Starlink vs Cox in Tucson: Real Speedtest Results + Cost Comparison
A real-world look at download, upload, latency, and monthly cost — using Speedtest results from the same phone.
Tucson residents often ask how satellite internet compares to traditional cable providers. This real-world comparison looks at Starlink vs Cox in Tucson using actual Speedtest results and monthly costs.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Starlink can compete with a traditional cable provider like Cox, you’re not alone. With more households working from home, streaming in 4K, and running smart-home devices, internet performance and reliability matter more than ever — and so does the monthly bill.
Below is a side-by-side comparison of actual Speedtest results and pricing: Cox at $170/month (their best offering) vs Starlink at $120/month (also offers an $80/month plan).
Quick Summary
| Metric | Cox (Cable) | Starlink (Satellite) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $170/mo | $120/mo (save $50/mo) |
| Download | 376 Mbps | 350 Mbps |
| Upload | 122 Mbps | 38.6 Mbps |
| Ping (Latency) | 20 ms | 39 ms |
| Jitter | 2 ms | 10 ms |
Note: The tests used different test servers (Tucson vs Phoenix), which can slightly affect latency and routing, but the numbers still paint a clear picture of overall performance.
Individual results may vary based on location, equipment, network congestion, and time of day.
What These Numbers Mean in Real Life
1) Download Speed: Nearly a Tie
Both connections deliver very strong download speeds. For most households, either one supports multiple 4K streams, fast downloads, smart-home devices, and everyday browsing. In plain terms: you likely won’t “feel” a huge difference between 376 Mbps and 350 Mbps in normal use.
2) Upload Speed: Cox Is the Clear Winner
Upload speed is where the difference shows up fast. Cox delivered 122 Mbps upload versus Starlink at 38.6 Mbps. That matters for:
- Zoom/Teams video calls (especially with multiple people at home)
- Uploading video content or large files
- Cloud backups (Photos, iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive)
- Remote work, VPN connections, and remote desktop tools
If your household is upload-heavy, Cox’s higher upload speed can feel noticeably smoother.
3) Latency & Jitter: Cox Is More Consistent
Cox also had significantly lower ping (20 ms vs 39 ms) and lower jitter (2 ms vs 10 ms). Lower latency and jitter generally means:
- More responsive gaming
- Clearer, steadier video calls
- More reliable voice (VoIP) calls
- Fewer “micro-pauses” during real-time activity
Starlink has improved dramatically compared to older satellite internet, but cable still tends to win on stability.
Cost Changes the Conversation
Here’s the part that gets everyone’s attention: Starlink costs $120/month versus $170/month for Cox. That’s $50/month savings — or $600/year.
So who wins on value?
- Download-focused households: Starlink is a strong value — similar download speeds for less money.
- Upload + stability needs: Cox may justify the premium if you work from home, upload a lot, or game.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Cox if you want the most consistent performance
- Best upload performance (great for remote work and content uploads)
- Lower latency and jitter (better real-time responsiveness)
- Generally more consistent performance day-to-day
Choose Starlink if cost savings + strong download matters most
- Nearly the same download speed as cable in these tests
- Save about $50/month vs a premium cable plan
- Excellent option in rural areas or where cable/fiber isn’t ideal
Interested in Starlink?
If you’re thinking about trying Starlink, here’s my referral link:
Check Starlink Availability & Pricing
Tip: If you do a lot of video calls or upload content regularly, pay special attention to upload performance and stability. If your usage is mostly streaming and browsing, Starlink’s value proposition can be hard to ignore.
