There isn't a universal answer. It depends on what providers are available to you and what you use your internet for. If you watch Netflix or Hulu alot, you want 10Mbit + service to get good HD video. If you web surf, watch Youtube once-in-a-while and post to pintrest, then you could get by with 2 - 5Mbit service. Buying, rather than renting as much of the network hardware as you can will lower your continuing costs with a higher initial cost.