City in Northwest Territories, Canada
Internet in Yellowknife: speed, SIM cards and coworking
Is the internet good in Yellowknife?
Median fixed broadband in Canada is 258 Mbps and mobile is 86 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Café and hotel wifi works for email and calls; capacity is lower than in southern Canada and mobile coverage ends outside town.
Getting online in Yellowknife
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Home fibre | Cable and fibre from Northwestel in most buildings; 100 Mbps–1 Gbps for roughly 100–180 CAD a month. |
| Cafés and coworking | Café and hotel wifi works for email and calls; capacity is lower than in southern Canada and mobile coverage ends outside town. |
| Outages | Occasional outages in storms |
| Tourist SIM | Prepaid SIMs from carrier stores and budget brands, roughly C$35–60 for 30 days; mobile data is pricey. A travel eSIM is often cheaper. |
| eSIM | Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors. |
| Carriers | Rogers, Bell, Telus, Freedom Mobile |
| Monthly data plan | C$40–70 ($28–49) |
Coworking in Yellowknife
There's no dedicated coworking scene here; people work from cafés and accommodation.
Internet speeds in North America
National medians, Speedtest Global Index.
| Country | Fixed | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 307 Mbps | 187 Mbps |
| Canada | 258 Mbps | 86 Mbps |
Quick answers
Is the internet fast in Yellowknife?
Median fixed broadband in Canada is 258 Mbps and mobile is 86 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Café and hotel wifi works for email and calls; capacity is lower than in southern Canada and mobile coverage ends outside town.
Which SIM card should I get in Yellowknife?
Prepaid SIMs from carrier stores and budget brands, roughly C$35–60 for 30 days; mobile data is pricey. A travel eSIM is often cheaper.
Can I use an eSIM in Canada?
Yes. Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors, and travel eSIMs work too.
More about Yellowknife
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Sources
- Speedtest Global Index: Canada
- Rogers
- Bell
- Telus
- Freedom Mobile
- City of Yellowknife Transit
- Spectacular NWT (tourism)
- NT Health and Social Services Authority
Speeds are medians from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, cited for reference. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.