Asia & Oceania
Asia offers some of the cheapest mobile data on the planet. India and Southeast Asia average under $5 for a month of data, while Japan and South Korea lean toward eSIMs. China requires special attention due to the Great Firewall.
Best pick: Telstra Prepaid — AUD $30/28d, 40GB
CostAUD $30–55 / 28 days
Data40–80 GB
CoverageBest in Australia, incl. remote and Outback areas
eSIMYes — Telstra, Optus
Buy atAirport, convenience stores, supermarkets
💡 Optus and Vodafone are cheaper but Telstra wins on coverage in the Outback and remote areas. For city-only trips, Optus is fine and cheaper.
Best pick: Cellcard Tourist SIM — $5/30d, 30GB
Cost$3–8 / 30 days
Data15–30 GB
CoverageGood in cities; limited in rural provinces
eSIMLimited
Buy atPhnom Penh/Siem Reap Airport, phone shops
💡 Smart is cheapest, Cellcard has best coverage. SIMs cost as little as $1. Some shops sell pre-activated SIMs with data already loaded.
Best pick: China Unicom/Mobile tourist SIM — ¥100–200/30d, 10–20GB
Cost¥100–200 (~$14–28) / 30 days
Data10–20 GB
CoverageExcellent 4G/5G nationwide
eSIMNot available for tourists
Buy atAirport counters (bring passport)
💡 Google, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram — all blocked by the Great Firewall. Install a VPN before arrival. An international roaming SIM sidesteps the firewall entirely.
Best pick: Airtel Tourist SIM — ₹300–450/28d, 1.5–2GB/day
Cost₹300–450 (~$4–5) / 28 days
Data1.5–2 GB per day (42–56 GB total)
CoverageAirtel best in cities; Jio best in rural India
eSIMAvailable — Airtel
Buy atAirport Airtel/Jio counters
💡 Passport + visa copy + passport photo required. Activation takes 1–4 hours (sometimes longer). Cheapest data in the world but bureaucratic to set up.
Best pick: Telkomsel Tourist SIM — Rp 100K/30d, 15–25GB
CostRp 50K–150K (~$3–10) / 30 days
Data15–25 GB
CoverageBest nationwide, even on remote islands
eSIMYes — Telkomsel by.U
Buy atAirport, Indomaret/Alfamart convenience stores
💡 XL and Indosat are cheaper but Telkomsel has far better coverage outside Java and Bali. Essential for island-hopping trips.
Best pick: Nippon SIM — ¥1980/30d, data-only (docomo network)
Cost¥1980–3795 (~$13–25) / 30 days
Data3–30 GB (varies by plan)
CoverageExcellent nationwide via docomo/SoftBank
eSIMWidely available — Airalo, MATCHA eSIM, IIJmio
Buy atAirport vending machines, convenience stores, Amazon JP
💡 Most tourist SIMs are data-only (no voice calls). Shogun SIM (¥3795+) adds voice. eSIM is the easiest option — buy before landing.
Best pick: Unitel Tourist SIM — $3–5/30d, 6–10GB
Cost$2–5 / 30 days
Data6–10 GB
CoverageGood in Vientiane and Luang Prabang; spotty rural
eSIMNot available
Buy atWattay Airport, phone shops in cities
💡 Lao Telecom has wider rural coverage but Unitel is faster in cities. One of the cheapest countries for mobile data in the world.
Best pick: Celcom Xpax Tourist — RM35/14d, 20GB
CostRM20–50 (~$4–11) / 7–30 days
Data10–25 GB
CoverageGood nationwide, 4G
eSIMYes — Celcom, Hotlink
Buy atKLIA/KLIA2 Airport counters, convenience stores
💡 Hotlink (Maxis) is cheaper but Celcom has better coverage in East Malaysia (Sabah/Sarawak). Digi is another budget alternative.
Best pick: Spark Travel SIM — NZ$29/28d, 4GB + unlimited NZ calls
CostNZ$19–49 (~$11–28) / 28 days
Data1.5–10 GB
CoverageBest nationwide, incl. rural South Island
eSIMYes — Spark, One NZ
Buy atAuckland/Christchurch Airport, Spark stores
💡 2degrees is cheapest. One NZ (ex-Vodafone) good in cities. Spark has best rural and hiking coverage — essential for South Island road trips.
