Best Tourist Sim Cards in Mexico in 2024
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Mexico across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, having a sim card is essential. Access to the internet while traveling can greatly enhance your experience by conveniently navigating new cities, finding the best restaurants, getting directions to your accommodation, booking taxis, and sharing photos with your loved ones on the go.
While roaming is an option, the costs can quickly accumulate when traveling internationally. Therefore, we always recommend either an eSIM or a local sim card to enjoy local phone rates. Luckily, obtaining either option in Mexico is incredibly straightforward, but it’s important to know which is the best choice for you.
This comprehensive guide aims to provide you with all the necessary information about buying a sim card in Mexico, including up-to-date pricing and the ultimate sim card recommendation.
There are a few different mobile internet operators in Mexico but there is one clear winner for the best Mexico sim card: Telcel. Telcel is the largest mobile internet provider in Mexico and offers substantially wider coverage and better reliability than their competitors AT&T and Movistar.
The cost of Telcel Sim cards varies often and can even change from store to store. Your best option is to head to an OXXO store and purchase your Telcel Mexico sim card here. The cost should be around 250 – 300 MXN and it will come with 3 – 4 GB of data. This is enough for most people or for short trips, but there will also be higher data plans available as well, or you can easily top your card up later if you require more data.
If you want the most convenient option, then you can consider purchasing an Airalo eSim instead. It conveniently uses the Telkomsel network as well so you can be confident the coverage will be as good as it gets in Mexico. However, the sim cards are much cheaper at OXXO so I recommend purchasing it in a store if you are worried about saving a few dollars.
A Tourist Sim Card in Mexico costs 250k MXN in December 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Mexico will cost between $8 USD and $32.50 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 Mexico which includes 3GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $21 USD.
Telcel, AT&T and Movistar are the most popular sim card providers in Mexico, with Telcel being the largest in terms of marketshare in Mexico.
Telcel and AT&T are the best options due to their strong network reliability, coverage and speeds. Both have stores located all around Mexico, ranging from small towns to cities, as well as in most airports, making purchasing a sim card super easy, cheap and convenient.
For a cheaper option, some travellers have reported positive feedback for the Oxxo- brand sim cards.
Telcel is the best mobile sim card provider in Mexico in terms of mobile network coverage and speed making it the best pick for everyone, but especially tourists who might be heading to smaller towns or exploring more remote parts of the country.
Purchasing a sim card in Mexico is easy as you can buy them from any Oxxo store in the country without issues. Plans are relatively affordable, but it’s also easy to buy more as you guy by, yet again, visiting an Oxxo store.
The price of a Telcel tourist sim card in Mexico is 250 MXN.
The plan offered by Telcel stores includes 3.5GB data + free social media valid for 30 days.
AT&T is another good pick and is the one I recommend any time a Telcel sim card isn’t available – which is basically never.
Their network is less extensive than Telcel, however, a lot better than any other operators in Mexico. It’s likely to be good enough for most tourists, but there’s really no reason to go for AT&T over Telcel.
The price of a AT&T tourist sim card in Mexico is 200 MXN.
The plan offered by AT&T stores offers 6GB data + unlimited social media valid for 30 days.
Movistar is the third largest mobile network operator in Mexico, and this shows in their network coverage and reliability. Data has shown that Movistar has objectively the worst mobile network out of the three in Mexico.
All I can say is to not waste your time on a Movistar sim card. They’re not really that bad, but losing internet connection is frustrating and it’s not worth it when you could’ve just gone for Telcel in the first place.
The price of a Movistar tourist sim card in Mexico is 150 MXN.
The plan offered by Movistar stores includes GB data + free social media + free calls + free texts valid for 30 days.
Identify the mobile providers in Mexico: Telcel, AT&T and Movistar are your best options in Mexico.
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 Mexico. 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 not legally necessary in Mexico to bring your passport with you in order to purchase a sim card. However, I still recommend bringing it just in case as it can be a major hassle to head into a Telcel, AT&T or Movistar store only to have to come back again later with your passport – trust me, I’ve done this more than once!
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 Telcel that includes 3.5GB data + free social media for 250 MXN.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 250k MXN 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 Mexico 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 Mexico then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Mexico 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 Telcel, AT&T and Movistar. 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 Mexico 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 Mexico 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 Mexico. The Airalo Mexico 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 $21 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 Mexico without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Mexico is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Mexico 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 Mexico eSim uses the Movistar, AT&T & Telcel networks to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Movistar, AT&T & Telcel networksnetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Mexico.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Mexico eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $8 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $15 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $21 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $32.50 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 3GB data plan for $21 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 Mexico eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Mexico eSim uses the AT&T Mexiconetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Mexico
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Mexico eSim:
Unlimited data valid for 5 days – Price: $19 USD
Unlimited data valid for 7 days – Price: $27 USD
Unlimited data valid for 10 days – Price: $34 USD
Unlimited data valid for 15 days – Price: $47 USD
Unlimited data valid for 20 days – Price: $54 USD
Unlimited data valid for 30 days – Price: $64 USD
Unlimited data valid for 60 days – Price: $84 USD
Unlimited data valid for 90 days – Price: $99 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is permanently installed in a device like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike regular SIM cards, eSIMs do not require physical insertion or removal.
Instead, the eSIM is integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This enables users to switch between different mobile networks or plans without the need to physically switch SIM cards.
The advent of eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and user-friendliness, particularly for travelers or individuals who frequently switch between mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the need for buying and inserting physical SIM cards, simplifying the management of multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users typically scan a QR code provided by their network operator or manually input the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the desired mobile network and access voice calls, data services, and messaging, 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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