SIM Card Guides

How to buy a Mexico SIM card for tourists

A Mexico SIM card allows you to stay connected while visiting the country. Let’s take a look at some of the top options and alternatives to consider.

Internet connection is a travel essential these days. You don’t leave home without it; you keep up with your friends and family through it. You even need it for your basics: banking, directions, and the lot!

To make sure you’re fully equipped with mobile internet in Mexico for your upcoming trip, let’s find the best SIM card to keep you connected in Mexico. And if you’re looking for a completely digital option, consider Holafly, a top travel eSIM with unlimited data in Mexico and 200+ other travel destinations.

In this article

Do I need a SIM card for Mexico?

Whether or not you need a travel SIM card for Mexico largely depends on what your current phone plan has to offer. Some providers, especially those in the USA and Canada, include free international roaming in Mexico with their plans, ensuring solid coverage at no extra cost whenever you travel.

Will my US SIM work in Mexico?

Yes, your US SIM card will work in Mexico. The only question is whether or not you’ll have to pay extra for it. Most major carriers in the US, such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, include coverage in Mexico with most of their plans. However, you should double-check to make sure you’re covered. If not, you’d need to buy a travel pass to use your SIM outside the US.

Will my Canadian SIM work in Mexico?

Just as with US SIM cards, you can use a Canadian SIM card in Mexico. The likes of Telus, Rogers, and Bell all include roaming in Mexico in most of their plans. If roaming isn’t already included, you can buy a roaming pass to get reliable service with your regular SIM to ensure your phone works in Mexico.

How to buy a Mexico SIM card

There are multiple ways to buy a SIM card for Mexico, which ensures that you’ll find a way to stay connected, whether you like to prepare for your trips well in advance or if you do everything last minute.

Buy before you travel: You can buy a prepaid SIM card for Mexico online and have it delivered to your door, an airport in Mexico, or your hotel. Such cards are available on Amazon as well as SimCorner, OneSimCard, and similar online retailers.
Buy when you arrive: Didn’t get a Mexican SIM card in advance? Find an AT&T, Movistar, or Telcel store and get your card at the airport or in any bigger city in Mexico. You’ll also find prepaid cards in convenience stores such as OXXO.
Buy an eSIM instead: Don’t feel like fiddling around with plastic cards? eSIM cards offer a super convenient option to stay connected with a completely digital product. Simply buy an eSIM for Mexico, activate within minutes, and enjoy high-speed data wherever you go.

How much does a SIM card in Mexico cost?

Expect to pay around $10 to $30 for your Mexico SIM card, with the prices varying depending on data allowance and validity period. Most prepaid SIM cards only offer fixed data allowances, so if you run out, you’ll have to buy more data to stay connected.

Where to buy a SIM card for Mexico before traveling

If you want to buy your Mexico SIM card in advance, your options may differ depending on where you’re traveling from. Let’s take a look at some of the top options.

Where to buy a Mexico SIM card in the US

You can order a Mexico SIM card online from websites such as Amazon or eBay. If you want to buy a SIM card in person, you can visit AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon shops in the US. They typically offer prepaid cards that include coverage in the US, Mexico, and Canada with the same SIM card.

Where to buy a Mexico SIM card in Canada

As with the US, you can get a Mexico SIM card in Canada from Amazon and eBay. You can also use international online retailers such as SimCorner. Alternatively, you can visit Bell, Telus, or Rogers shops, where you can find prepaid SIM cards that also offer coverage in Mexico.

Where to buy a Mexico SIM card in the UK

If you’re traveling to Mexico from the UK, your best bet is to use international online retailers such as Amazon, eBay, SimCorner, or Simify. While some providers from the UK may offer prepaid SIM cards with coverage in Mexico, it’s much less common than in Canada or the US.

Best local Mexican SIMs: Buying your SIM card in Mexico

Telcel, AT&T, and Movistar are the three biggest telecom providers in Mexico, and it’s no surprise that they have some of the best SIM card options for tourists as well. Let’s take a closer look at what each of them has to offer.

Telcel Mexico

Telcel is the largest company in the country and the first to bring 4G and 5G speeds to Mexico. This fan-favorite provider offers one of the most popular SIM cards for Mexico through its Amigos sin Limite and Amigos sin Turista plans. You can buy a Telcel SIM card in Mexico at any Telcel store or on the Telcel website.

The prices range from $10 to $25 USD, with data allowances ranging from 2 GB to 20 GB. All cards also allow unlimited phone calls and texts within Mexico, with Amigos sin Turista cards also including some international minutes for calls.

AT&T Mexico

AT&T is one of the largest telecom providers in North America and has a strong presence in Mexico. As it stands, AT&T currently offers four different travel SIM card plans for tourists in Mexico:

750 MB of data for 50 MXN (~$ 2.70 USD)
2 GB of data for 100 MXN (~$5.40 USD)
3 GB of data for 150 MXN (~$8.10 USD)
4 GB of data for 200 MXN (~$10.40 USD)

All cards also include unlimited talk, unlimited texts, and unlimited data for social media apps. The data allowance is fairly small, but you can conveniently recharge your plan online without having to buy a new SIM.

You can get your AT&T Mexico SIM card online or at AT&T stores throughout Mexico.

Movistar Mexico

Movistar is the last of Mexico’s big three telco providers, and it offers some solid options for tourists visiting Mexico.

The first time you buy your card, you get 4.5 GB of data, unlimited calls, unlimited texts, and unlimited social media data for 100 MXN (~$5.40 USD).

This plan lasts 30 days, and once it runs out or once you use up your data allowance, you can buy a refill, with prices ranging from 50 MXN to 200 MXN ($2.70 to $10.40 USD) and data limits ranging from 750 MB to 4 GB.

As with all local providers on this list, you can buy your Mexico SIM card at Movistar stores throughout Mexico or order yours online.

Stay connected in Mexico with Holafly

If you want complete peace of mind and convenience during your travels, Holafly eSIM for Mexico is the way to go. All Holafly eSIMs include unlimited data and 24/7 customer support, ensuring that you’ll never lose connection.

The prices range from $1.55/day to $6.90/day, depending on the duration of your plan. You can choose any number of days in the range of 1 to 90, which allows you to match your eSIM with your holiday and avoid paying for any days you don’t need.

Planning to stay abroad for a while? Holafly Plans is a pay-monthly eSIM subscription that offers coverage in 170+ destinations worldwide with a single eSIM. Choose between 10 GB, 25 GB or unlimited data plans with prices ranging from $39.90 to $64.90/month. Use your eSIM for as long as you need and cancel anytime. No contracts or commitments needed.n that’s as steady as the Cancun sun.

Plan to extend your trip to neighboring countries? Take a look at some of our other SIM card guides:

Plans that may interest you

Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

Read full bio