Best pick: Globe Tourist SIM — ₱300/7d, 8GB
Cost₱100–500 (~$2–9) / 7–30 days
Data5–15 GB
CoverageGood in Metro Manila and cities; variable on islands
eSIMYes — Globe
Buy atAirport, convenience stores, sari-sari shops
💡 Smart (PLDT) has better island coverage. Globe better in Metro Manila. Load via GCash app. SIMs are practically free.
Best pick: International roaming or eSIM (Airalo)
CostVaries by international provider
DataDepends on roaming plan
CoverageN/A for local SIMs (purchase effectively blocked)
eSIMInternational only — Airalo, Holafly
Buy atNot applicable for tourists
💡 Since January 2025, local SIM purchase requires a Gosuslugi account and SNILS number — effectively impossible for foreign tourists. Use international roaming or a pre-purchased eSIM.
Best pick: STC Tourist SIM — 75 SAR/30d, 10GB
Cost50–100 SAR (~$13–27) / 30 days
Data5–20 GB
CoverageExcellent nationwide; 5G in major cities
eSIMYes — STC, Mobily, Zain
Buy atAirport STC/Mobily counters
💡 Hajj/Umrah pilgrims get special discounted packages. 5G coverage is excellent in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Mecca. VoIP apps work normally.
Best pick: Singtel hi!Tourist — S$15/14d, 100GB
CostS$12–30 (~$9–22) / 7–28 days
Data50–100 GB
CoverageExcellent island-wide, 5G
eSIMYes — Singtel, StarHub
Buy atChangi Airport T1–T4, convenience stores
💡 All three carriers (Singtel, StarHub, M1) have excellent coverage. Singapore is tiny — any provider works perfectly everywhere.
Best pick: KT Tourist SIM — ₩20,000–28,000/5d unlimited
Cost₩20,000–55,000 (~$14–39) / 5–30 days
DataUnlimited (high-speed)
CoverageExcellent nationwide, 5G in cities
eSIMYes — KT, SKT
Buy atIncheon Airport T1/T2 counters
💡 WiFi Egg (portable hotspot) at ₩4500/day is another popular option. All Korean carriers offer unlimited data plans for tourists. Internet speeds are among the fastest in the world.
Best pick: Dialog Tourist SIM — Rs 1399/14d, 20GB
CostRs 1399–2450 (~$4–7) / 14–30 days
Data20–50 GB
CoverageGood nationwide, 4G in cities
eSIMYes — Dialog
Buy atBandaranaike Airport arrival hall
💡 Dialog has best coverage island-wide. Mobitel is the alternative. Airport activation is instant — one of the smoothest setups in Asia.
Best pick: AIS Traveller SIM — ฿299/8d, 15GB + unlimited speed-capped
Cost฿199–599 (~$5–16) / 8–30 days
Data15–30 GB (unlimited at reduced speed after cap)
CoverageExcellent nationwide, 5G in Bangkok
eSIMYes — AIS, DTAC/True
Buy atAirports (BKK/DMK), 7-Eleven, phone shops
💡 DTAC Happy Tourist SIM is slightly cheaper. AIS has best coverage. True Move H excellent in Bangkok. SIMs available at every 7-Eleven (there are thousands).
Best pick: Turkcell Tourist SIM — €20–30/30d, 20GB
Cost€20–30 / 30 days
Data15–25 GB
CoverageExcellent, 4G/5G nationwide
eSIMYes — Turkcell
Buy atIstanbul Airport, Turkcell shops
💡 Foreign phones must register IMEI within 120 days or get blocked. Registration costs ~$30 extra. For short trips (<120 days), no action needed.
Best pick: du Tourist SIM — 75 AED/14d, 3GB + local calls
Cost55–100 AED (~$15–27) / 7–28 days
Data2–10 GB
CoverageExcellent nationwide, 5G in cities
eSIMYes — du, Etisalat
Buy atAirport du/Etisalat counters, malls
💡 VoIP apps (WhatsApp calls, FaceTime, Skype) are blocked in the UAE. Use the cellular network for voice calls. Etisalat Visitor Line is the alternative.
