Saint Lucia (St Lucia) – known for its beaches, lovely weather & stunning landscaped.
It is also the Caribbean nation with the most mountains.
The nation is a popular stop for cruise ships.
And that is understandable, as there is so much to see and do in this country.
From hiking on the Gros Piton to swimming and snorkeling on Anse Chastanet Beach.
And of course, you will explore Marigot Bay.
You may not even have time to do all of that when you arrive in Saint Lucia by cruise ship – that is fine.
Come back another time as a standalone trip, as you certainly do not want to miss out.
While it is inevitable that you will share plenty of photos and videos of Saint Lucia online, you should know that international roaming can be expensive.
Luckily, Saint Lucian SIM cards are inexpensive (and you can even get one for free) – so is the cost of mobile data on this island nation.
You can get a Saint Lucian SIM card for 15 XCD (5.55 USD) from Digicel in their stores or from resellers. Flow hands out SIM cards for free, but be prepared to buy a plan on the spot. They are not sold at La Tourney-Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) nor Vigie-George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU).
There are no roaming plans that can beat these prices. Unless you can roam for free in Saint Lucia, of course, but do not count on that.
Before you decide to get yourself a free SIM card from Flow, there are quite some things to know about Saint Lucian SIM cards.
In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Saint Lucia. Let's do this.
Original publication: 12th of March 2020. Last updated: 25th of September 2023.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Saint Lucia?
You can buy a Saint Lucian SIM card from Digicel and Flow as a tourist. There is nothing preventing travelers from buying a SIM card in Saint Lucia.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
Moreover, your phone has to support the frequencies used in Saint Lucia.
Finally, your phone needs to be unlocked (SIM-lock free) to use a Saint Lucian SIM card.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Saint Lucia?
You can get a Grenadian SIM card in the official stores of Digicel and Flow and from resellers. They are not available at La Tourney-Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) or Vigie-George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU).
You can expect to pay the following for Saint Lucian SIM cards:
- Digicel St. Lucia: 25 XCD
- Flow St. Lucia: Free!
Can You Use Your Phone in Saint Lucia?
Saint Lucia uses GSM for their cellular communications, meaning that you need a GSM-capable phone to use your phone in the country. Fortunately, there is about a 99% chance your phone supports GSM.
Besides that, you need to be aware of the ITU Regions to determine whether your phone will work in other parts of the world.
Although there are 3 ITU Regions, you only need to know these two terms: American frequencies and European frequencies.
Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3) typically use European frequencies, meaning phones bought in those regions can be used in countries using European frequencies without issues.
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean), ITU Region 2, use American frequencies, which are different from the European frequencies.
Saint Lucia uses a mix of American frequencies and European frequencies for 2G and 3G, depending on the mobile operator. 4G/LTE is exclusively on American frequencies.
If you bought your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you want to go with Flow St. Lucia.
It supports traditional American frequencies on 2G, 3G & 4G/LTE, meaning that you can take full advantage of its network.
If you purchased your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you want to go with Digicel St. Lucia.
It supports traditional European frequencies on 2G and 3G, but you will not be able to use its 4G/LTE network.
Suppose you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support. In that case, you can go with any mobile operator, as your phone will support both American frequencies and European frequencies, even on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia has two mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Digicel St. Lucia
- Flow St. Lucia
The following frequencies are used in Saint Lucia:
- 2G: 850 MHz, 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz, 1900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 13 & Band 17)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Saint Lucia, 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.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in Saint Lucia
Both VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFI calling) are not offered by the mobile operators in Saint Lucia (yet).
This means that when you make a call, your phone will downgrade to 3G (or 2G when 3G is not available) instead of staying connected to 4G/LTE.
This is also why you often cannot use mobile while calling if not connected to WiFi.
VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.
5G NR in Saint Lucia
5G NR is not available in Saint Lucia as of 2022, and the Saint Lucian government has not made any indications of when they will auction 5G licenses.
Best SIM Card Saint Lucia
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Saint Lucia, I recommend going with Digicel. It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. Moreover, Digicel also has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 45 GB/app).
Best eSIM in Saint Lucia
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM (to prepaid customers) in Saint Lucia yet.
Note that the Saint Lucian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.
The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Saint Lucia.
