Mongolia – known for its wildlife, landscapes & interesting history.
Some may also call Mongolia the land of the blue sky, as it has over 260 days of clear blue skies in a year.
But you are probably not visiting Mongolia just to look at the sky.
Instead, you may want to visit Gorkhi Terelj National Park – the most popular park in Mongolia.
You also should head to Sukhbaatar Square.
And if you have the time and means to visit Dalanzadgad, visit the Flaming Cliffs too.
What you should not do, in many cases, is roam internationally in Mongolia – International roaming can be expensive.
That is why I always recommend local prepaid SIM cards, eSIMs & even travel eSIMs so that you can enjoy low rates for data, minutes & SMS.
Luckily, SIM cards are inexpensive in Mongolia – the same applies to mobile data rates.
So, how much do SIM cards cost in Mongolia?
You can get a Mongolian SIM card for 5000 MNT (1.45 USD) from Mobicom or 3000 MNT (0.85 USD), 10 000 MNT (2.85 USD) & 15 000 MNT (42.65 USD) from Unitel in their stores. Resellers, like gas stations, also sell SIM cards. Mongolian SIM cards are also sold at (Ulaanbaatar) Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN).
Those prices are not bad at all – certainly not for East Asian standards.
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Mongolia. Let's do this.
Original publication: 21st of December 2019. Last updated: 25th of September 2023.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Mongolia?
Anyone 14 years old or older living in or visiting Mongolia can buy a Mongolian SIM card from the mobile network operators (Mobicom & Unitel) with some restrictions.
The main restriction is that you can only have two active SIM cards in your name in Mongolia.
Besides that restriction, you are free to use Mongolia SIM cards.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Mongolia).
Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Mongolia?
You can get a Mongolian SIM card in Mobicom and Unitel stores. Resellers, like gas stations & Nomin stores, also sell SIM cards (but you still need to visit the official stores to get it activated). It is also possible to get SIM cards at (Ulaanbaatar) Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN).
Note: in July 2021, the airport mentioned above took over (Ulaanbaatar) Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport‘s (ULN) function as the country's/city's main international airport
You can expect to pay the following for Mongolian SIM cards:
- Mobicom Mongolia: 3500 MNT (data-only) & 5000 MNT (regular)
- Unitel Mongolia: 3000 MNT (blank SIM without a number (ZeroSIM)/Smart Daily), 10 000 MNT (regular & data-only) & 15 000 MNT
For up-to-date MNT:your currency (let's say KRW) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Can You Use Your Phone in Mongolia?
Mongolia uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Mongolia. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).
Traditional European frequencies are used in Mongolia, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American frequencies, which differ from the European ones.
If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Mongolia.
If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Mongolia or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).
If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Mongolia (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE and 5G NR.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Mongolia
Mongolia has two mobile network operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Mobicom Mongolia
- Unitel Mongolia
The following frequencies are used in Mongolia:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (n28), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2300 MHz (Band 40)
- 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Mongolia, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).
Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).
If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.
A Note about G-Mobile Mongolia & Skytel Mongolia
You may have heard of G-Mobile and Skytel and were wondering why I did not mention them yet so far.
That is because their services are significantly worse than Mobicom and Unitel, making it not worth trying G-Mobile and Skytel.
Especially when Mobicom and Unitel are not (much) more expensive than G-Mobile and Skytel.
Even then, G-Mobile and Skytel use CDMA technology on 3G instead of GSM (95%+ of mobile operators worldwide use GSM), making them useless to most travelers.
While G-Mobile has a regular 4G/LTE network, it is restricted to downtown Ulaanbaatar only.
So there is no real reason for you to consider them. As a result, G-Mobile and Skytel will not be covered in this guide.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in Mongolia
VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) is not available in Mongolia – the same counts for VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling).
This means that your phone will downgrade to 2G or 3G when making a call in Mongolia (unlike mobile operators that do support VoLTE – then you can still use 4G/LTE while calling).
VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.
5G NR in Mongolia
Commercial 5G NR has been available in Mongolia since September 2022. It is available on the Mobicom and Unitel networks. Prepaid customers can use 5G NR, although coverage is still limited.
Best SIM Card in Mongolia
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Mongolia, I recommend going with Mobicom. It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.
Best eSIM in Mongolia
Mobicom and Unitel offer eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Mongolian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards (will be discussed later).
However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.
The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Mongolia.
But these are the ones I have tried and had pleasant experiences with.
Moreover, they are reasonably priced, which I find very important (you will not see me recommending an eSIM I would not buy myself).
So here are the six best eSIMs for Mongolia:
- Airalo Mongo Mobile & Fiber eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (best value for money)
- Alosim Mongolia eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (priced roughly the same as Airalo with a bit more options)
- Holafly Mongolia eSIM with unlimited data for 5 to 30 days (unlimited data eSIMs) – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)
- AIS eSIM2FLY Asia eSIM through SimOptions with one 6 GB option (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported Asian countries (12/32) at a reasonable price but with a short validity – SimOptions does sell other Asian eSIMs, but they are not as good as AIS)
- AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions with one 6 GB option (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (53/143) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)
- Nomad Global eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (extensive global coverage (109 or 139 countries) at high(er) prices – use code ADU123 for 3 USD off)
Because this is the SIM card buying guide for Mongolia, I will not spend too much time about travel eSIMs here and throughout this guide (but I will still do here and there).
If you want to learn more about the best eSIMs for Mongolia, you better check out my Mongolia eSIM buying guide.
It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.
SIM Card Registration in Mongolia
SIM card registration, with the use of your passport information, is mandatory in Mongolia. This will be done at the point of purchase (unless you purchase it from a reseller as a tourist).
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Moreover, you can have up to two active prepaid SIM cards ACROSS all mobile operators in Mongolia.
This restriction applies to both Mongolian citizens and non-citizens (including migrant workers and tourists).
What happens when you try going over this limit? I do not know – be my guest and try it 😏.
However, Unitel allows you to have five active prepaid SIM cards in your name for some reason 🤔.
Mongolia Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
Mongolia may not be the most popular travel destination in East Asia.
However, it is one of the cheaper countries for travel in the region.
The same can also be said about mobile data rates in Mongolia – they are low.
The average price for 1 GB of data in Mongolia is 1805.56 MNT (0.67 USD), around the Asian average of 1.47 USD. The world average is 3.12 USD.
In fact, Mongolia is the second cheapest country for mobile data in East Asia, behind China, but ahead of Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Japan & South Korea – in that order.
Data-featured prepaid plans can be generous for regional standards.
While the prices for data-featured plans are low, will you also get slow speeds in Mongolia?
Yes, lmao.
Mongolia's median mobile download speed is around 18 Mbps.
For reference, the global median is around 31 Mbps at the moment.
Mobile download speeds are on the slower end in Mongolia compared to its neighbors, China (92.53 Mbps) and Russia (21.24 Mbps).
Mongolia's mobile download speeds have increased by 20.6% year on year.
Okay, now it is time to know which mobile operator is the fastest in Mongolia.
That would be Mobicom.
However, Unitel is a close second.
Mobitel also has the best (4G/LTE) coverage – Unitel is closely following.
But remember, Mongolia is sparsely populated.
You should not expect any coverage while in the middle of nowhere.
With low SIM card prices, good coverage (in populated areas), slow mobile download speeds, and incredibly low mobile data rates, you should have a reasonable network experience in Mongolia.
Currency in Mongolia
Mongolia uses the Mongolian Tögrög (Tugrik) with the symbol MNT (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as ₮. For example, 25 MNT = ₮25.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between MNT and USD (US Dollars):
- 100 MNT = 0.30 USD
- 1000 MNT = 0.30 USD
- 10 000 MNT = 2.90 USD
- 100 000 MNT = 28.75 USD
For up-to-date MNT:your currency (let's say KRW – Korean Won) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.
