Mexico – How to get a prepaid SIM card with data

sim prepaid
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How to get a prepaid SIM card with data in Mexico

When I know I’ll be travelling in a country for more than a week, I prefer getting a local prepaid SIM card. Reason? I want to be reachable and able to look up things whenever I need or want to. In the EU roaming charges will be a thing of the past soon (yeahh!), but roaming data is just ridiculously expensive if you use your SIM card from home. I’ve gotten prepaid SIM cards in Mexico twice now, and today I’ll show you how easy that is.

The type of SIM card I need

  • prepaid: it has to be a prepaid one so I am in control of my expenses
  • no monthly plan
  • cheap data packages: I don’t really need minutes and texts, that’s why I don’t look at packages that include that
  • big data packages: I need more than 1 GB per Week, 2 GB would be even better
  • right SIM size: for my OnePlus Two I need a nano sim
  • easy to add credit: at a kiosk, supermarket, online,…

About a year ago I opted for a SIM card by telcel, which worked just as it should. On my latest trip to Mexico I wanted to get another SIM card by them, but the staff in one of their Playa del Carmen shops were not very helpful. Thankfully there was another operator on the other side of the street: Movistar. This one is usually more expensive, but their prepaid packages are quite cheap.

Prepaid Data Packages Movistar Mexico

There are several options for a data package using Movistar.

Paquetes Ilimitados Movistar

Those packages start with as little as 10 Pesos and rise up to 300 Pesos. Ranging from 15 MB to 2 GB.

I decided to go for the following option:

300 Pesos (approx. 13.80€) = 2 GB data+ 2 GB for WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter + unlimited* calls and texts within Meixco, USA and Canada. This package is valid for 30 days.

If you don’t use the internet too much and prefer to whatsapp more, then this one could work for you too:

75 Pesos (approx. 3.47€) = 200 MB data + 2 GB for WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter +unlimited* calls and texts within Meixco, USA and Canada. This package is valid for 15 days.

*I’m sure there’s a limit somehow.

Movistar Prepaid Mexiko Sim karte

Combo Internet Movistar

Option 1: 150 Pesos (approx. 6.93€) = 1GB for WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo Mail & Hotmail + 100 MB data + 0.98 Pesos per MB once you’ve used all your 100 MB. Valid für 30 days.

Option 2: 70 Pesos (approx. 3.24€) = 500 MB for WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo Mail & Hotmail + 20 MB data + 0.98 Pesos per MB once you’ve used all your 20 MB. Valid for 7 days.

Conclusion Movistar

It’s very easy to get a local sim card in Mexico, the staff at Movistar was very helpful and also set up the right API settings.

Generally the internet worked in most cities without causing problems. The highway betweet Playa del Carmen and Valladolid leads through the jungle – don’t expect to have coverage there.

This will help:

  • Necesito una tarjeta SIM de prepago. – I need a prepaid SIM card.
  • Cuanto cuesta? – How much is that?
  • Como son los paquetes de internet? – What kind of data options are there?
  • Gracias! – Thank you!

Keep on travelling

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Viktoria Urbanek Travel Blog Chronic Wanderlust

Grüß dich, I'm Viki!

At Chronic Wanderlust, I write about my two great passions: travelling and diving – and have been doing so since 2013.

I usually spend a solid majority of the year travelling to experience extraordinary underwater adventures, taking road trips through countries I don’t know (yet) or exploring my home country of Austria.

As a certified divemaster, passionate underwater & travel photographer, road trip enthusiast and individual traveller, I collect unique moments all over the world.

I don’t believe that severe cases of wanderlust – aka chronic wanderlust – can be cured, only treated. On this blog, I want to show you how this can best be realised.

Curious to get to know me better?