How much does the average local prepaid SIM card cost globally?
It is hard to tell because many countries use their own currency with floating exchange rates.
And some currencies are rather volatile.
But you can expect to spend around 6.50 USD on a SIM card on average globally.
I can already tell you the averages of these regions:
- You can get a Balkan SIM card for between 100 ALL (0.90 USD) in Albania to 1199 MKD (21 USD) in North Macedonia. However, you will often spend around 4.50 USD per SIM card per country (but the average is 5.60 USD). Tourist SIM cards are available too, with up to 500 GB, for 10 EUR or 15 EUR.
- In the Baltics, expect to spend between 0.95 EUR (1 USD) to 9.95 EUR (10.65 USD) in Estonia, 0.99 EUR (1.05 USD) to 24.89 EUR (26.70 USD) in Latvia & 0.99 EUR to 5.50 EUR (5.90 EUR) in Lithuania. However, you will often spend around 3 EUR (3.20 USD) per SIM card per country (but the average is 4.10 EUR (4.40 USD)).
- You can get a Caribbean SIM card for between 60 HTG (0.60 USD) in Haiti to 1000 CUP (41.70 USD) in Cuba. However, you will often spend around 25 XCD (8 USD) per SIM card per country. Tourist SIM cards are available too, at higher prices, and cost about 20 USD.
- In Central America, expect to spend between 1 USD/25 HNL in El Salvador/Honduras to 199 GTQ (23.80 USD) in Guatemala. However, you will often spend around 1.50 USD per SIM card per country (but the average is 4.80 USD). Tourist SIM cards are available too, at much higher prices (up to 50 USD (!), especially at airports).
- You can get a European Union (EU) SIM card for “free” (plan purchase required) or between 3 PLN (0.70 USD) in Poland to 105.20 USD in Luxembourg. However, you will often spend around 10 EUR per SIM card per country (but the average is 10.78 EUR (11.30 USD)).
- In South America, expect to spend between 50 ARS (0.40 USD) in Argentina to 30 FKP (37.80 USD) in the Falkland Islands. However, you will often spend around 3.10 USD per SIM per country (but the average is 5.60 USD). Tourist SIM cards are available too, at inflated prices, for up to 50 USD.
The links above will bring you to the regional SIM card buying guide (as in, covering the best 66 SIM cards and SIM cards prices in the European Union in the EU guide, for example).
Later this year, I will try to come up with an even more concrete answer, but I first have to catch up on some 100+ local SIM card reviews.
How many bloggers do you know that buy 100+ SIM cards to test so that you do not have to? 🤪
That is why you are always free to buy me a coffee (or tea), which does not get spent on tea but on SIM cards instead (I do not get them for free, unfortunately).
Anyway, it is easier to tell you how much SIM cards cost per country because those prices are rather set.
Or change by a few digits in a year, which is often still reasonable.
So, I decided to create this SIM card price lookup tool, where you can quickly see the SIM card prices of all the local mobile operators in the country.
And instead of just mentioning the price, it also tells you the starter perks you get.
Moreover, if data-only SIM cards or tourist SIM cards are available, it will inform you about it too.
The tool will tell you the prices of up to ten mobile operators/Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).
While this is more than sufficient for most countries, it is not enough for some (like in Europe due to the large number of MVNOs).
If some MVNOs have been cut off, their prices will be mentioned underneath the tool.
For up-to-date currency exchange rates (let's say Euro to US Dollars), use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out the best local SIM cards in every country (lookup tool)
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
- Find out which countries have a SIM card registration requirements and what is required from you (lookup tool)
For convenience, I will also list the SIM card price(s) of the largest mobile operator of each country below.
However, it may not be the best in the country (or, at least, not the one I recommend).
Therefore, if the name of the mobile operator is in bold, then it is (one of) the recommended SIM card.
If not, check the Best local SIM cards lookup tool to find out which one(s) I recommend.
For up-to-date currency exchange rates (let's say Euro to US Dollars), use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
(Note – new countries are added multiple times every week in the tool above and the table above – this tool is rather new, so more/all countries are added shortly. Click on the country name to read the SIM card buying guide of that country)
Last updated (table): 10th of June 2022.