Best pick: Viettel Tourist SIM — 150K VND (~$6)/30d, 5GB/day
Cost100K–200K VND (~$4–8) / 30 days
Data3–5 GB/day (90–150 GB total)
CoverageBest nationwide, incl. rural and mountainous areas
eSIMYes — Viettel, Vietnamobile
Buy atAirports (HAN/SGN/DAD), phone shops
💡 Mobifone and Vinaphone are alternatives but Viettel has best rural coverage. Vietnam offers some of the cheapest and most generous data plans in the world.
eSIM Tip for Asia: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand are the easiest eSIM destinations. Buy before departure via Airalo, Holafly, or carrier apps. Avoid the airport queue entirely.
Europe
EU roaming rules mean one SIM works across all member states. Iceland and Greenland are exceptions with their own providers. Turkey sits outside the EU zone.
Best pick: A1 Prepaid — €10/30d, 5GB (EU roaming included)
Cost€10–20 / 30 days
Data5–15 GB
CoverageGood nationwide, 4G; incl. islands
eSIMYes — A1
Buy atAirport, A1/T-Mobile shops, Tisak kiosks
💡 EU roaming means any EU SIM works in Croatia. Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is ideal for multi-country trips.
Best pick: Orange Holiday Europe eSIM — €20/14d, 20GB (EU-wide)
Cost€10–30 / 14–30 days
Data10–30 GB
CoverageExcellent, 4G/5G nationwide
eSIMYes — Orange, SFR, Bouygues
Buy atAirport Relay stores, tabacs, Orange shops
💡 Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is best value for multi-country EU travel. Free Mobile and Bouygues cheapest for France-only stays.
Best pick: Lebara Prepaid — €8/28d, 6GB (EU roaming)
Cost€8–15 / 28 days
Data6–15 GB
CoverageGood in cities; spotty in rural areas
eSIMYes — Lebara, ALDI TALK
Buy atElectronics stores, supermarkets, online
💡 Online ID verification required for activation (video call or app). ALDI TALK (O2 network) is cheapest. Telekom has best rural coverage but costs more.
Best pick: Cosmote — €10/30d, 5GB (EU roaming)
Cost€10–20 / 30 days
Data5–15 GB
CoverageGood, including major islands
eSIMYes — Cosmote
Buy atAirport, Cosmote/Vodafone/Wind shops
💡 Coverage on smaller islands can be spotty. Cosmote (OTE) has broadest reach. Any EU SIM with roaming works fine for short trips.
Best pick: Tusass “Hello Greenland” — 149 DKK/7d, 3GB
Cost149–349 DKK (~€20–47) / 7–14 days
Data3–10 GB
CoverageTowns and settlements only; none between
eSIMYes — Tusass
Buy atNuuk/Kangerlussuaq Airport, Tusass shops
💡 Tusass is the only carrier. Zero coverage between settlements. Satellite messenger essential for backcountry. EU/EEA roaming does NOT apply.
Best pick: Síminn eSIM — ISK 2990/14d, unlimited data
CostISK 2000–4990 (~€14–34) / 14–30 days
Data10 GB or unlimited (speed-capped after threshold)
CoverageGood on Ring Road and towns; patchy in Highlands
eSIMYes — Síminn, Nova
Buy atKEF Airport, N1 gas stations, 10-11 stores
💡 Síminn has best coverage outside Reykjavík. No coverage in interior Highlands. Iceland is EEA not EU — roaming surcharges may apply on EU SIMs.
Best pick: Iliad — €7.99/30d, 120GB (9GB EU roaming)
Cost€7–15 / 30 days
Data50–150 GB
CoverageExcellent, 4G/5G nationwide
eSIMYes — TIM, Vodafone, Iliad
Buy atIliad kiosks, TIM/Vodafone shops, airports
💡 Iliad is best value by far. TIM has broadest rural coverage. A codice fiscale (tax code) may be requested — not always enforced for tourists.
