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.
Later this year, I will try to come up with a 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.
TIP: use this tool combined with the Best local SIM cards lookup tool.
For up-to-date currency exchange rates (let's say Euro to US Dollars), use the Wise Currency Converter 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): 26th of February 2022.
| Country | Mobile Operator | SIM Card Price |
|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Andorra Telecom | 15 EUR with 15 EUR credit OR 30 EUR with 30 EUR credit |
| Anguilla | Digicel Anguilla | 25 XCD |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Digicel Antigua & Barbuda | 20 XCD |
| 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 |
| Bermuda | Digicel Bermuda | 20 BMD |
| 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 | Viva 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| Dominica | Digicel Dominica | 20 XCD |
| Dominican Republic | Claro Dominicana | 150 DOP |
| Falkland Islands | Sure Falkland Islands (South Atlantic) | 30 FKP with 10 FKP |
| 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 | 5 EUR |
| Guadeloupe | Digicel Guadeloupe | 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit |
| Guyana | Digicel Guyana | 2000 GYD |
| Haiti | Digicel Haiti | 70 HTG |
| Hungary | Magyar Telekom | 990 HUF with 1 GB, 80 minutes & 5 SMS |
| Italy | TIM Italy | 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit OR 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 |
| 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 Malta) | 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#) |
| Montserrat | Digicel Montserrat | 20 XCD |
| Paraguay | Tigo Paraguay | 5000 PYG/10 000 PYG |
| Peru | Movistar Perú | 10 PEN with 3 GB (10 days), unlimited Facebook, Instagram & Movistar Play data (10 days) & unlimited WhatsApp data (30 days) |
| Portugal | MEO (by Altice) | 2.50 EUR with 2.50 EUR credit for 30 days OR 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 OR 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 OR 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 |
| 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 OR 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) |