| Country | Mobile Operator | SIM Card Price |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Vodafone Albania | 500 ALL or 800 ALL (depending on the promotion) with 300 ALL credit and 500 on-net SMS (Vodafone Club) | Tourist SIM card (Vodafone 3 Weekly Tourist Pack): 1500 ALL with 15 GB, 5 GB for Netflix, Twitch & YouTube, 500 local minutes, 10 international to select destinations & 100 local/international SMS (no country restrictions) for 21 days |
| Andorra | Andorra Telecom | Free, but plan purchase is required (9 EUR/19 EUR) |
| Anguilla | Digicel Anguilla | 25 XCD |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Digicel Antigua & Barbuda | 20 XCD |
| Argentina | Claro Argentina | Free (from Claro stores), else from 50 ARS from resellers | Tourist SIM card (Claro Turista Chip): 2500 ARS with 25 GB, 500 MB for Free Fire, 500 MB for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube individually (2 GB in total) & 1 GB/day for WhatsApp – all for 30 days. |
| Aruba | SETAR | 37 AWG | Tourist SIM cards: 33 USD with 5.70 USD credit & 1 GB for 1 day | 58 USD with 5.70 USD credit and 7 GB for 7 day |
| Austria | A1 Austria | 9.90 EUR with 5000 units for 28 days | Data-only SIM card (B.free Internet Wertkarte): 9.90 EUR with 5000 MB for 28 days |
| Bahamas | BTC Bahamas | 15 BSD |
| Barbados | Digicel Barbados | 10 BBD |
| Belgium | Proximus | 10 EUR with 10 EUR credit |
| Belize | Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell) | 22.50 BZD with 10 BZD credit and 1 GB (10 days) | Tourist SIM card: 20 USD (40 BZD) with 5 BZD credit, 4 GB, 300 local minutes & 300 local SMS for 14 days |
| Bermuda | Digicel Bermuda | 20 BMD |
| Bolivia | Entel Bolivia | 10 BOB |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | BH Telecom | 5 BAM with 3 BAM credit (30 days) and 1 GB (7 days) | Tourist SIM cards: 20 BAM with 5 BAM credit and 15 GB for 10 days (Ultra Tourist 1) | 40 BAM with 10 BAM credit and 30 GB for 30 days (Ultra Tourist 2) | 100 BAM with 100 GB for 15 days (Ultra Tourist Group Package) |
| Bolivia | Entel Bolivia | 10 BOB |
| Bonaire | Digicel Bonaire | 14 USD | Tourist SIM cards: 15 USD with 2 GB and 15 local/international minutes for 1 day | 30 USD with 3.5 GB and 30 local/international minutes for 7 days | 50 USD with 6 GB and 60 local/international minutes for 14 day |
| Brazil | Vivo Brasil | 10 BRL |
| British Virgin Islands | Digicel BVI | 10 USD |
| Bulgaria | A1 Bulgaria (formerly Mtel) | 6 BGN with 150 MB & 30 local/international minutes + 15 GB with 15 GB for 30 days | 25 BGN with 30 GB for 30 days | 40/50 BGN with 50 GB for 30 days |
| Cayman Islands | Digicel Cayman | 10 KYD |
| Chile | Entel Chile | 3990 CLP |
| Colombia | Claro Colombia | 5000 COP with 1000 COP credit |
| Costa Rica | Kölbi Costa Rica | 1000 CRC with 6000 CRC credit (2000 CRC/month over 3 months – valid for 7 days each month) and unlimited WhatsApp data for 12 months if you recharge at least 3000 CRC |
| Croatia | (Simpa by) Hrvatski Telekom | 20 HRK with 20 HRK credit | Tourist SIM card (Visiting Croatia): 85 HRK with 5 HRK credit and truly unlimited data for 7 days |
| Cuba | Cubacel by ETECSA | 1000 CUP (can also be rented starting from 475 CUP with a minimum of 3 days) | Tourist SIM card (Cubacel Tur): 25 USD with 2.5 GB, 20 local minutes & 20 local SMS for 30 days |
| Curaçao | Digicel Curaçao | 25 ANG | Tourist SIM cards: 10 USD, 30 USD & 50 USD |
| Cyprus | Epic Cyprus (formerly MTN) | 2 EUR with 1 EUR credit for 30 days |
| Czech Republic | T-Mobile Czech Republic | 150 CZK with 100 CZK credit, 100 MB, 50 local minutes & 50 local SMS for 1 day (Twist 50 a 50) | 200 CZK with 100 CZK and 3 GB for 30 days (Twist 3 GB Dat) | 469 CZK with 100 CZK credit & 10 GB for 30 days (Twist 10 GB Dat) |
| Denmark | Lebara Denmark | 49 DKK with 10 DKK credit |
| Dominica | Digicel Dominica | 20 XCD |
| Dominican Republic | Claro Dominicana | 150 DOP |
| Ecuador | Claro Ecuador | 4.48 USD with 3 GB, unlimited Facebook Messenger data, unlimited WhatsApp data, unlimited on-net minutes, 30 off-net minutes & 30 local SMS – all for 3 days (if you text CLARO to 5000) |
