Planning a trip to Mexico and flying to Mexico City airport and wondering if you can buy a sim card on arrival? Don’t waste money on expensive roaming charges and get yourself a local prepaid sim card at Mexico City Airport.
In this guide I will tell you everything you need to know with up to date information where tourists can buy a sim card for Mexico at the Mexico City Airport, with up to date prices as per January 2024, my recommendation, more info about the 4G/5G network coverage of the mobile internet providers, the best e-sim cards for Mexico in 2024 and even info about international sim cards.
Buying a local prepaid sim card for Mexico on arrival at Benito Juarez International Airport is pretty easy and quick and it makes traveling to Mexico so much more convenient. But it takes some time and effort to get one, register the sim card and add a data package.
Therefore Traveltomtom also highlights e-sim cards in this blog because it is an even much faster and easier way tog et connected when traveling to Mexico in 2024. For a detailed guide with all ins and outs about using e-sim cards when traveling to Mexico check out my comparison of the best e-sim cards for the
Having a working data connection on your phone makes traveling to Mexico so much easier: use Google Maps to find places and get directions, translate Spanish to English, stay up to date, order a taxi through an app, for safety reasons, emergencies, etc. There are so many reasons to stay connected when visiting Mexico.
From my research for the best Mexico tourist sim card in 2024 I found out that prices for sim cards at Mexico City Airport are pretty much the same as anywhere else in the city.
In recent years I have spent more than 8 months in Mexico divided over 3 different trips. Mexico is more than just Cancun or Cabo San Lucas. The country has so much to offer. Check out my list of 20 Amazing Places to Visit in Mexico and I promise you it fuel you with wanderlust.
Rent a car and go off the beaten path and see the real Mexico. You won't regret it! I drove more than 4,000 kilometer through the country and visited almost 20 different Mexican States.
If you have missed the opportunity to buy a prepaid sim card at Mexico City airport and still looking for the best way to get connected then check out my complete guide for buying a sim card for Mexico in 2024.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Telcel prepaid sim card for Mexico. There is a Telcel phone shop at Mexico Cuity Airport at Puerta 5 on the second floor and you can also buy a Telcel sim card deal at the 7-Eleven at Puerta 8.
Telcel is the best mobile internet provider in Mexico and they have by far the best 4G/5G network. Prepaid sim cards for tourists are not expensive, but the Telcel shop is for example not always open.
If you buy a sim card at the 7-Eleven you have to register it first and then buy credit to add data. Sounds all a bit complicated may be and therefore it is recommended to look into e-sim cards for Mexico.
A Nomad e-sim card for $29 USD gets you 10 GB data and there are many more options available. Check out my comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to Mexico in 2024 and arrive prepared.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible you can order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling in Mexico on the internet. Check out my list of the best international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024. These physical prepaid sim cards will be deliverd to your home address.
Traveling onwards to Central America then check out my sim card guides for Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama or may be you travel the other way towards USA, New York, Miami or Canada.
Best e-sim cards for Mexico
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Mexico is an e-sim card. You arrange everything directly online and within just a couple clicks you are connected without swapping a physical sim card or visiting a sim card shop.
You order an e-sim card for Mexico on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Mexico e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival at Mexico City Airport it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Mexico. For much more detailed information about using e-sim cards and an answer to all your FAQ's check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for Mexico in 2024.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim card provider and Traveltomtom has used them in more than 50 countries around the world. Check out the Airalo e-sim card plans for Mexico in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $8 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $15 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $32.50 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.50 USD
Click here for more info or to directly order an e-sim card for Mexico via Airalo.
The above Chorro Fon e-sim cards are data-only and valid only in Mexico. They operate on the 4G/LTE network of Movistar, Telcel and AT&T.
Simoptions
SimOptions is another trusted e-sim card provider and they have international e-sim cards that are valid in up to 141 countries including Mexico:
- 6 GB data for 15 days = $39.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $39.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international e-sim card for your trip to Mexico via SimOptions.
Nomad
Last but not least Nomad and they have some great Mexico e-sim card deals as well.
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $29 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Mexico from Nomad.
For much more detailed info check out my complete guide with a comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to Mexico in 2024.
You can also still buy a physical sim card for Mexico. For example: 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD. Click here to order this physical prepaid sim card for Mexico.
International Airport Benito Juarez
The Mexico City Airport (MEX) is very easy to navigate. There is basically one very long hall for both the International and Domestic Arrivals divided in Puerta (Doors) from 1 to 10.
Whenever you walk out of arrivals you will see the numbered doors straight away. In and between the doors you will find loads of shops, restaurants, banks and ATM’s, car rental companies and money exchange boots.
Mobile internet providers in Mexico
There are 3 main mobile internet operators. Telcel is the biggest mobile internet operator in Mexico, followed by Movistar and AT&T.
At Mexico City Airport there is an official Telcel store, there is no AT&T or Movistar store. When buying a Mexico sim card, Telcel is you best option! Why? Read my full article on best Mexico tourist sim card in 2024.