Mongolian Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Mobicom Mongolia & Unitel Mongolia, and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices, and availability
- Recharge/top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what Mongolia to offer to us.
Mobicom Mongolia (Мобиком Корпораци)
Mobicom Mongolia (Мобиком Корпораци), just Mobicom, is the largest mobile operator in Mongolia.
It also has the fastest speeds – it even won the Mongolia Speedtest Fastest Mobile Network Award of 2021 (Q1-Q2).
Mobicom uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (n28), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2300 MHz (Band 40)
- 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)
- VoLTE: No
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Mobicom:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Mobicom SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Mobicom Mongolia
Mobicom has the best coverage throughout Mongolia.
However, as Mongolia is sparsely populated, you should not expect nationwide coverage – only in populated areas.
Below is Mobicom's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Mobicom Mongolia
You can get a Mobicom SIM card for 5000 MNT in Mobicom stores and from resellers, like grocery stores, gas stations & convenience stores. The data-only SIM card is sold for 3500 MNT. Mobicom SIM cards are also sold at (Ulaanbaatar) Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN).
Because of Mongolia's SIM card registration requirements, I recommend travelers get a SIM card in a Mobicom store for a smooth activation process or at airports.
Short-term visitors and tourists can also get the Mobicom Tourist SIM cards.
The following three Mobicom Tourist SIM cards are available:
| Price | Credit | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 000 MNT | 5000 units | 600 MB (15 days) | 90 days |
| 35 000 MNT | 10 000 units | 1.1 GB (30 days) | 90 days |
| 60 000 MNT | 15 000 units | 5 GB (30 days) | 90 days |
Dial *210# to access the Mobicom menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
It is possible to get a Mobicom eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.
Note that the Mongolian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Mongolia (without personal detail capturing), you can get Mongolia Mongo Mobile & Fiber eSIMs from Airalo (three options):
- 1 GB/7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 3 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 5 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7th of September (2023 data only).
No idea what or who Airalo is? Check out my Airalo review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over four years.
If you plan on visiting other countries in Europe and others in other regions or continents, consider the Nomad Global eSIM to be used in 109/139 countries worldwide with six variants:
- 1 GB/7 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 3 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 5 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 13th of September (2023 data only).
Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Nomad review!
Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Mongolia.
You can read about them in my Best Mongolia eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Be aware that there is no VoLTE or VoWiFi with Mobicom.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Mobicom Mongolia
Mobicom top-up vouchers are sold in Mobicom stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Mongolia.
To top up your Mobicom SIM card, dial *212*VoucherCode#.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *212*123456#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *211# or text B to 592 to check your Mobicom balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the mobicom app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Mobicom Mongolia
Mobicom has four data-featured prepaid plans:
- On Demand Data Packages
- Data Plans for Data Only SIM Card
- Morning and Night Data Packages
- Entertainment Data Packages (social data)
Mobicom plans can be activated by dialing *210#.
I will list all the prices in MNT.
To convert MNT to your currency (let's say KRW – Korean Won) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
On Demand Data Packages – Mobicom Mongolia
The On Demand Data Packages are, as the name implies, data bundles (with 5G NR access).
Dial *210# to activate On Demand Data Packages:
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500 MNT | 2.5 GB | 2 days | 2.5 GB |
| 5000 MNT | 5 GB | 5 days | 5 GB |
| 6500 MNT | 7 GB | 7 days | 7 |
| 13 000 MNT | 16 GB | 15 days | 16 GB |
| 17 500 MNT | 10 GB | 30 days | 10 |
| 22 500 MNT | 15 GB | 30 days | 15 GB |
| 32 500 MNT | 25 GB | 30 days | 25 GB |
| 42 500 MNT | 35 GB | 30 days | 35 GB |
| 60 000 MNT | 60 GB | 30 days | 60GB |
| 99 000 MNT | 99 GB | 30 days | 99GB |
Data Plans for Data Only SIM Card – Mobicom Mongolia
The Data Plans are data bundles (without 5G NR access) exclusively for the data-only SIM card.
