Which SIM card is best in Mexico? A comparative review of Telcel and Mexico E-sim

I live in Mexico and have experienced a prepaid and post-paid Mexico sim card. You will also find options for Mexico E-SIMS in this article. Let’s get started!

💌 Hello Trish! Your digital nomad guides about Mexico are super helpful. I will finally leave the USA this year and plan to test the waters in Mexico. I work online but I am worried about wifi in Mexico. I heard a lot of horror stories in small towns. I know you lived in many places in Mexico. I read all the digital nomad guides! I want to ask what is the best Mexico sim card? I’ve been reading mixed reviews and I want to hear from someone like you who lives there. Many thanks for your service. This is really a hard job and you provide a lot of insightful information!

-Vernon Millard, Washington

Hi Vernon!

I am glad you chose Mexico as your digital nomad destination! I have been here for 7 years now and I love it!

I only put the Telcel Mexico sim card here because that’s the one I have experience with.

There is also a review of E-SIM here but to be very truthful, out of all these choices, Telcel is still best in terms of competitive pricing and speeds.

Anyway, browse away and let me know if you have any questions!

Xx,
Trisha

Do I need a SIM card for Mexico?

With this Internet age of connection and sharing photos while on a trip, you probably need a sim card for Mexico.

Though millions of Americans and Canadians visit Mexico, it still gets bad press for being unsafe. If it’s your first time traveling to Mexico, you’d feel more comfortable if you could easily connect in case of emergencies.

Aside from that, you will also need the Mexico sim card for:

Join my Mexico group trips for single travelers!

I live in Mexico and have been leading group trips joined by solo travelers of all ages. Come join me in Mexico this year!

Mexico SIM Card vs Mexico E-sim

I live in Mexico so I have the post-paid plan at 499 pesos ($29 USD) per month. But before that, I was on a prepaid plan for 4 years.

As a digital nomad who is constantly traveling, I always have a back-up E-sim that works in Mexico. If you travel frequently, here’s a comparative guide for a local Mexico sim card vs a Mexico E-SIM:

Lastly, I found out not all E-SIMs for Mexico include local or international calls. It is a data-only plan.

If you need to call/text locally and internationally, the local SIM card (Telcel) is better than the E-SIM. I am about to try other E-SIMS in other countries and see which are the best.

But this Mexico E-SIM works really well and it’s super cheap (from $8 USD for 7 days).

Which local sim card is best in Mexico?

Tried and tested from someone living here: the best local sim card in Mexico is Telcel. It has way better coverage than AT&T and Movistar.

When I first traveled to Mexico for a backpacking and digital nomad trip, I stayed in Mexico City for a month and another month in Guadalajara.

In both instances, I did not buy a Mexico SIM card. Mexico City, as the capital has no issues. As it is one of the hottest digital nomad cities in the world, wifi is very strong everywhere.

Equally, Guadalajara is a big city and has good wifi everywhere. I pretty much survived in Guadalajara as a digital nomad without a Mexican sim card.

After Guadalajara, I went to Guanajuato City and there, I somehow felt the need to buy a sim card.

As a first-timer in Mexico who had no idea about local mobile providers, I went to an abarrote or tienda (which are small convenience stores in Mexico).

The lady asked which provider I preferred, and I simply told her to decide herself since I had no idea.

I did not care anyway because I thought that all local SIM cards in Mexico would work the same.

She gave me an AT&T SIM, which is a well-known brand in the US. I didn’t protest. But AT&T in Mexico and the US are not the same. More on that later…

FYI, I speak Spanish fluently so I can easily buy a Mexico sim card in a tienda/abarrote, you must know how to speak Spanish to understand these data plans better.

AT&T worked in Guanajuato perfectly! But when I went to my next destination which is Sayulita, everything changed. Apparently, in small towns like Sayulita, Telcel rules.

I’ve proved that to be the same as Puerto Escondido. A friend of mine had a Movistar sim and when we traveled to Puerto Escondido together, she was forced to change to Telcel.

Since then, I have been loyal to Telcel and switched to a post-paid data plan when I moved to Cabo. But you can only convert to post-paid if you are a Mexican residency visa holder.

Why Telcel is the best local SIM card in Mexico

Telcel Mexico is the best Mexico SIM card for various reasons:

Of course, there are cons. Telcel does not have English-speaking staff, not even in their local call centers which is challenging for non-Spanish speakers.

Another thing that applies to all providers is that the 5G connection in Mexico is only for developed and touristic areas.

I’ll use my home as an example. In Cabo’s center, my Telcel always changes to 5G because it’s a touristy area. The moment I get home, a 10-minute drive from the center, it switches back to 4G.

5G connections in Mexico are still on a location basis. It is not country-wide.

The last CON I can say about Telcel is that there is one text message that you will receive all the time, thinking it’s important.