| El Salvador | Claro El Salvador | 1 USD |
| Estonia | Diil by Telia Estonia | 2.95 EUR with 2.95 EUR credit and 50 MB |
| Falkland Islands | Sure Falkland Islands (South Atlantic) | 30 FKP with 10 FKP |
| Finland | Elisa Finland | 5.90 EUR with 6 EUR credit |
| France | Orange France | 2.99 EUR with unlimited local minutes and unlimited local SMS between 21:00 and 0:00 (Mobicarte Mini) | Data-only SIM card (SIM Prépayée Prêt-à-Surfer): 14.90 EUR with 10 GB for 30 days | Tourist SIM cards: 14.99 EUR with 100 MB, 120 local/EU minutes & unlimited local/EU minutes for 14 days (Mobicarte Vacances) | 29.99 EUR with 10 GB (also for worldwide use), unlimited local/EU minutes & unlimited local/EU SMS for 14 days (Mobicarte Vacances Monde) | 39.99 EUR with 20 GB, unlimited local/EU minutes, 120 international minutes & unlimited local/EU SMS for 31 days (Orange Holiday) |
| French Guiana | Digicel French Guiana/Guyane | 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit |
| Germany | Telekom Germany | 9.95 EUR with 10 EUR credit |
| Grenada | Digicel Grenada | 25 XCD |
| Greece | COSMOTE Greece | 5 EUR |
| Guadeloupe | Digicel Guadeloupe | 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit |
| Guatemala | Claro Guatemala (including Movistar & Tuenti) | 10 GTQ (Kit Gama Básica) with 150 GTQ credit (7 days), 250 MB (30 days) & 300 SMS (30 days) | 10 GTQ (Kit Gama Smartphones 4G LTE) with 10 GTQ credit, 10 GB (15 days) & unlimited social media data (Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram & WhatsApp – 15 days) | 199 GTQ (15 GB Llamadas Ilimitada) with 15 GB and unlimited social media (Deezer, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Uber, Waze & WhatsApp) unlimited local minutes & unlimited local SMS all for 30 days |
| Guyana | Digicel Guyana | 2000 GYD |
| Haiti | Digicel Haiti | 70 HTG |
| Honduras | Tigo Honduras | 50 HNL with 1 GB, unlimited WhatsApp texting, unlimited on-net minutes & 150 minutes to Canada and the United States for 5 days |
| Hungary | Magyar Telekom | 990 HUF with 500 MB, 80 minutes & 5 SMS |
| Italy | TIM Italy | 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit | 25 EUR with 20 EUR credit (depending on the store) | Tourist SIM card (TIM Tourist): 20 EUR with 15 GB, unlimited chat data (Facebook Messenger, iMessage, IMO, Skype, Snapchat, Telegram, Viber, WeChat & WhatsApp) & 200 local/international minutes (55+ countries) for 30 days |
| Jamaica | Digicel Jamaica | 740 JMD |
| Latvia | LMT | 0.99 EUR | 4.99 EUR with unlimited data, unlimited local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 7 days | 24.98 EUR with unlimited data, unlimited local/EU minutes & unlimited local/EU SMS for 30 days |
| Kosovo | Vala (Kosovo Telecom) | 3 EUR with 1 EUR credit, 3 GB, 50 local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 15 days |
| Liechtenstein | Swisscom “Liechtenstein” | 19.90 CHF with 20 CHF credit and 100 MB |
| Maldives | Dhiraagu | 30 MVR with 20 MVR credit | Tourist SIM cards: 11 USD with 100 MVR credit and 50 local SMS for 14 days (Lite Traveler) | 15 USD with 4 GB, 50 local minutes & 50 SMS for 7 days (Traveler Starter) | 20 USD with 17 GB, 300 local minutes & 300 local SMS for 7 days (Traveler Basic) | 35 USD with 6.50 USD credit, 17 GB, 150 local minutes & 150 local SMS for 30 days (Traveler Plus) | 50 USD with 9.50 USD credit, 30 GB, 300 local minutes & 300 local SMS for 30 days (Traveler Premium) |
| Malta | Epic Malta (formerly Vodafone) | 10 EUR with 5 GB, 200 local/EU minutes & 200 local/EU SMS for 28 days |
| Martinique | Digicel Martinique | 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit |
| Moldova | Orange Moldova | 29 MDL with 29 MDL credit, 10 GB & 250 local minutes for 15 days (if you dial *888*0#) |
| Montenegro | Crnogorski Telekom (Montenegro) | 5 EUR | Data-only SIM card: 9.90 EUR with “unlimited” (200 GB) for 10 days | Tourist SIM cards (Telekom Tourist Prepaid): 10 EUR with 500 GB for 15 days | 15 EUR with 500 GB for 30 days |