Where to buy a sim card at Mexico City Airport
There are a couple different shops selling prepaid Mexico sim cards for tourists:
- Puerta 3 - MOBO shop - only AT&T prepaid sim card
- Puerta 5 - MOBO shop - only AT&T prepaid sim card
- Puerta 5 - 2nd floor - Official TelCel store - only open from 9.00 am - 7.00 pm
- Puerta 6 - OXXO - only Telcel sim cards
- Puerta 7 - MOBO shop - only AT&T sim cards
- Puerta 7 - OXXO - only Telcel sim cards
- Puerta 8 - 7Eleven - only Telcel sim cards
Prices Mexico sim card for tourists
All the below prices and info are updated in January 2024 and prices are in Mexican Pesos: $1 USD = $17.1 MXN and $100 MXN = $5.85 USD.
At Mexico City Airport you can only buy an AT&T or a Telcel prepaid sim card. The prices for the AT&T sim cards are fixed. You get them at all the MOBO shops.
You can only get a physical prepaid sim card, there are no e-sims for tourists available.
AT&T prepaid sim card for tourists
See the picture above for the up to date prices.
All prepaid AT&T Mexico sim cards come with unlimited texting and calling to and from Mexico and the USA as well as free social media like: Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp.
The best buy for AT&T at Mexico City Airport is:
- 200 pesos ($12) = 3 GB data - unlimited social media apps and sms + calling - 30 days.
Telcel prepaid sim card for tourists
The same counts for Telcel Mexico prepaid sim cards: unlimited texting, calling + social media apps.
Prices for the prepaid Telcel sim cards at Mexico City Ariport are roughly the same at OXXO and 7ELEVEN however OXXO charges 150 pesos ($9) extra to activate it for you. NOT NEEDED, you can easily do it yourself!
OXXO Mexico Airport Telcel prepaid sim card
If you are looking for a specific Mexico sim card package then head to the OXXO convenient stores as they offer a whole selection, see the picture above.
Remember that Oxxo charges you 150 pesos ($9) extra just for setting up your sim card. But you can opt out of that and do it yourself.
7-Eleven Mexico Airport Telcel prepaid sim card
At the 7-Eleven at the Puerta 8 they offer the following TELCEL prepaid sim card:
- 200 pesos ($12) = 3.2 GB data - unlimited social media apps and sms + calling - 30 days.
Best sim card at Mexico City Airport
Telcel has by far the best network coverage, so that would be my number 1 choice when buying a sim card at Mexico City Airport.
For the best Mexico prepaid sim card for tourists at Mexico City Airport go to the 7Eleven shop at Puerta 8. For 200 Pesos ($12 USD) you are connected within a couple minutes.
After you bought the sim card you simply put it in your phone. Switch off your phone and restart it. Your new sim card is activated and will work immediately without changing any settings. Then you add credit to it and activate your data package. If you are lucky the guys staff isn't that busy and they will help you setting it up.
But as mentioned before you can avoid all this hassle by ordering an e-sim card on the internet and arrive prepared in Mexico City. With an e-sim card you are online as soon as the plane lands. Check out my complete guide for buying an e-sim card for Mexico in 2024.
Order a prepaid sim card for Mexico online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible and you would like to order a sim card for Mexico on the internet then look into the following.
Arrive prepared in Mexico City with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Mexico City, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions offers the following international prepaid sim card for Mexico:
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order this international prepaid sim card for Mexico via SimOptions.
How to get from Mexico City Airport to the city
Luckily Mexico City is blessed with Uber and some other taxi apps. Anywhere around the city your Uber fare from Mexico City Airport to your hotel should not be more than $12 USD
You can also take the metro, but I would not recommend that as an Uber is very affordable and they are always around 24/7.
Worried that you won’t have an internet connection upon arrival in Mexico City Airport? Don’t worry there is accessible free internet at Mexico City Airport that actually works pretty good. Definitely good enough to order an Uber.
But hey you won’t need this of course! As this whole blog is to help you buying a Mexico sim card straight on arrival! :)
Mexico sim cards and traveling around Mexico
As I have done multiple trips in more than 25 of the 32 states in Mexico I can tell you there is a lot of difference between the Mexico mobile internet operators. Don’t get fooled by more value for money. When traveling to off the beaten path tourist attractions in Mexico, good network coverage is all that matters.
Check out my complete guide for the best prepaid tourist sim cards for Mexico in 2024 then you understand why Traveltomtom recommends a Telcel sim card for traveling in Mexico.
Can I use my USA sim card in Mexico?
Yes you can! For Americans there is no need to buy a Mexico sim card for tourists as US sim cards can be used in Mexico without any extra charges!
BUT…
From my experiences traveling with Americans in Mexico, it is so SLOW it would creep the shit out of me. Often there is no network coverage and on top of that the data speed is limited to 3G on overseas data plans. Therefore also my advice to Americans traveling to Mexico, just buy a sim card at Mexico Airport, it will save you a lot irritation.
Want to be fuelled with wanderlust then go hop over to my Instagram profile @traveltomtom and find me traveling around the world trying to visit every country in the world. As of January 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries.
Enjoy your trip to Mexico!
Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Mexico City Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you.