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Best SIM card for Nepal: Which one should I pick?
Find out everything about the Nepal Telecom & Ncell SIM cards. Plus, see other alternatives to stay connected while traveling in Nepal.
Nepal is an adventurer’s paradise, where exciting city life gives way to expansive mountain ranges and towns frozen in time. Choosing the best Nepal SIM card is one way to make sure you stay connected in this country that lies off the beaten track.
Internet is essential if you plan to visit the country that houses the Himalayas. Discover the best SIM providers, see where to find them and learn about SIM card alternatives in Nepal below.
eSIM for Nepal
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Why buy a SIM card for Nepal?
Buying a SIM card in Nepal is a great idea to avoid international roaming fees while traveling. Depending on your carrier, roaming packages can cost around $10 to $15 USD daily, whereas a SIM card is cheaper.
In buying a prepaid SIM card for Nepal, you’ll save money, get data for your trip, and even make phone calls and text messages.
Where to buy the best SIM card for Nepal?
When traveling to Nepal, you can pick up a SIM card from Ncell or Nepal Telecom once you arrive at the airport or a convenience store. Luckily, these carriers offer SIM cards for visitors.
Also, you can order international SIM cards from sites like SimsDirect or Travelsim, but you’ll need to wait for them to arrive. Data plans are expensive, starting at $25 plus the SIM card fee for these carriers.
Best SIM card providers in Nepal
Nepal has two main SIM providers you can buy from entering the country.
Ncell
Ncell is a local mobile provider travelers can use to stay connected while traveling to Nepal.
They offer three different data plans ranging from ~$0.74 USD to ~$11.19 USD~ and will work for seven to 28 days with 3 GB to 115 GB plans. The main requirement to get a SIM card with Ncell is to show your passport upon purchase.
In addition, you’ll get access to a phone number to make phone calls and great coverage in most of Nepal, but remember you’ll need to wait until you arrive in the country to get one.
Nepal Telecom
The most famous Nepal SIM card comes from Nepal Telecom. Different data plans are available, but to access any of these, you’ll have to pay around ~$0.70 USD.
The available data plans range from ~$0.37 to ~$5.89 USD, and they offer a variety of minutes, phone calls, and data plans. You’ll also have to pay in Nepalese rupees to get any of their plans.
Lastly, when you are about to buy a Nepal SIM card, you’ll need to pay additional taxes, which aren’t included in the price.
Holafly’s Nepal eSIM alternative
The virtual SIM card for Nepal from Holafly ensures you’ll get mobile data upon arriving in the country.
The idea of using a Holafly eSIM is to buy it before traveling, as you’ll get mobile to use Google Maps, a translator, or simply to stay connected before going on your outdoor adventure.
| Days | Data | Price (USD) | Daily price |
| 5 | 2.5 GB | $28.90 | $5.78 / day |
| 7 | 3.5 GB | $36.90 | $5.27 / day |
| 10 | 5 GB | $43.90 | $4.39 / day |
| 15 | 7.5 GB | $46.90 | $3.13 / day |
| 20 | 10 GB | $58.90 | $2.95 / day |
| 30 | 15 GB | $78.90 | $2.63 / day |
Advantages of the Holafly eSIM card
- Add top-ups to your eSIM to add more days and data
- Easy purchase and installation process with a QR code
- 24/7 customer support in 19 languages
- Mobile app for iOS and Android devices to manage and buy a Nepal eSIM
- Data-sharing for up to 500 MBs per day
- Access to 4G/LTE data speeds with Nepal Telecom
Disadvantages of the Holafly eSIM card
- Lacks a phone number to make phone calls while on your trip to Nepal
Which SIM card offers the best value for money?
If we want to discuss the best price for a SIM card in Nepal, both Ncell and Nepal Telecom have extremely low rates, as their data plans are available in Nepalese Rupees.
Still, even if you get a local SIM card in Nepal, the available data plans are more limited than those on a digital SIM card. The same goes for prepaid SIM cards, which offer fewer benefits.
How much does a SIM card for Nepal cost?
Now we know all of the physical and virtual SIMs on offer, let’s compare them to see which is best for use in Nepal in 2024.
| Company | Virtual SIM card | Data price | Shipping price | Cellular data |
| Holafly | $0 | $28.90 – $78.90 USD | Free | 6GB |
| Ncell | No | ~$0.74 to ~$11.19USD | No shipping | 20GB |
| Nepal Telecom | No | ~$0.37 to ~$5.89 USD | No shipping | 1GB |
While the Holafly eSIM for Nepal is not as cheap as local providers, you’ll find it easier to purchase as you can do the whole process before traveling and activate it to get an internet connection when arriving.
Lastly, you’ll save time looking for where to buy a SIM card, and you won’t have to worry about the idea of losing it as the eSIM comes embedded into your phone!
Best SIM card for Nepal: Which one should I buy?
We recommend the Holafly eSIM card for Nepal, which offers various data plans, starting at $28.90 USD for 5 days with 2.5 GB and up to $78.90 USD for 30 days with 15 GB, to stay connected during your trip.
Also, as we mentioned before, there are different advantages to using Holafly during your trip to Nepal, such as 24/7 customer support in 19 languages, top-ups, 4G/LTE data speeds, data-sharing, connection to the Nepal Telecom network, and much more.
So, if you don’t want to wait until you arrive in Nepal and get a local or prepaid SIM card, the Holafly eSIM is your best choice!
Frequent questions about the internet and the SIM cards for Nepal
It will depend on how much data you plan to use. Usually, tourists use around 2 GB of data per week, mostly communicating using apps such as Google Maps, Google Translate, and WhatsApp.
Remember that if you stream with a SIM card, you’ll rapidly run out of data, even with an eSIM.
You can use SIM cards, eSIM, international roaming, or free WiFi to stay connected in Nepal.
This depends on each operator, but the price ranges from $10 to $15 USD for international roaming passes.
To pick the best SIM card for your trip, think about the amount of data and number of days. Getting a service in your language is even better so you don’t run into any problems; that’s why it’s better to get a Holafly eSIM over a local SIM card.
The price depends on the advantages, data plans, the number of days that the SIM card is valid for, and more. The Holafly eSIM for Nepal ranges from $28.90 to $78.90 USD.
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I'm Brenda Beltrán, a Colombian content creator who loves traveling, tech, and video games. Since 2019, I've crafted written web content in entertainment and tech, starting as a video game, eSports, and tech journalist. Now, I'm dedicated to writing about traveling at Holafly, and I hope all the content I create helps you have fantastic new experiences!