| Montserrat | Digicel Montserrat | 20 XCD |
| Netherlands | T-Mobile Netherlands | 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit |
| Nicaragua | Claro Nicaragua | 50 NIO with 1 GB (2 days)/2 GB (7 days) and unlimited Facebook, Facebook Messenger & WhatsApp data (2 days/7 days) |
| North Macedonia | Makedonski Telekom (formerly T-Mobile Macedonia) | 300 MKD with 181 MKD credit, 1 GB, unlimited on-net minutes & 100 on-net SMS for 7 days | 1199 MKD with 15 GB and unlimited local minutes for 30 days | Data-only SIM card: 499 MKD with 5 GB for 30 days |
| Paraguay | Tigo Paraguay | 5000 PYG/10 000 PYG |
| Panama | +móvil (Cable & Wireless) | 5 PAB with 1 GB and unlimited on-net minutes for 7 days | 15 PAB with 3 GB, unlimited WeChat and WhatsApp & unlimited on-net minutes for 30 days |
| Peru | Movistar Perú | 10 PEN with 3 GB (10 days), unlimited Facebook, Instagram & Movistar Play data (10 days) & unlimited WhatsApp data (30 days) |
| Poland | Orange Poland | 5 PLN with 5 PLN credit (for 31 days) and 6 GB (14 days) | 20 PLN with 50 GB |
| Portugal | MEO (by Altice) | 2.50 EUR with 2.50 EUR credit for 30 days | 9.99 EUR with 5 GB and 1000 minutes/SMS for 30 days (Cartão M Móvel Pré-Pago) | Data-only SIM cards (Cartão Enjoy Todo o Tráfego Incluído): 14.99 EUR with unlimited data for 15 days | 30 EUR with unlimited data for 30 days | Tourist SIM card (Ready to Enjoy Portugal): 15 EUR/19 USD (via Airalo) with unlimited data for 15 days |
| Puerto Rico | Claro PR | Free, but plan purchase/top-up required (min. 19 USD) |
| Romania | Orange România | Free, but top-up required within 7 days | 5 EUR with 5 EUR credit |
| Saba | Flow/Chippie Saba (formerly UTS) | 17 USD with 11 USD credit |
| Saint Barthélemy | Digicel Saint Barthélemy | 10 EUR |
| Saint Kitts & Nevis | Digicel St Kitts | 23.40 XCD |
| Saint Lucia | Digicel St. Lucia | 25 XCD |
| Saint Martin | Digicel Saint Martin | 10 EUR |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Digicel SVG | 15 XCD |
| Serbia | MTS Serbia | 300 RSD with 25 RSD credit for 7 days | 400 RSD with 25 RSD credit, 1 GB, 5 GB for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Viber & WhatsApp, unlimited on-net minutes & 100 off-net minutes/local SMS for 7 days (Moj Pripejd) | 600 RSD with 50 RSD credit, 2 GB, 10 GB for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Viber & WhatsApp, unlimited on-net minutes & 200 off-net minutes/local SMS for 15 days (Sve Cool) | Data-only SIM card (Pripejd Mobilni Net): 300 RSD with 500 MB for 30 days | Tourist SIM cards: 600 RSD with 25 RSD credit and 15 GB for 5 days (Turist) | 1800 RSD with 25 RSD credit, 10 Gb, 120 on-net minutes & 30 international minutes for 30 days (Super Turist SIM) |
| Sint Eustatius | Flow/Chippie Sint Eustatius (formerly UTS) | 16.75 USD with 11 USD credit |
| Sint Maarten | Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS) | 18 USD with 11 USD credit |
| Slovakia | Slovak Telekom (formerly T-Mobile) | 5 EUR with 10 EUR credit, 1 GB & unlimited local minutes |
| Slovenia | Telekom Slovenije (formerly Mobitel Slovenia/Slovenije) | 8.50 EUR with 5 EUR credit | Data-only SIM cards (Predplačniški Mobilni Internet SIM): 9.89 EUR with 1 GB for 1 day | 29.90 EUR with 15 GB for 100 days |
| Spain | Movistar Spain | 10 EUR with 10 EUR credit |
| Suriname | Telesur | 70 SRD with 10 on-net or local minutes |
| Sweden | Telia Sweden | 59 SEK with 1 GB, unlimited local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 7 days |
| Switzerland | Swisscom | 19.90 CHF with 20 CHF credit and 100 MB |
| Transnistria (Pridnestrovskaia) | Interdnestrcom (IDC) | 56 RUP |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Digicel Trinidad and Tobago | 49 TTD |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Digicel Turks and Caicos | 10 USD |
| Uruguay | Antel Uruguay | 65 UYU with 200 call credit and unlimited WhatsApp data |
| US Virgin Islands | Liberty USVI | Free, but plan purchase/top-up required (min. 25 USD) |
| Venezuela | N/A | Tourists cannot buy Venezuelan SIM cards |