Dial *210# to activate Data Plans:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 2500 MNT | 2.5 GB | 2 days |
| 5000 MNT | 5 GB | 5 days |
| 6500 MNT | 7 GB | 7 days |
| 13 000 MNT | 16 GB | 15 days |
| 17 500 MNT | 10 GB | 30 days |
| 22 500 MNT | 15 GB | 30 days |
| 32 500 MNT | 25 GB | 30 days |
| 42 500 MNT | 35 GB | 30 days |
| 60 000 MNT | 60 GB | 30 days |
Morning and Night Data Packages – Mobicom Mongolia
The Morning and Night Data Packages are data bundles (with 5G NR access) to be used at night (between 0:00 and 7:59) or in the morning (between 5:00 and 8:59).
Dial *210# to activate Morning and Night Data Packages:
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 MNT | 30 GB | 9 nights (0:00 – 7:59) | N30 |
| 2000 MNT | 50 GB | 9 mornings (5:00 – 8:59) | M50 |
| 4000 MNT | 100 GB | 20 nights (0:00 – 7:59) | N100 |
| 4000 MNT | 150 GB | 20 mornings (5:00 – 8:59) | M150 |
Entertainment Data Packages – Mobicom Mongolia
The Entertainment Data Packages are data bundles (with 5G NR access) for social apps.
Dial *210# to activate Entertainment Data Packages:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3000 MNT | Entertainment | N/A | Unlimited @ 128 Kbps 1 | 3 days | N/A |
| 5000 MNT | Academy | N/A | Unlimited @ 8Mbps 2 | 7 days | A7 |
| 5000 MNT | Gaming | N/A | Unlimited 3 | 30 days | G |
| 5000 MNT | Music | N/A | Unlimited 4 | 30 days | M |
| 5000 MNT | Social | N/A | Unlimited @ 128 Kbps 5 | 30 days | N/A |
| 5900 MNT | Voo | 40 GB | N/A | 30 days | V30 |
| 8000 MNT | TikTok | N/A | Unlimited @ 128 Kbps 3 | 7 days | T7 |
| 8000 MNT | Academy Unlimited | N/A | Unlimited 1 | 30 days | N/A |
| 10 000 MNT | Social Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited 5 | 30 days | Social |
| 15 000 MNT | Video | N/A | Unlimited 7 | 30 days | Social |
1 for Gaming data, Music data & Social data
2 for Google Classroom, Google Hangouts, Google Mail, Google Meet, Skype, Teams, Telegram & Zoom
3 for Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Fifa Mobile, Fortnite, League of Legends, Mobile Legends & PUBG Mobile
4 for Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, Soundcloud & Xyyp
5 for Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Twitter, Viber & WeChat
6 for TikTok @ 128Kbps (so slow!)
7 for Amazon Prime, Netflix, twitch, Voo
APN/Internet Settings – Mobicom Mongolia
- Name: Mobicom
- APN: internet
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Unitel Mongolia (Юнител)
Unitel Mongolia (Universal/United Telecommunications), just Unitel, and not to be confused with Unitel in Angola, Cape Verde, or Laos, is the second-largest mobile operator in Mongolia.
It is also the only other reasonable option in the country (besides Mobicom Mongolia).
Unitel uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (n28), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2300 MHz (Band 40)
- 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)
- VoLTE: No
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Unitel:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Unitel SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Unitel Mongolia
Unitel has decent coverage throughout Mongolia.
However, as Mongolia is sparsely populated, you should not expect nationwide coverage – only in populated areas.
Below is Unitel's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Unitel Mongolia
You can get a Unitel SIM card for 3000 MNT, 10 000 MNT, or 15 000 MNT in Unitel stores and from resellers, like grocery stores, gas stations & convenience stores. The data-only SIM card is sold for 10 000 MNT with 1 GB for 30 days. Unitel SIM cards are also sold at (Ulaanbaatar) Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN).
