Are you traveling to Singapore and looking for the best prepaid sim card to stay connected? This the ultimate guide for finding the right tourist sim card for your trip to Singapore.
In this blog you will find out:
- where to buy a sim card for Singapore
- up to date prices as per December 2023
- info about buying a sim card at Changi International Airport SIN
- the best 4G/5G network in Singapore
- the best e-sim cards for Singapore
- my recommendation and experiences
- a vlog about my arrival at Singapore Airport
- info about international sim cards for Singapore.
As a full time world traveler trying to visit every country in the world I change countries all the time and therefore I always need to buy a new prepaid sim card or e-sim card when I get to a new country. Local prepaid sim cards are the best way to get connected when you use a lot of data, e-sim cards are very convenient, but sometimes also a little more expensive.
On Traveltomtom you can find already more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Asia, Europe, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Thailand, Bangkok, Shanghai, Australia, Sydney, Auckland, USA, New York, Miami, Dubai, Qatar, Turkey, London, Paris, Spain, Kenya and many more.
For specific e-sim card guides check out the following links: Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, China and many more.
Related: Best E-Sim Cards for Traveling to Singapore in 2023.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and e-sim card advice for your destination. Bookmark me!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Simba sim card for Singapore in the city center. They have the cheapest prepaid sim card deals for Singapore and they have an excellent 4G network and allow where available prepaid costumers to use the 5G network as well.
Buying a prepaid sim card at Changi International Airport Singapore is possible, but at different rates, expect to pay tourist prices. See below for more info.
Also e-sim cards could be a great way to stay connected when traveling to Singapore and there are great e-sim card deals with rates as low as $1.25 USD per Gigabyte. For more info check out my complete guide with everything you need to know before buying an e-sim card for Singapore.
If you are traveling to multiple countries on your trip to Singapore it is worth looking into a travel sim card with worldwide coverage. These international sim cards with data make traveling much easier.
Check out my comparison of the best sim cards for traveling the world in 2023 or here is my list with the best sim cards for traveling in Asia.
Best e-sim cards for Singapore
The easiest way to get connected when traveling to Singapore in 2023 is an e-sim card. No more visiting a store or swapping sim cards. With an e-sim card you arrange everything online within just a couple minutes and you arrive prepared. You order online, receive a QR code and instructions in your email, apply the settings and you are all set within no time.
Curious how this all works and an answer to all your FAQ's then check out my article with everything you need to know about using e-sim cards for traveling to Singapore.
There are multiple e-sim card providers for Singapore, here is a selection of them.
Nomad
Lately I have been recommending Nomad e-sim cards a lot as they have really great deals for a lot of countries. The Nomad e-sim card plans for Singapore are great as well and the best thing is that they are 5G ready!
Here are the Nomad e-sim card plans for Singapore:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
- 50 GB data for 30 days = $49 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Singapore from Nomad.
As you can see above the prices for Nomad Singapore e-sim cards with bigger data plans also become cheaper per Gigabyte. The price for 50 GB data is only $49 USD which means just $0.98 USD per Gigabyte.
The Nomad e-sim cards are from Joytel and they are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls and sms are NOT supported. They operate on the LTE/4G/5G network of Singtel.
Airalo
Airalo is a very reliable e-sim card provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world.
Here are the Airalo data-only e-sim card plans for Singapore for 2023:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $6.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $8.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Singapore from Airalo.
The Airalo e-sim cards for Singapore are from Connect Lah! and they operate on the 4G/LTE network of Singtel. Unfortunately the Airalo Connect Lah! e-sim cards for Singapore are not 5G ready yet. This is the big difference between Airalo and Nomad e-sim cards for Singapore.
The best value e-sim card from Airalo gives you 20 GB data for $26 USD which is $1.3 USD per Gigabyte.
For much more detailed info and the best e-sim card deals for Singapore check out my article about the best e-sim cards for Singapore in 2023.
Why buying a sim card for Singapore
First off to avoid high roaming costs. Don’t let your trip get ruined by excessive high roaming costs. Some operators charge up to $3 USD for 1 MB data that means opening Instagram will cost you $100 USD. And this is not a joke!