Best pick: MEO Prepaid — €10/15d, 5GB (EU roaming)
Cost€10–15 / 15–30 days
Data5–10 GB
CoverageGood, 4G island-wide
eSIMYes — MEO, NOS, Vodafone
Buy atFunchal Airport, MEO/NOS/Vodafone shops
💡 Same providers as mainland Portugal. Any EU SIM with roaming works perfectly. MEO has best coverage in mountain areas.
Best pick: Lebara — €10/28d, 8GB (EU roaming)
Cost€10–15 / 28 days
Data5–15 GB
CoverageExcellent, 5G in cities
eSIMYes — Lebara, KPN
Buy atSchiphol Airport, Albert Heijn, phone shops
💡 KPN has best coverage. Lebara best value. Ben (T-Mobile MVNO) is another solid budget option.
Best pick: Telenor Prepaid — NOK 199/30d, 5GB
CostNOK 149–299 (~€13–26) / 30 days
Data3–10 GB
CoverageGood on main routes; limited deep fjords
eSIMYes — Telenor, Telia
Buy atOslo Airport, Narvesen kiosks, 7-Eleven
💡 Norway is EEA not EU — surcharges may apply on EU SIMs. Telenor has best fjord/rural coverage. Expensive compared to EU countries.
Best pick: NOS Prepaid — €10/15d, 5GB (EU roaming)
Cost€10–15 / 15–30 days
Data5–15 GB
CoverageExcellent, 4G/5G nationwide
eSIMYes — MEO, NOS, Vodafone
Buy atLisbon/Porto Airport, phone shops, CTT post offices
💡 MEO has best Azores and Madeira coverage. Vodafone strong in cities. EU SIM roaming works seamlessly.
Best pick: Orange Holiday Europe eSIM — €20/14d, 20GB (EU-wide)
Cost€10–30 / 14–30 days
Data10–30 GB
CoverageExcellent, 4G/5G; solid on islands
eSIMYes — Orange, Vodafone, Movistar
Buy atAirport, Orange/Vodafone shops, El Corte Inglés
💡 Lycamobile cheapest for Spain-only trips. Movistar best rural and island coverage. Orange Holiday eSIM ideal for multi-country EU travel.
Best pick: Comviq Kontant — SEK 100/30d, 6GB
CostSEK 100–200 (~€9–18) / 30 days
Data6–15 GB
CoverageExcellent in populated areas
eSIMYes — Telia, Tre
Buy atAirport, Pressbyråan kiosks
💡 Telia has best coverage in Lapland and the north. Comviq (Tele2 network) is cheapest. EU SIM roaming works throughout Sweden.
EU Roaming Tip: Since June 2017, EU “Roam Like at Home” rules let you use your home EU SIM across all member states at no extra charge. One SIM from any EU country covers Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Norway and Iceland are EEA — roaming usually works but minor surcharges may apply. Greenland is outside the EU/EEA entirely.
Africa
Africa’s mobile landscape varies wildly. North Africa has solid 4G, southern Africa is well connected, but central and rural coverage drops fast. Passport registration is mandatory almost everywhere.
Best pick: MTN Congo — 5000 XAF/30d, 3GB
Cost3000–5000 XAF (~$5–8) / 30 days
Data2–5 GB
CoverageCities only (Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire)
eSIMNot available
Buy atMTN/Airtel shops in Brazzaville
💡 Coverage outside major cities is very limited. Bring passport for registration. Airtel is the alternative carrier.
Best pick: Vodacom Congo — $5–10/30d, 2–5GB
Cost$5–10 / 30 days
Data2–5 GB
CoverageMajor cities only (Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma)
eSIMNot available
Buy atVodacom/Airtel/Orange shops in cities
💡 Coverage drops sharply outside main cities. Multiple SIMs may be needed for different regions. Airtel has widest overall reach.
Best pick: Vodafone Egypt Tourist SIM — EGP 300–600/30d, 15–25GB
CostEGP 300–600 (~$6–12) / 30 days
Data15–25 GB
CoverageExcellent along Nile and coast; limited in deep desert
eSIMYes — Vodafone, Orange
Buy atCairo/Hurghada/Sharm el-Sheikh airports
💡 Orange and Etisalat also available at airports. Passport required. Desert/remote coverage limited to main highways.