Be aware: the 3000 MNT SIM card is called ZeroSIM (often sold at gas stations and resellers).
This SIM card has no phone number attached.
While attaching a phone number to a ZeroSIM SIM card is possible online, you can only do so if you have a Mongolian ID, meaning travelers have to visit a Unitel store to get it sorted.
So… you are better off going to a Unitel store immediately anyway.
The following five Unitel SIM cards are available:
| Price | SIM Card | Credit | Data | On-Net Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3000 MNT | Smart Days | 1000 units | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 10 000 MNT | Smart Talk (10 000₮) | 5000 units | 50 MB | Unlimited | 15 days |
| 10 000 MNT | Smart Data (10 000₮) | 3000 units | 5 GB | N/A | 15 days |
| 15 000 MNT | Smart Talk (15 000₮) | 5000 units | 50 MB | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 15 000 MNT | Smart Data (15 000₮) | 5000 units | 10 GB | N/A | 30 days |
Short-term visitors and tourists can also get the Unitel TourSIM SIM cards – Unitel's tourist offering.
The following three Unitel TourSIM SIM cards are available:
| Price | SIM Card | Credit | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 000 MNT | Tour SIM 5 | 5000 units | 3 GB | 5 days |
| 25 000 MNT | Tour SIM 10 | 10 000 units | 5 GB | 10 days |
| 40 000 MNT | Tour SIM 30 | 20 000 units | 20 GB | 30 days |
Dial *1414# to access the Unitel menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
It is possible to get a Unitel eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.
Note that the Mongolian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Mongolia (without personal detail capturing), you can get eSIMs from Holafly (six options):
- Mongolia unlimited data eSIM for 5 days
- Mongolia unlimited data eSIM for 7 days
- Mongolia unlimited data eSIM for 10 days
- Mongolia unlimited data eSIM for 15 days
- Mongolia unlimited data eSIM for 20 days
- Mongolia unlimited data eSIM for 30 days
The best part is that you can get 5% off using code PHONETRAVELWIZ on each Holafly eSIM purchase!
No idea what or who Holafly is? Check out my Holafly review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than ten countries over two years.
If you plan on visiting other countries in Europe and others in other regions or continents, consider the Nomad Global eSIM to be used in 109/139 countries worldwide with six variants:
- 1 GB/7 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 3 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 5 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 13th of September (2023 data only).
Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Nomad review!
Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Mongolia.
You can read about them in my Best Mongolia eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Be aware that there is no VoLTE or VoWiFi with Unitel.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Unitel Mongolia
Unitel top-up vouchers are sold in Unitel stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Mongolia.
To top up your Unitel SIM card, text the VoucherCode to 1411.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would text 123456 to 1411.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *1411# to check your Unitel balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Unitel app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Unitel Mongolia
Unitel has three data-featured prepaid plans:
- Их дататай багцууд/Big Data Packages
- Урт хугацаатай багцууд/Long Term Packages (data)
- Энтертайнмент багцууд/Entertainment Packages (social data)
Unitel plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 1423.
I will list all the prices in MNT.
To convert MNT to your currency (let's say KRW – Korean Won) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Их дататай багцууд (Big Data Packages) – Mobicom Mongolia
The Их дататай багцууд (Big Data Packages) are, as the name implies, data bundles (with 5G NR access).
Text the Activation Code to 1423 to activate Их дататай багцууд:
| Price | Data 1 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500 MNT | 2 GB | 24 hours | 2GB |
| 3500 MNT | 3 GB | 2 days | 3GB |
| 6000 MNT | 6 GB | 5 days | 6GB |
| 12 000 MNT | 12 GB | 7 days | 12GB |
| 22 000 MNT | 20 GB | 10 days | 20GB |
1 +unlimited data @ 128 Kbps after exhausting your data allowance (super slow!)