Also don’t be fooled by overseas data roaming plans that make you pay $10 per day or so for unlimited data. Did you read the fine print? Unlimited data at what speed? Yes, there you go! Overseas data roaming plans often cap the data speed. Can you still handle 3G?
Staying connected makes traveling to Singapore so much more convenient. Think about ordering a taxi through an app or using Google Maps for getting directions, finding nearby restaurants, stay in touch with friends, use your banking apps for online payments, emergencies, etc.
There are so many good reasons for having data on your phone when traveling to Singapore.
Mobile Internet operators
For a small country like Singapore there are a lot of mobile internet providers. In total there are 4 mobile internet operators in Singapore: Simba, M1, Sing Tel and starhub. All of them sell prepaid sim cards for tourists and you can buy them in one of their retail stores.
Registration process prepaid sim cards Singapore
For buying a prepaid sim card in Singapore you need your passport. A copy of your passport page will be taken in the store for the registration. Your new Singapore sim card will be registered on your name and your passport number. You will receive a physical prepaid sim card with a phone number starting with +65.
You can not opt for an e-sim card as all the mobile internet providers in Singapore do not offer e-sim cards for tourists.
If for some reason you want to avoid this then either order an e-sim card for Singapore or buy an international prepaid sim card for Singapore. There is no registration needed for these type of sim cards and you will get connected in Singapore without any form of identity registration.
Where to buy a sim card for Singapore
If you decide to buy a local prepaid sim card in Singapore then you can either buy a sim card at Changi International Airport on arrival or get a Singapore sim card in the city.
Below I will tell you in detail everything you need to know for buying a sim card at Changi International Airport. However, the convenience of getting connected straight on arrival comes at a price. Prepaid sim card deals at Singapore Airport are more expensive than in Singapore city center. Expect to pay tourist prices at Singapore Airport.
Therefore if you are looking for the best prepaid sim card deals for Singapore then you will have to buy your prepaid sim card in the city center.
There are plenty of official retail stores from all the mobile internet operators across Singapore. If you go to any of the bigger shopping malls you will find them there or simply use Google Maps to locate the nearest sim card shop next to your hotel.
There is also the possibility to buy a local prepaid sim card in a convenient store. These options are especially handy late at night or on Sundays when some phone stores are closed. However, keep in mind that when buying a prepaid sim card in for example 7Eleven you will need to register and activate your sim card yourself.
Buying a sim card at Changi International Airport
Info and prices below are updated in December 2023: $1 USD = $1.33 SGD and $1 SGD = $0.75 USD.
The most convenient place to buy your prepaid sim card for Singapore is of course on arrival at Singapore International Airport. There are 3 different terminals for international arrivals, but regardless where you land you are able to buy a prepaid sim card for tourists.
There are several shops that sell sim cards for tourists at Singapore Airport and it is very easy to find them. They are the first stores you see when walking into the arrival hall. After you picked up your bag from the luggage belt you walk through the glass sliding doors and depending which exit you will see sim card stores and car rentals either on your left or right hand side in front of you.
There is a shop called Changi Recommends which has big signs for sim cards. It is impossible to miss!
Also in the arrival hall there are several money exchange kiosks next to the information desks and they also sell prepaid sim cards. The sim card shops at Singapore Airport are open 24 hours, 7 days a week and they accept international credit cards.
Starhub sim cards Singapore Airport
You can buy the Starhub prepaid sim cards from the Money Exchange or from the Changi Recommends stores and they offer the following prepaid sim card deals:
- 100 GB data for 10 days + 5 GB data roaming for 30 days + $50 SGD credit = $50 SGD ($37 USD)
- 100 GB data + 5 GB data roaming + 3,000 minutes + 5,000 sms for 12 days = $32 SGD ($24 USD)
The above Starhub prepaid sim card plans are only available as physical prepaid sim cards and not as e-sims.
M1 sim cards Singapore Airport
See the above photo for the M1 prepaid sim card deals at Singapore Airport. In short:
- 2 GB per day for 28 days + 5,000 minutes + 1,000 sms = $35 SGD ($26 USD)
- 2 GB per day for 84 days + 5,000 minutes + 1,000 sms = $60 SGD ($44 USD)
The above M1 prepaid sim card plans are only available as physical prepaid sim cards and not as e-sims.
