SIM Card Guides

How and where to buy a Mexico SIM card for tourists

A Mexico SIM card keeps you online with Telcel, AT&T, or Movistar. See prepaid prices, where to buy one, and the ID you need to register it.

Internet connection is a travel essential these days. The same applies to your upcoming trip to Mexico. You can stay connected via a Mexico SIM card from local providers such as Telcel, AT&T, and Movistar at the airport and convenience stores like OXXO.

You can also order one online from certain third-party retailers. 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

How much is a SIM card in Mexico?

Expect to pay around 50 to 500 MXN (~$2.80 to $27.80 USD) 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.

Best local Mexican SIMs: Buying your SIM card in Mexico

Telcel, AT&T, and Movistar are the three biggest telecom providers in Mexico. The best SIM card for Mexico depends on how much data you need and how long you’re staying, so here’s what each one offers.

Telcel Mexico

Telcel sells its prepaid service under the Amigo name. Its Amigo Sin Límite packages bundle data, calls, and texts for a fixed number of days:

500 MB of data for 50 MXN (~$2.80 USD), valid for 7 days
1.5 GB of data for 100 MXN (~$5.60 USD), valid for 15 days
2.5 GB of data for 150 MXN (~$8.30 USD), valid for 25 days
3.5 GB of data for 200 MXN (~$11.10 USD), valid for 30 days
5.5 GB of data for 300 MXN (~$16.70 USD), valid for 30 days
8 GB of data for 500 MXN (~$27.80 USD), valid for 30 days

Every package includes unlimited WhatsApp, plus unlimited calls and texts to numbers in Mexico, the US, and Canada. From 100 MXN up, Facebook, Messenger, X, Instagram, and Snapchat are unlimited too. You can use the data in Mexico and the US, and a capped part of it in Canada.

If you’re after a Mexico SIM card unlimited data package, note that “Sin Límite” refers to calls, texts, and social apps, while general data stays capped at the amounts above.

You can get a Telcel SIM card in Mexico at any Telcel service center, and Telcel also sells prepaid eSIM lines online.

AT&T Mexico

AT&T sells a Mexico prepaid SIM card that you top up as you go. Each top-up comes with a set amount of data and a validity period:

750 MB of data for 50 MXN (~$2.80 USD), valid for 5 days
2 GB of data for 100 MXN (~$5.60 USD), valid for 14 days
3 GB of data for 150 MXN (~$8.30 USD), valid for 25 days
4 GB of data for 200 MXN (~$11.10 USD), valid for 30 days

Every top-up also includes unlimited calls and texts to and from Mexico and the US, plus the use of WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram, Messenger, and Google Maps. When your data runs out, you can top up online without buying a new SIM.

Buying a SIM card in Mexico from AT&T happens in person: visit an AT&T store and ask for an AT&T Mexico SIM card with prepaid service. A new SIM needs a first top-up of 50 MXN or more to activate.

Movistar Mexico

Movistar sells its prepaid SIM online and in its physical stores, and you activate it yourself. To activate a Movistar Mexico SIM card, you need a first top-up of at least 60 MXN (~$3.30 USD), paid in a single transaction.

Every top-up comes with unlimited WhatsApp, hotspot sharing, and access to Movistar’s 5G network where there’s coverage. If you need a SIM card for Mexico travel that also covers a side trip, Movistar data works in Mexico, the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Activation takes seven steps:

Insert the Movistar SIM card into your phone
Wait for the SMS with your new number
Call *611 to activate the line
Link your line to an official ID
Make your first top-up
Wait for the SMS confirming your top-up and benefits
Start calling, texting, and using data

Data allowances depend on the top-up offer running when you activate, so check Movistar’s website for the current ones before you buy.

Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of October 10, 2026, and is subject to change.

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 Mexican phone 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.

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.

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.

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.

Even when you cancel, keep your eSIM. All Holafly plans, both pre- and postpaid, come with Always On, a gigabyte of backup data each month, in 70+ countries, included with your price. So next time you fly back for a long weekend, the connection’s already there.

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

Plans that may interest you

eSIM Mexico

eSIM Puerto Rico

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