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 five best eSIMs for Saint Lucia:
- Airalo Saint Lucia Lucnet eSIM with one 1 GB option (cheapest <7 GB)
- Holafly Saint Lucia eSIM with one 1 GB option (cheapest 7 GB > – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off))
- Holafly Caribbean eSIM (covers 16 Caribbean countries with a generous allowance)
- Airalo Island Hopper eSIM with one 1 GB option (covers 24 Caribbean countries at higher prices and just 1 GB of data)
- 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 Saint Lucia, 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 Saint Lucia, you better check out my Saint Lucia eSIM buying guide.
It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.
SIM Card Registration Saint Lucia
SIM card registration, with the use of your passport information, is mandatory in Saint Lucia. This will be done at the point of sale.
Saint Lucia Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
Mobile data in Saint Lucia has always been quite affordable compared to other countries and territories in the region.
It was not uncommon to spend at least 10 USD or 20 USD on just 1 GB of data in the Caribbean.
However, those criminal prices have vanished over the years with the improvement of telecommunications infrastructure throughout the region.
So, how expensive is mobile data in Saint Lucia?
The average price for 1 GB of data in Saint Lucia is 2.62 USD, below the Caribbean average of 4.44 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
Compared to 2019's figures, the average cost of 1 GB of data has gone down by 45.9%.
While there is not much information about mobile data speeds in the country because not many people do speed tests there, I can mention something about speeds.
In the Caribbean, you can expect your speeds to range between 10 Mbps and 25 Mbps.
With reasonably priced SIM cards, close to excellent nationwide coverage, decent mobile download speeds, and low mobile data rates, you should have a smooth network experience in Saint Lucia.
Currency in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia uses the East Caribbean Dollar with the symbol XCD (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as ECD, EC$, or $. For example, 25 XCD = ECD/EC$/$ 25.
XCD is pegged 2.70:1 to the US Dollar (USD), meaning that 2.70 XCD is 1 USD. 27.10 XCD would be 10 USD. 270 is 100 USD, etc.
1 XCD is 0.37 USD, 10 XCD is 3.70 USD, 100 XCD is 37 USD – you know the drill.
For up-to-date XCD:your currency (let's say Euro) 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.
Saint Lucian Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Digicel St. Lucia & Flow St. Lucia and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices & availability
- Recharge/top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let's see what Saint Lucia has to offer to us.
Digicel St. Lucia
Digicel St. Lucia, just Digicel, is one of the two mobile operators in Saint Lucia.
Digicel, as a company, is active in many other Caribbean nations, Central America & Oceania.
Digicel uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 17)
This is what you will learn about Digicel:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Digicel SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Digicel St. Lucia
Digicel has the best coverage in Saint Lucia.
Its 4G/LTE availability is high throughout Saint Lucia, except for in the mountains in the center of Saint Lucia.
Below is Digicel's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Digicel St. Lucia
You can get a Digicel SIM card for 15 XCD in Digicel stores and partner stores. They are not sold at La Tourney-Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) or Vigie-George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU).
You may have to dial *122# to activate your Digicel SIM card if your SIM card does not work upon purchase.
Dial *129# to see your Digicel phone number.
Dial *140# to access the Digicel 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)
Digicel has no eSIMs.
Note that the Saint Lucian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Saint Lucia (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Saint Lucia (Lucnet) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
You can also get Saint Lucia eSIMs from Nomad (from 1 GB/7 days to 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad reviews
TIP: check out my Best Saint Lucia eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Saint Lucia.
Holafly recently introduced upgraded the Caribbean eSIM, covering 16 countries with 6 GB 7 GB of data for 15 days, costing 54 USD/57 EUR/49 GBP/84 AUD/74 CAD.
The Holafly Carribean eSIM can be used in the following 16 countries:
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aruba
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- French Guiana
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digicel St. Lucia
Digicel top-up vouchers are sold in Digicel stores and partner stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Digicel SIM card, dial *125# and follow the instructions.
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 *120# or *140# to check your Digicel balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Digicel app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digicel St. Lucia
Digicel has one type of data-featured plan: Prime Bundles (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
All Digicel plans can be activated through the MyDigicel app or by dialing *140#.
I will list all the prices in XCD (East Caribbean Dollar).
