What is the cheapest way to store 1TB of data?

The cheapest way to store 1TB in 2026 depends on your needs. For bulk cold storage, a 1TB external HDD costs approximately $45-55 ($0.045-$0.055/GB). For fast everyday storage, a 1TB NVMe SSD costs approximately $85-100 ($0.085-$0.10/GB). For the absolute lowest $/GB, buying a larger drive (4TB+) and using part of it is often cheaper per GB.