872 | $1,872 |
| 2027 | $1,966 | $3,838 |
| 2028 | $2,064 | $5,902 |
| 2029 | $2,167 | $8,069 |
| 2030 | $2,276 | $10,345 |
| 10 years | - | $22,000+ |
KrushTV at $20/month for 10 years: $2,400 total.
The difference: $19,600.
What You Give Up (And What You Don’t)
Let’s be honest about the trade-offs:
What you might miss with streaming:
– Local channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX), fixable with a $30 HD antenna
– DVR cloud recording, available on some services, not KrushTV
– Cable customer service (for the rare person who values this)
What you gain:
– No annual contracts
– No equipment rental fees
– No price hikes locked in
– Watch on any device, anywhere
– Cancel anytime
For most households, the trade-offs heavily favor streaming. The local channel gap is the most common concern, and an HD antenna solves it permanently for a one-time $30 investment.
What’s the Best Setup for Different Households?
Budget household (just the essentials):
– KrushTV: $20/month
– HD antenna: $30 one-time
– Total: $20/month ongoing
Sports-heavy household:
– KrushTV: $20/month (covers all major sports)
– Total: $20/month
Entertainment household (movies + shows + sports):
– KrushTV: $20/month
– Netflix: $17/month
– Total: $37/month
Family with kids:
– KrushTV: $20/month
– Disney+: $14/month
– Total: $34/month
All of these beat cable at $156/month.
The Real Reason Most People Haven’t Cut the Cord Yet
According to surveys, the top 3 reasons people stay on cable:
- “I’ll miss live sports”, KrushTV covers NFL, NBA, Premier League, UFC, and more
- “It’s too complicated to set up”, A Firestick takes 10 minutes to set up
- “I don’t want to lose local channels”, A $30 HD antenna solves this permanently
None of these are good reasons to keep paying $1,872 a year.
How to Make the Switch
- Try KrushTV free for 3 days, no credit card required
- Verify it has what you watch, sports, channels, movies
- Buy a Firestick ($49) if you don’t have a smart TV
- Cancel cable, call the company, return equipment, done
Most people complete this in a single weekend and never look back.
Start your free trial at krushtv.com/free-trial →
Summary
| Cable | Streaming Stack | KrushTV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $156 | $106–179 | $20 |
| Annual cost | $1,872 | $1,272–2,148 | $240 |
| Live sports | Yes (add-on) | Partial | Yes (included) |
| Movies/Series | Limited | Yes | 35,000+ |
| Contract | 1–2 years | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Price increases | Annual | Possible | Stable |
The math is clear. Cable is the most expensive way to watch TV in 2026, and the gap keeps growing every year.