To convert XCD to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The following Prime Bundles are available, which can be activated through the MyDigicel app or by dialing *140#:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1 | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | International Minutes 2 | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 XCD | 1 Day Prime Bundle | 500 MB | 500 MB/app + 500 MB | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1 day |
| 6 XCD | 1 Day Prime Bundle | 1.5 GB | 1 GB/app + 500 MB | 50 minutes | 50 minutes | N/A | N/A | 1 day |
| 12 XCD | 3 Day Prime Bundle | 3 GB | 3 GB/app + 3 GB | 250 minutes | 250 minutes | N/A | N/A | 3 days |
| 32 XCD | 7 Day Prime Bundle | 10 GB | 7 GB/app + 7 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | N/A | Unlimited | 7 days |
| 149 XCD | 30 Day Prime More | 40 GB | 45 GB/app + 30 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 150 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 255.50 XCD | 30 Day Prime Extra | 60 GB | 45 GB/app + 30 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 250 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 337.50 XCD | 30 Day Prime Max | 100 GB 3 | 45 GB/app + 30 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 for BiP, GoLoud, Loop, SportsMax, Spotify, TikTok & YouTube
2 to undisclosed countries
3 + 200 MB roaming data
Prime Bundles auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, dial *147#.
APN/Internet Settings – Digicel St. Lucia
- Name: Digicel
- APN: internet.oecs
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Flow St. Lucia
Flow St. Lucia, just Flow, is one of the two mobile operators in Saint Lucia.
Flow is a brand by Cable & Wireless used throughout the Caribbean.
Flow uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 850 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz & 1900 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 13)
This is what you will learn about Flow:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Flow SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plan & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Flow St. Lucia
Flow has extensive coverage throughout Saint Lucia.
However, its 4G/LTE availability is lacking compared to Digicel St. Lucia.
Below is Flow's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Flow St. Lucia
You can get a Flow SIM card for free in Flow stores (but be prepared to top-up or buy a plan on the spot). They are not available at La Tourney-Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) nor Vigie-George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU).
© Flow
Dial *129# to access the Flow menu.
Dial *555# to see your Flow phone number.
- 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)
Flow has no eSIMs.
Note that the Saint Lucian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Saint Lucia (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Saint Lucia (Lucnet) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
You can also get Saint Lucia eSIMs from Nomad (from 1 GB/7 days to 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad reviews
TIP: check out my Best Saint Lucia eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Saint Lucia.
Holafly recently introduced upgraded the Caribbean eSIM, covering 16 countries with 6 GB 7 GB of data for 15 days, costing 54 USD/57 EUR/49 GBP/84 AUD/74 CAD.
The Holafly Carribean eSIM can be used in the following 16 countries:
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aruba
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- French Guiana
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Flow St. Lucia
Flow top-up vouchers are sold in Flow stores and from Recharge Partners, including grocery stores, gas stations & bars.
To top up your Flow SIM card, dial *129# and follow the instructions.
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 *120# or *3733 to check your Flow balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Flow app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Flow St. Lucia
Flow has one type of data-featured plan: Always On Plans (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
I will list all the prices in XCD (East Caribbean Dollar).
To convert XCD to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The following Always On Plans are available. which can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1, 2 | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 XCD | Always On 1-Day Plan | 2 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 Day | *244*0# |
| 12 XCD | Always On 3-Day Plan | 3 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3 Days | *244*1# |
| 28 XCD | Always On 7-Day Plan | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 7 Days | *244*2# |
| 100 XCD | Always On 30-Day Plan | 12 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 Days | *244*3# |
1 for Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp messaging
2 unlimited WhatsApp (including (video) calls, sending photos, etc.
APN/Internet Settings – Flow St. Lucia
- Name: Flow Internet
- APN: ppinternet
Note: do not use just “internet” as a prepaid customer. That APN is reserved for postpaid customers. Leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Saint Lucia
Getting a SIM card from Digicel would do you well when considering a Saint Lucian SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other American Countries
Visiting other countries in the Americas? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide, covering other American nations, such as:
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Puerto Rico
- Saba
- Saint Barthélemy (Barts)
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Sint Eustatius (Statia)
- Sint Maarten
- Suriname
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- United States
- Uruguay
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Venezuela
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:
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