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How to buy a Colombia SIM card in 2026
A Colombia SIM card costs 3,000-35,000 COP. See what each carrier charges, where to buy one, and how to register it with your passport.
A Colombia SIM card costs between 3,000 COP ($0.94) for a day of data and 35,000 COP ($10.92) for a month with unlimited calls and texts. It’s a fraction of what you’d pay in roaming charges from your home carrier.
Most providers include the SIM free when you buy a plan, though you’ll need your passport to register the line before it works.
Claro, Tigo, Movistar, and WOM all sell prepaid plans at the airport, in city stores, and online. Travelers who’d rather skip the registration can install an eSIM before takeoff and land connected.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges in Colombia. Use local networks at local rates.
How much is a SIM card in Colombia?
A prepaid SIM card in Colombia costs between 3,000 COP ($0.94) for a single day of data and 35,000 COP ($10.92) for a month with unlimited calls and texts. You don’t really buy a SIM card in Colombia. You buy a data plan, and the SIM comes with it. Most carriers throw it in free.
Claro, Tigo, Movistar, and WOM are the four networks selling prepaid plans to travelers and providing mobile internet in Colombia. Here’s what they charge in 2026.
Claro SIM card for Colombia
Claro splits prepaid into data-only packets and all-inclusive plans that bundle data with calls and texts. For a traveler who mainly needs maps and messaging, the data-only packets are the cheaper route.
| Data packet | Data | Validity | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 MB + WhatsApp | 200 MB | 1 day | 3,000 COP ($0.94) |
| 400 MB browsing | 400 MB | 1 day | 3,500 COP ($1.09) |
| 800 MB browsing | 800 MB | 3 days | 6,000 COP ($1.87) |
| Unlimited browsing | Unlimited | 2 hours | 7,000 COP ($2.18) |
| 2 GB browsing | 2 GB | 7 days | 9,000 COP ($2.81) |
If you want calls and texts as well, the all-inclusive plans are better value at the longer end:
| All-inclusive plan | Data | Validity | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome package | 2 GB | 7 days | 5,000 COP ($1.56) |
| All inclusive 7 days | 10 GB | 7 days | 14,000 COP ($4.37) |
| All inclusive 15 days | 20 GB | 15 days | 25,000 COP ($7.80) |
| All inclusive 30 days | 30 GB | 30 days | 35,000 COP ($10.92) |
All-inclusive plans come with unlimited calls to any operator and unlimited WhatsApp, Facebook, and X. You activate any Claro package over WhatsApp rather than in a store.
Tigo SIM card for Colombia
Tigo doesn’t sell a bare SIM card. You buy a data plan and the SIM comes with it, as either a physical SIM or a prepaid eSIM, at no extra cost. Every plan includes unlimited national calls and texts.
| Plan | Data | Validity | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM + 5 GB | 5 GB | 7 days | 10,000 COP ($3.12) |
| SIM + 10 GB | 10 GB | 15 days | 20,000 COP ($6.24) |
Tigo also runs online-only data offers that can double what’s listed here, so check their site before buying in a store.
Movistar SIM card for Colombia
Movistar’s Prepago PRO range runs from 6 days to a month. Every plan includes unlimited calls and texts to any operator, plus unlimited WhatsApp, Facebook, and Nequi.
| Plan | Data (online / in store) | Validity | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paquete 6 días | 4.2 GB / 1.4 GB | 6 days | 9,000 COP ($2.81) |
| Paquete semana | 6 GB / 2 GB | 7 days | 10,000 COP ($3.12) |
| Paquete 10 días | 10.5 GB / 3.5 GB | 10 days | 15,000 COP ($4.68) |
| Paquete 20 días | 30 GB / 10 GB | 20 days | 20,000 COP ($6.24) |
| Paquete mes | 39 GB / 13 GB | 30 days | 35,000 COP ($10.92) |
The higher figure applies when you buy through the Movistar website or the Mi Movistar app. Buy the same plan at a counter and you get the lower one for the same price.
Travelers who only need messaging can get a WhatsApp-only day plan for 3,000 COP ($0.94). A 1,200-minute voice plan valid for 30 days costs 8,500 COP ($2.65). A 1,200-minute voice plan valid for 30 days costs 8,500 COP ($2.65).
WOM SIM card for Colombia
WOM gives you the SIM free when you buy a data plan, and every plan includes unlimited national calls and texts plus unlimited WhatsApp. You can take it as a physical SIM or an eSIM.
| Plan | Data (online / in store) | Validity | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 7.5 GB / 2.5 GB | 7 days | 9,000 COP ($2.81) |
| 10 days | 13.5 GB / 4.5 GB | 10 days | 13,000 COP ($4.05) |
| 20 days | 24 GB / 8 GB | 20 days | 19,000 COP ($5.93) |
| 30 days | 31.5 GB / 10.5 GB | 30 days | 25,000 COP ($7.80) |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 15 days | 35,000 COP ($10.92) |
The unlimited plan is a standing price with no online-only condition attached. For the rest, the higher figure applies when you buy through movilpt.co, the WOM app, or their WhatsApp line.
Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of July 25, 2026, and is subject to change.
Where to buy a Colombia SIM card?
You can buy a Colombia SIM card online before you fly, or in person once you land.
- Before you travel. Marketplaces like Mercado Libre or SimOptions sell local prepaid SIM cards and ship internationally. Claro, Tigo, Movistar, and WOM also sell direct through their own websites and apps — which is where the larger data offers live.
- At the airport. El Dorado International in Bogotá and José María Córdova International in Medellín both have carrier kiosks in arrivals.
- In the city. All four carriers run their own stores in city centers and in malls like Unicentro, Santafé, and El Tesoro. You’ll also find prepaid SIM cards and top-ups in supermarkets including Éxito, Jumbo, and Carulla, at Oxxo convenience stores, and in Drogas La Rebaja pharmacies.
How to get a SIM card in Colombia: Requirements and activation
Getting a SIM card in Colombia comes down to three steps: buy a prepaid plan, register it with your passport, and activate the line.
What you need to register a Colombia SIM card
Colombian law requires every prepaid line to be registered to a person, so you can’t buy a SIM card and start using it anonymously. For a visitor, that means one document: your passport.
Registration happens at the point of sale or through the carrier’s app. Have your passport with you when you buy – a photo on your phone won’t always be accepted at a counter.
How to activate your Colombia SIM card
How you activate depends on who you bought from, but none of the four carriers sends you back to a store to do it. Each handles registration and activation via an app, a website, or WhatsApp, so you can complete the process at the airport or your hotel.
- How to activate Claro SIM: Activate any prepaid package over WhatsApp. Every package on their site carries an “Activate it on WhatsApp” option instead of a store visit.
- How to activate Tigo SIM: Use the “Activa o registra tu SIM Tigo” link on their prepaid page to register the line in your name.
- How to activate WOM SIM: Register through “Register your line” at the top of movilpt.co, or “Register your Prepaid line” in the footer.
- How to activate Movistar SIM: Buy and activate at prepago.movistar.co or in the Mi Movistar app. Pick your plan, pay by card or PSE, and enter the number you’re topping up.
Holafly’s eSIM for Colombia: No queues or delivery times
A Holafly eSIM for Colombia gives you unlimited data with no passport, no registration, and no store visit — plus 24/7 support if anything goes wrong. You install it before you fly, and it connects the moment you land. If you’re continuing through the region, an eSIM for Latin America covers multiple countries on a single eSIM.
Buy through the website or the Holafly app, (iOS or Android) scan the QR code, and follow the on-screen steps. Installation takes about 5 minutes. You can check whether your phone will work in Colombia before you buy.
Plans start at $5.90 for a single day and go up to 90 days. You can pick precisely how long you want your plan to last. Longer plans cost less per day: a 15-day plan is $50.50, or $3.37 a day.
Staying even longer? Holafly Plans is a monthly subscription with unlimited data and unlimited hotspot for $64.90 a month, or 25 GB for $49.90.
Always On: backup data with every eSIM
Always On comes with every Holafly eSIM: 1 GB of backup data every 30 days, 12 GB a year, across 150+ destinations.
It covers the gaps: an early airport run, a plan that’s just run out, a last-minute booking. Keep your Holafly eSIM installed, and the data is there. Wherever you’re headed next, you can buy an eSIM before you go.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
Traveling beyond Colombia? Check out our other SIM card guides:
- Brazil SIM card
- Peru SIM Card
- Ecuador SIM card
- Argentina SIM card
- Chile SIM card
- South America SIM card
FAQs about SIM card for Colombia
Tigo gives the most data for a short trip: 5 GB over 7 days for 10,000 COP ($3.12). WOM’s unlimited plan at 35,000 COP ($10.92) for 15 days suits longer stays. Claro lists its data without online-only conditions, so what you see is what you get. All four require passport registration.
Claro’s prepaid data packets start at 3,000 COP ($0.94) for 200 MB plus a day of WhatsApp. A 2 GB packet valid for 7 days costs 9,000 COP ($2.81). All-inclusive plans that add unlimited calls and texts start at 5,000 COP ($1.56) for 2 GB over 7 days.
Yes. El Dorado International Airport has carrier kiosks in arrivals, and so does José María Córdova in Medellín. Bring your passport, since the line has to be registered before it works. If you’d rather not queue after a long flight, an eSIM is active the moment you land.
Yes. Colombian law requires every prepaid line to be registered to a person, and your passport is the document you use as a visitor. There’s no local ID or proof of address required. An eSIM needs no registration at all.
You can, but your home carrier will charge roaming fees that usually cost more than a local plan. Check the rates before you fly and look at the options to avoid roaming charges. For any trip longer than a day or two, a local SIM card or an eSIM works out cheaper.
Two. An eSIM installs on your phone before you fly with no registration required. Pocket WiFi for Colombia is a portable router you rent, which suits groups sharing one connection between several devices.
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Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!