They are the UNOTV updates, which are quite annoying and useless, especially if you don’t speak Spanish.

Unfortunately, despite diligently following the Spanish tutorial, I have not succeeded in turning off these UNOTV updates. I even tried it with a Mexican friend, and he did not understand it either!

Telcel Mexico sim card data plans

There are many plans for Telcel Mexico but the lowest is $0.58 USD for 1 day. Most of the plans have the same features like:

Below are the best Telcel data plans for tourists and what’s included in each plan:

Where to buy local Mexico SIM card

Mexican SIM cards can be bought everywhere, but here are the specific places for purchase:

Can I get a Mexican SIM card at the airport?

ABSOLUTELY! Almost all major airports have Telcel kiosks at the arrivals gate. The advantage of buying a Mexican SIM card at the airport is that they are trained to speak English.

OK, not all can speak English but there will be someone there who will. If you are arriving in Mexico City, you can open this location of the Telcel kiosk on Google Maps, (open from 7 AM – 9 PM).

For those landing at Cancun Airport, I hate to break it to you but the sim card prices there are stupidly expensive. Like waaayyyy more expensive.

I’d understand if it’s just $5 USD more, but Cancun Airport SIM cards are a rip-off! There are many Telcel kiosks all over Cancun, so you don’t need to buy them at the airport.

How to buy a Mexico SIM card at Oxxo

If it’s your first time in Mexico, Oxxo is your friend. It has everything! Oxxo is a convenience store in Mexico that you will find in every corner, wherever you are. It’s not hard to miss.

If you don’t speak Spanish, enter Oxxo and say, “Chip de Telcel, por favor.” It’s a short phrase that’s easy to say, and everyone at Oxxo will understand.

Oxxo will charge you around 39 pesos ($2.28 USD) for the SIM card fee. However, this is not topped-up with data.

More often than not, the cashier will NOT ask you if you want a top-up because they are not aware that tourists know about the top-up as a separate purchase.

Some really decent cashiers will offer you a reload when they realize you are a foreigner. If you weren’t offered a top-up, just say, “Recarga por favor.”

The SIM fee and the “recarga” (top-up) are separately punched into the cash register, so you must do 2 transactions.

I suggest that after paying for the SIM card, go to the side of the line, put the SIM card in your phone, and then fall in line again for the top-up.

This way, you will know if the SIM card works, and you can fix it immediately if something is wrong.

Once you ask for a top-up, the cashier will ask you what plan (paquete) you want. They will also show you the cash register screen for options.

At Oxxo, you can pay via credit card so it’s not an issue if you have not exchanged Mexican peso yet. Keep the receipt, just in case.

Buy a Mexico sim card in abarrotes or tiendas

Abarrotes and tiendas are small convenience stores in Mexico and you see them everywhere. Follow the same purchase steps as Oxxo but you may have to speak more Spanish this way.

Unlike Oxxo, abarrotes and tiendas are less automated so you really have to be clear about the data plan and what you are paying.

Some abarrotes have credit card terminals, and some don’t. Cash is safer when buying a Mexico SIM card this way. And yes, this is a LEGIT way of buying a Mexico SIM card.

Make sure to put the SIM in front of the lady. If you come back the next day and report you had a problem, she probably won’t remember you.

Abarrotes don’t give receipts. The prices for Mexican sim cards in abarrotes and tiendas are double since store owners want to earn a little bit more.

For example, in Oxxo, the Telcel sim card is only 29 pesos while in abarrotes, it’s 69 pesos. The top-ups have the same prices everywhere but the SIM card fees are different per merchant.

Mexico SIM card at Walmart and other grocery stores

Telcel SIM is also available at Walmart. You can go straight to the cashier and follow the steps on how to buy a SIM card at Oxxo above. It’s the same process.

Aside from Walmart, you can also buy a Mexico SIM card at major supermarkets like Soriana, La Comer, Chedraui, and Fresko. They have branches all over the country.

So far, I don’t think you can buy a SIM card at Costco but I’ll check and update this post!

Ask your airport service or airport driver

This may not be a traditional way of buying a Mexico SIM card, but many of my friends who don’t speak Spanish rely on the tour operators in Mexico.

As someone with a travel business in Mexico, I added the option to purchase a Mexico SIM card before arriving at the airport.

I only do this for my clients, but you can try it with your tour provider. Just ask them the favor to buy the SIM card for you and have it ready by arrival.

Upon arrival in Mexico, or before heading to your hotel, you can ask your driver to stop in a sim card store and help you talk to the vendor.

For sure, they will! Mexican tour operators are awesome and are always willing to help.

Buy Telcel SIM from the United States or Canada

If you really want to buy a Mexico SIM card before leaving the United States and Canada, you can order the Telcel Chip via Amazon.

The Telcel chip will be delivered to your doorstep and you might notice that it is slightly open. But this does not mean that the sim card is USED.