Best pick: Orange Côte d’Ivoire — ~3000 XOF/30d, 5GB
Cost2000–5000 XOF (~$3–8) / 30 days
Data3–10 GB
CoverageBest in Abidjan, 4G; limited rural
eSIMNot widely available
Buy atAirport, Orange shops in Abidjan
💡 Orange has best coverage. MTN and Moov Africa are alternatives. ~$1/GB. Passport required for registration.
Best pick: Orange Madagascar — 15GB for ~15,000 MGA (~€4)
Cost10,000–20,000 MGA (~€2–5) / 30 days
Data5–15 GB
CoverageBest island-wide (Orange); 3G outside cities
eSIMNot available
Buy atIvato Airport (free–2000 MGA), phone shops
💡 Telma cheapest but Orange has far better coverage. 3G is the norm outside Antananarivo. Top up via scratch cards.
Best pick: Maroc Telecom — 50 MAD/30d, 10GB
Cost30–100 MAD (~$3–10) / 30 days
Data5–20 GB
CoverageExcellent nationwide, 4G even in rural/desert
eSIMYes — Maroc Telecom, Orange
Buy atAirports, Maroc Telecom shops, tabacs
💡 inwi has cheapest data packages. Orange is a good alternative. Coverage is surprisingly solid even in Saharan areas along main roads.
Best pick: MTC Traveller SIM — N$19.95 + data bundles
CostN$20 SIM + N$50–200 data (~$3–11 total)
Data1–10 GB
CoverageGood along main routes; limited in parks and desert
eSIMNot available
Buy atWindhoek Airport, MTC shops
💡 MTC has far better coverage than TN Mobile. Load data bundles separately after activation. No signal in many national parks — download offline maps before heading out.
Best pick: Vodacom Tourist SIM — R99/30d, 2GB + bonus data
CostR79–199 (~$4–11) / 30 days
Data2–10 GB
CoverageExcellent nationwide; 4G/5G in cities
eSIMYes — Vodacom, MTN
Buy atOR Tambo/Cape Town airports, Pick n Pay, Checkers
💡 MTN slightly cheaper but Vodacom has best rural coverage. RICA registration required — bring passport and provide a local address (hotel is fine).
South America
Claro has the best pan-regional coverage across South America. Brazil requires a CPF number for SIM registration. Venezuela is effectively offline for tourists due to infrastructure collapse.
Best pick: Personal or Claro — ARS 3000–5000/30d, 10–15GB
CostARS 3000–5000 (~$3–5) / 30 days
Data10–15 GB
CoverageGood in cities; limited in Patagonia and NW
eSIMLimited — Airalo for data-only
Buy atPhone shops, kiosks (avoid airports — overpriced)
💡 Prices fluctuate with inflation. Buy in city centres, not airports. Claro has best Patagonia coverage. Top up via Mercado Pago app.
Best pick: Claro Turista — R$50–80/30d, 10–20GB
CostR$50–80 (~$10–15) / 30 days
Data10–20 GB
CoverageGood in cities; spotty in Amazon and interior
eSIMYes — Claro, TIM
Buy atAirport Claro/Vivo/TIM counters
💡 CPF (tax ID) required for SIM registration. Hotels and hostels can sometimes help get a temporary CPF. Vivo has best Amazon coverage.
Best pick: WOM — CLP 5000/30d, 10GB
CostCLP 5000–10000 (~$5–10) / 30 days
Data10–20 GB
CoverageGood on mainland; limited Atacama/Patagonia
eSIMYes — Entel
Buy atSantiago Airport, WOM/Entel/Claro shops
💡 WOM is cheapest with decent coverage. Entel best in Atacama and Patagonia. Easter Island has Entel only.
Best pick: Claro Prepago — COP 20,000/30d, 8GB
CostCOP 15,000–30,000 (~$4–7) / 30 days
Data5–15 GB
CoverageGood in cities; limited in rural and jungle
eSIMYes — Claro
Buy atEl Dorado Airport, Claro/Movistar/Tigo shops, Éxito stores
💡 Claro has best mountain and rural coverage. Tigo cheapest in cities. Passport required for registration.
