Best Tourist Sim Cards in Cambodia in 2025
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Cambodia across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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If you plan on visiting Cambodia, having a sim card is essential. With internet access, navigating new cities becomes a breeze. You can easily find the top-rated restaurants, get directions to your accommodation, book a taxi, and even share photos with your loved ones while on the move.
While roaming is an option, the costs can quickly add up when traveling internationally. That’s why we highly recommend either getting an eSIM or a local sim card to enjoy local phone rates.
Fortunately, obtaining either option in Cambodia is incredibly convenient, but it’s important to know which one suits you best. This comprehensive guide aims to provide you with all the information you need about purchasing a sim card in Cambodia, including the latest pricing and the absolute best sim card for your needs.
The best sim card in Cambodia is the prepaid sim card offered by Smart. The $5 USD sim card offers 25GB data which is extremely cheap and a better deal than Metfone.
Smart also has the best network coverage and reliability across Cambodia so I always recommend sticking to them.
eSims in Cambodia are not at all competitively priced, so if budget is a concern to you then you should stick to the local sim cards. However, if you are just visiting Cambodia on a short holiday I recommend checking out Airalo’s Cambodia eSim. For $9 USD you’ll get 3GB of data which is more than enough for a quick trip to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
With the eSim you won’t need to visit a store in Cambodia, register with your passport or install a physical sim card. It’s up to you whether you value the convenience.
A Tourist Sim Card in Cambodia costs $5 USD in March 2025, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Cambodia will cost between $4.50 USD and $13.50 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Cambodia which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $13.50 USD.
The main sim card providers in Cambodia are Metfone, Smart and Cellcard.
All three providers have great mobile network coverage across the country, with Smart being the best followed by Cellcard and then Metfone. Prepaid sim cards are considered cheap compared to other countries around the world and include large amounts of data.
The best option is to purchase from an official store in the airport in Phnom Penh. It may be cheaper if you head into town first but in my experience this isn’t worth the added hassle.
Metfone is a subsidiary of the Vietnamese-owned Viettel telecommunications company. Viettel has the best network in Vietnam, however, Metfone is reported to have the worst network of the three in Cambodia.
For this reason, I always recommend Smart instead. If Metfone is your most convenient option, you will likely not notice any major issues as they still have great coverage in the main cities (Phnom Penh and Siem Reap). If you’re planning to head to remote areas then you should look to the other providers instead.
The price of a Metfone tourist sim card in Cambodia is $5 USD.
The plan offered by Metfone stores includes 5GB data valid for 30 days.
Smart is a Cambodian-owned company that offers the best mobile network in the country. Besides the fact that I think it might be best to support a company that is owned by the country you’re visiting, their network really is more extensive. They’ve claimed to have covered 98% of the country with at least 2G data, they have the best 4G coverage and are the first to roll out 5G in Cambodia.
The Smart sim cards are super cheap by Western standards making them the clear winner to the point where I wouldn’t consider anything else when I next visit Cambodia.
The price of a Smart tourist sim card in Cambodia is $5 USD.
The plan offered by Smart stores offers 25GB data valid for 15 days.
Cellcard is a sim card company in Cambodia that has been growing rapidly in recent years as they’ve competed fiercely with Smart when it comes to upgrading their network.
OpenSignal has even recorded Cellcard as having the fasted download speeds of all three providers and being just behind Smart for coverage.
If for some reason you are unable to purchase a Smart sim card, I recommend Cellcard as the back up option.
The price of a Cellcard tourist sim card in Cambodia is $5 USD.
The plan offered by Cellcard stores includes 25GB data + 2500 minutes + 2500 SMS valid for 30 days.
Identify the mobile providers in Cambodia: Metfone, Smart and Cellcard are your best options in Cambodia.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Cambodia. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in Cambodia to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, Metfone, Smart or Cellcard staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by Metfone that includes 5GB data for $5 USD.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay $5 USD to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Cambodia at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Cambodia then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Cambodia have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Metfone, Smart and Cellcard. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Cambodia are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Cambodia with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Cambodia. The Airalo Cambodia eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $13.50 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Cambodia without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Cambodia is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Cambodia and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Cambodia eSim uses the Smart Axiata network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Smart Axiata networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Cambodia.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Cambodia eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $4.50 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $9 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $13.50 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $13.50 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Cambodia eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Cambodia eSim uses the CamGSMnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Cambodia
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Cambodia eSim:
8GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $47 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is built into a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, there is no need to physically insert or remove the eSIM from the device.
Instead, the eSIM is integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This means that users can easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the hassle of changing physical SIM cards.
The advantages of eSIM technology include convenience, flexibility, and ease of use, particularly for travelers or individuals who frequently switch between different mobile networks or travel internationally. With an eSIM, there is no need to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, making it much more convenient to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users simply need to scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or enter the activation details manually. Once activated, the device can connect to the desired mobile network and enjoy voice, data, and messaging services, just like with a traditional SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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