Singtel prepaid sim card Singapore Airport
Singtel offers a 4G sim card and a 5G sim card:
- 100 GB data on 4G network + 500 minutes = $50 SGD ($37 USD)
- 120 GB data on 5G network + unlimited calls/sms = $70 SGD ($52 USD)
The above Singtel prepaid sim card plans are only available as physical prepaid sim cards and not as e-sims.
The Singtel prepaid sim card deals in the city center are $20 SGD cheaper for the exact same package.
As you can see the cheapest prepaid sim card for Singapore at Changi International Airport is a Starhub prepaid sim card for $32 SGD ($24 USD) and gives you 100 GB data for 12 days on 4G/LTE speed.
If you want a prepaid sim card with 5G speed you have to buy a Singtel sim card. It will cost you $70 SGD ($52 USD) and you will get 120 GB data for 30 days.
Curious what it looks like arriving and buying a prepaid sim card for Singapore at Changi International Airport then check out my vlog below.
Sim cards for tourists at Singapore International Airport are very expensive compared to local the exact same prepaid sim cards you can buy in the city center.
Also another reminder that an e-sim card for Singapore from Nomad only costs $25 USD for 20 GB data and you can arrange everything within just 2 minutes online.
Buying a prepaid sim card in Singapore City Center
Packages, prices and data plans constantly. Traveltomtom keeps these blogs as up to date as possible. These are the latest prepaid sim card deals for Singapore as per December 2023.
The below prepaid sim card plans and prices are what you can expect to pay if you buy a sim card in the city center in one of the official stores of M1, Starhub, Singtel an Simba.
Prices are in Singapore Dollar and as per December 2023: $1 USD = $1.33 SGD and $1 SGD = $0.75 USD.
M1
At M1 they offer a wide range of prepaid sim card plans for tourists:
- 100 GB data for 7 days + 500 minutes + 100 sms + 20 minutes international calls = $12 SGD ($9 USD)
- 2 GB data per day for 84 days + 15,000 minutes + 3,000 sms = $60 SGD ($44 USD)
- 150 GB data for 30 days + 3,000 minutes + 1,000 sms + 50 minutes international calls = $30 SGD ($22 USD)
Be aware that these prepaid sim cards do NOT support 5G.
All the above M! Singapore prepaid sim card deals you can also buy at Singapore International Airport Changi. For more info check the M1 website. All prepaid sim card plans of M1 are only available as physical prepaid sim cards. E-sims are not available for tourists.
Simba
A Simba prepaid sim card costs only $10 SGD ($7 USD) and gives you 100 GB data for 30 days + unlimited calls/text in Singapore + 1 GB data free roaming. Well that is a great Singapore sim card deal!
Simba allows prepaid costumers to use the 5G network. However, below you will see that Simba has the smallest 5G network in Singapore.
For more info check the Simba website. All prepaid sim card plans of Simba are only available as physical prepaid sim cards. E-sims are not available for tourists.
SingTel
At Sing Tel they have 2 prepaid sim cards for tourists valid for 28 days. These prepaid sim card deals allow you to use the 5G network.
- 100 GB data with 5 GB data roaming = $30 SGD ($22 USD)
- 120 GB data with 10 GB data roaming = $50 SGD ($37 USD)
Both prepaid sim card deals come with unlimited calls/text in Singapore, free* data roaming in Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia.
For more information check out the SingTel website. All prepaid sim card plans of Singtel are only available as physical prepaid sim cards. E-sims are not available for tourists.
Starhub
Starhub offers 2 prepaid sim card deals for tourists:
- 100 GB data for 10 days + 1,000 minutes + 100 sms = $12 SGD ($9 USD)
- 100 GB data for 30 days + 3,000 minutes + 5,000 sms = $12 SGD ($9 USD)
Be aware that these Starhub prepaid tourist sim cards are 4G only and do NOT support 5G. There is a couple GB's roaming to neighboring countries included
For more information check out the Starhub website. All prepaid sim card plans of Starhub are only available as physical prepaid sim cards. E-sims are not available for tourists.