Best pick: Claro Prepago — S/20/30d, 8GB
CostS/15–30 (~$4–8) / 30 days
Data5–12 GB
CoverageGood along coast and in cities; patchy highlands
eSIMLimited — Airalo for data-only
Buy atLima Airport, Claro/Movistar shops
💡 Bitel is cheapest but has worst coverage. Entel best in highlands. No signal in deep jungle. Buy before heading to Cusco.
Best pick: International roaming or eSIM (Airalo)
CostVaries by international provider
DataDepends on roaming plan
CoverageLocal networks unreliable; frequent outages
eSIMInternational only — Airalo
Buy atNot recommended locally
💡 Infrastructure collapse makes local SIMs unreliable. Frequent power outages affect towers. Use international roaming or a pre-purchased eSIM. Bring a satellite communicator for travel outside Caracas.
Central America & Caribbean
Mexico is straightforward with Telcel dominating. Cuba is the outlier — state-run ETECSA is the only option, and internet access remains limited and expensive by regional standards.
Best pick: FLOW Visitor SIM — $40 BDS/7d, 6GB
Cost$20–40 BDS (~$10–20 USD) / 1–7 days
Data6 GB
CoverageGood island-wide
eSIMLimited
Buy atAirport FLOW/Digicel counter
💡 Digicel Visitor SIM is the alternative. Island is small so coverage is solid everywhere. Hotel WiFi is usually reliable.
Best pick: ETECSA CubacelTur Plus — $30/30d, 10GB
Cost$7–30 / 7–30 days
Data4–10 GB
CoverageCities and towns; very limited rural
eSIMNot available
Buy atAirport ETECSA stands, ETECSA offices in cities
💡 ETECSA is the only carrier. Internet is slow and expensive by regional standards. Tur Basic ($7/7d, 4GB) for short visits. No VPN needed — sites are not blocked like in China.
Best pick: Telcel Amigo Sin Límite — MXN 200/30d, 6GB + unlimited social media
CostMXN 150–300 (~$8–16) / 30 days
Data4–10 GB + unlimited WhatsApp/Facebook
CoverageBest nationwide, incl. remote beach/mountain areas
eSIMYes — Telcel, AT&T México
Buy atAirports, OXXO convenience stores, Telcel shops
💡 Telcel has by far the best rural and beach coverage. AT&T México is a solid city alternative. Top up at any OXXO (24/7 convenience stores everywhere).
Best pick: +Móvil Prepago — $5–10/30d, 5–10GB
Cost$5–10 / 30 days
Data5–10 GB
CoverageGood in cities, along Pan-American Highway
eSIMLimited
Buy atTocumen Airport, +Móvil/Tigo/Claro shops
💡 +Móvil is cheapest. Tigo has best coverage in Bocas del Toro and San Blas. No signal in the Darién jungle.
North America
The US and Canada have excellent coverage but expensive plans by global standards. eSIMs connecting to T-Mobile (US) or Rogers/Bell (Canada) are the most practical option for short visits.
Best pick: Lucky Mobile — CAD $25/30d, 1GB + unlimited talk/text
CostCAD $25–40/30 days
Data1–5 GB at 3G/LTE
CoverageGood in populated areas (Bell/Telus/Rogers networks)
eSIMYes — Airalo, various MVNOs
Buy atAirport, 7-Eleven, Walmart, phone shops
💡 Canadian plans are notoriously expensive. Lucky Mobile (Bell MVNO) and Public Mobile (Telus MVNO) are cheapest. No coverage in remote wilderness.
Best pick: Mint Mobile — $15/30d, 5GB on T-Mobile network
Cost$15–30/30 days
Data5–20 GB LTE/5G
CoverageGood in cities/suburbs; rural gaps on T-Mobile
eSIMYes — T-Mobile, Mint, Visible, Airalo
Buy atBest Buy, Target, Walmart, or pre-order online
💡 Verizon requires a credit check — avoid. T-Mobile Prepaid or Mint Mobile best for tourists. For national parks and rural areas, AT&T Prepaid has broadest reach.