Урт хугацаатай багцууд (Long Term Packages) – Mobicom Mongolia
The Урт хугацаатай багцууд (Long Term Packages) are data bundles (with 5G NR access).
Text the Activation Code to 1423 to activate Урт хугацаатай багцууд:
| Price | Data 1 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3500 MNT | 2.5 GB | 3 days | 2.5GB |
| 6000 MNT | 4 GB | 10 days | 4GB |
| 12 000 MNT | 3.5 GB | 30 days | 3.5GB |
| 22 000 MNT | 8 GB | 30 days | 8GB |
| 35 000 MNT | 18 GB | 30 days | 18GB |
| 50 000 MNT | 50 GB | 30 days | 50GB |
1 +unlimited data @ 128 Kbps after exhausting your data allowance (super slow!)
Энтертайнмент багцууд (Entertainment Packages) – Mobicom Mongolia
The Энтертайнмент багцууд (Entertainment Packages) are data bundles (with 5G NR access) for social apps.
Text the Activation Code to 1423 to activate Энтертайнмент багцууд:
| Price | Plan | Social Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 MNT | Gaming Unlimited | Unlimited 1 | 7 days | Gaming7 |
| 2000 MNT | News Unlimited | Unlimited 2 | 30 days | News |
| 2000 MNT | EDU Unlimited | Unlimited 3 | 30 days | EDU |
| 5000 MNT | E-Meeting 10 GB | 10 GB 4 | 30 days | Music |
| 5000 MNT | Gaming Unlimited | Unlimited 1 | 30 days | Gaming30 |
| 5000 MNT | Music Unlimited | Unlimited 5 | 30 days | Music |
| 9000 MNT | LookTV Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days | looktv |
| 10 000 MNT | E-Meeting 25 GB | 25 GB 4 | 30 days | EMeeting30 |
| 15 000 MNT | Streaming 20 GB | 20 GB 6 | 30 days | Streaming |
1 for Call of Duty, Clash of Clans, Fifa, Fortnite, Genshin Impact, League of Legends Wild Rift, Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, Standoff2 & World of Tanks
2 for Bloomberg News apps website, Ikon.mn, News.mn & Unread
3 for DHIS, Humanities, Pearson online learning website, SHUTIS & SUIS
4 for Clubhouse apps, Google Classroom, Google Meet, Skype, Teams, Telegram & Zoom
5 for Apple Music, Mmusic, Soundcloud, Spotify & Stitcher
6 for Jig Jug, LookTV, Netflix & Twitch
APN/Internet Settings – Unitel Mongolia
- Name: net
- APN: net
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Mongolia
Getting a SIM card from Mobicom would do you well when considering a Mongolian SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Card in Other Asian Countries
Visiting other countries in Asia? Check out my region-specific SIM card buying guides:
- Central Asia
- East Asia
- (Middle East)
- South Asia
- Southeast Asia (revamped in September 2022)
- West Asia
Or check out my SIM card buying guides for individual Asian countries:
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:
Support Phone Travel Wiz
It takes a lot of time to analyze, translate & review the SIM card options worldwide (especially to test them out).
Your support helps me keep producing impartial content by eliminating the need to recommend international SIM cards as the best local SIM card (but some of them CAN be useful).
Every Ko-Fi donation, one-time or monthly, helps me to spend more time creating local SIM card buying guides.
Check Out My Resource Page
Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience?
Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel!
Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation.
Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
Start Your Own Online Business – Make Money While Traveling
Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling?
In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.
If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!
Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
Sign Up for the Phone Travel Wiz Newsletter
Get updates related to the newest guides, videos & recommended products and services.
Moreover, I send you many tips and tricks on saving money while traveling every now and then.
Let's Be Social
Did you know that I have a YouTube channel covering everything you need to know about traveling with your phone?
A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them!
Learn More About Who Adu Actually Is
Who is the guy behind Phone Travel Wiz? Well, find out on the Ernest Adu about page!