The reason why it looks opened is because the vendor has to open it for activation and top-up. It’s the same exact process like buying in the Oxxo where you have to do 2 transactions.

They cannot manually reload a Telcel chip without opening it so don’t be doubtful about it.

To call and text internationally, you must add the area codes for each country. United States and Canada is +1 and Mexico is +52.

You cannot directly dial without an area code. Not even on Whatsapp!

To check your Telcel balance from the United States or Canada:

• dial *133# (asterisk, 133, pound). It will give you an option
• Select option number 3 which says “detalles de saldo,” (current balance)
• Then select option 2 “paquete amigo sin limite”

If your phone is unlocked with Verizon or AT&T, it won’t work with Telcel. Even if you buy a Mexico AT&T SIM card, it won’t work with an AT&T-locked US phone.

AT&T operates in both the United States and Mexico, but the company functions slightly differently in each country. They are not the same.

This also goes without saying that your US phone will only work in Mexico if you subscribed for an international data plan. Unlocked US phones don’t work with Telcel.

Buy Mexico SIM Card in distributor stores

You can buy a Mexican SIM Card in official distributor stores which you can find all over the country but compared to buying at Oxxo, there’s a line in the stores where you have to get a number to fall in line.

Additionally, the Telcel or Movistar distributor stores will barely have someone speaking English.

Best Mexico E-SIM (from $1.14 per day)

I have recently started using Airalo, an E-SIM for Mexico. Although it is not as cheap as the local Mexican SIM, you don’t have to go through talking to local personnel or speaking Spanish because Airalo is automated.

There is no physical SIM card to put in. The customer service is also very fast and everyone can speak English.

The only issue with Airalo in Mexico is that it is a data-only plan. It does not involve calls or text. So far, I am happy about it, and I have made an in-depth review of how Airalo works in Mexico!

As for Airalo speeds in Mexico, I am 50-50, and I don’t know if I am impressed with the speed. I was just probably in an area with weaker signal but I’ll keep using it while in Mexico to see if the E-SIM coverage is really by area.

As a digital nomad, I keep trying new E-SIMS but must try them before recommending them to you. Try Airalo and tell me about your experience in the comment box below!

Mexico E-SIM plans and prices

Airalo’s E-SIM for Mexico is quite a giveaway and is very cheap for the service that you are getting. Unlike Telcel, Airalo E-SIM has a smaller selection of packages so you won’t get overwhelmed.

The prices are straight to the point. My advice is to try the lowest package which is $8 USD for 7 days.

If you like it, then you can add more. But this plan is already good enough, especially for a short vacation to Mexico.

Here are the prices for Airalo’s E-SIM for Mexico and what you’ll get:

Helpful Spanish phrases for buying a SIM card in Mexico

Buying a SIM card in Mexico is easy without speaking Spanish only if you buy your sim card in touristic areas like airports.

Famous resort towns like Tulum, Los Cabos, Cancun are English-speaking areas so if you’re here and forgot to buy a sim card at the airport, this won’t be challenging.

However, if you are in remote towns or not-so-popular places in Mexico (i.e., the rugged Baja California)

Mexico SIM Card how-to’s

How to activate Mexican SIM card

After buying the SIM card, you need to put a top-up (minimum of 50 pesos / $3 USD) or just buy a full unlimited data package.

The top-up activates the SIM card. Just insert it and it will be good to go. No other steps needed aside from the top-up.

However, do not wait until you return to your hotel to insert the SIM. In case any problem occurs, you must insert the SIM and try the data before leaving the Telcel shop or wherever you bought your SIM card.

How to register a prepaid SIM to your name

If you come back to Mexico regularly and don’t want to change numbers, you can register your phone number officially by presenting documents at the Telcel distributor store.

This way, you are sure that the number is yours. Just bring valid documents and you don’t have to be a Mexican resident to do this. aba

It’s also important to note that you need to present your tourist visa card and that it’s valid.

How to top up Mexico SIM card

The top-up for Telcel and other network providers in Mexico is pretty much the same. You can check the where to buy SIM card in the section of this article.

All those places will have a top-up option and they can show the prices to you on the screens (except for abarrotes and tiendas that have a higher pricing range).

If you find yourself in the middle of an emergency with no data, you can simply ask a Mexican if they can top-up for you.

All Mexican banks (no matter what it is), will have the top-up option for Telcel, Movistar, and AT&T on the mobile bank app.

Then you can just pay that person in cash. The top-up from bank apps are instant and there is no need to activate or do anything else once you receive the top-up.

How to know your Telcel phone number

To know your Telcel number, follow the steps below. You can even do this without phone credits! All you have to do is to text or dial 051.

If you receive a text message with a 4-digit PIN, just ignore it. Please note that this is a Spanish-only text/voice.