Best 4G/5G network in Singapore in 2023
For determining the best prepaid sim card for traveling in Singapore we should also have a look at the mobile internet coverage and compare the 4G/5G network maps of the mobile internet operators.
Is there 5G in Singapore?
Yes, there is 5G in Singapore. The 5G network in Singapore is probably one of the most advanced ones in the world. Pretty much everywhere you go there is a 5G signal and all the tourist attractions in Singapore have a 5G signal.
However, not all prepaid sim cards for tourists allow you to use 5G, so always ask when buying a sim card in Singapore.
Simba 4G/5G network coverage maps
M1 4G/5G network coverage maps
Starhub 4G/5G network coverage maps
Sing Tel 4G/5G network coverage map
When comparing the above 4G/5G network coverage maps of the mobile internet operators in Singapore we can come to the simple conclusion that it doesn't matter so much which prepaid sim card you buy. All of them have a more than excellent 4G/LTE network all across the country.
However, it is pretty clear that SingTel has the best 4G/5G network in Singapore in 2023. The Singtel 5G network is the best in Singapore, so expect Singtel also to have the fastest data speed.
Best prepaid sim card for Singapore in 2023
One of the conclusions after comparing the prepaid sim card deals for Singapore is that buying a sim card at Changi Airport is more expensive than buying the same prepaid sim card in Singapore city center. So if you want the cheapest prepaid sim card deals you have to wait until you get to the city and go to a phone store.
However, buying a prepaid sim card on arrival at Singapore Airport is more convenient as shops are open 24 hours.
Comparing Singapore e-sim card plans with local prepaid sim cards Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that if you want the best sim card deal you have to buy one in Singapore city center in a phone store.
However, if you are intented to buy a sim card at Singapore International Airport then you are better off buying an e-sim card for Singapore on the internet. With an installed Singapore e-sim card you are online as soon as the plane lands and a Nomad or Airalo e-sim card with 20 GB data costs only around $25 USD.
Another great thing about a Nomad e-sim card is that they are 5G ready and most of the physical prepaid sim cards for tourists you buy in Singapore only support 4G/LTE.
If you really want a 5G prepaid sim card you have to buy a Singtel sim card. They offer 5G on their prepaid plans. At Singapore Airport the 5G sim card costs $70 SGD, but in the city you can already get this Singtel 5G sim card for $30 SGD.
All mobile internet providers in Singapore have an excellent 4G/LTE network and therefore when comparing the prices we conclude that SIMBA is the best prepaid sim card for Singapore for tourists in 2023. They already give you 100 GB data + unlimited minutes/calls for 30 days for just $7 USD.
Unfortunately Simba prepaid sim cards are NOT sold at Changi International Airport and they are only available for tourists as physical prepaid sim cards and not as e-sims.
Order a prepaid sim card for Singapore online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible and all the above sounds like too much hassle then you can order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling to Singapore on the internet as well.
Make it easy for yourself and you order an international sim card directly online. There pre-activated international prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip to Singapore. In the plane you put this sim card in your phone and it is like plug and play. As soon as the plane lands you are online.
Simple as that and you can order them within just a couple clicks. Have a look at the following international sim cards for traveling to Singapore which you can order via SimOptions:
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Singapore directly online via SimOptions.
Also a last reminder that you can also order an e-sim card for Singapore and get connected within just a couple minute without changing a sim card and visiting a store. Read my complete e-sim card guide for Singapore or order directly from SimOptions, Airalo or Nomad.
How to get from Singapore Airport to the city center
Check the above information sheet for getting to the city center from Changi Airport. However, my prefered way getting from the airport to Singapore center is an Uber/Grab. And although Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, arranging a taxi through the app Grab is not that expensive. Expect to pay for a 25-30 minute taxi ride around $20 - $25 USD.
I am sure some of the above tips for getting connected in Singapore were helpful for your upcoming trip. Wether you buy a prepaid sim card in Singapore, order a sim card online or get an e-sim card I am sure it will make your trip to Singapore much more convenient.
IF you have any more questions please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on social media.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of December 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Singapore!