Are you traveling to New York and looking for the best sim card for your trip to the USA? Avoid high roaming charges and slow overseas data plans.
This is the ultimate guide with everything you need to know before buying a sim card at New York JFK Airport in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, my recommendation, a vlog about my arrival and experiences, info about international and eSIMs and more.
In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card in New York, nowadays I always use eSIMs to stay connected.
Check my comparison of the best eSIMs for the USA in 2025.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for the USA
- Arriving at JFK Airport New York
- Where to buy a USA sim card at New York JFK Airport
- Prices prepaid sim cards JFK Airport
- Best prepaid sim card at New York JFK Airport in 2025
- Best eSIMs for USA
- Order a prepaid sim card for the USA online
- My experiences buying a sim card at New York JFK Airport
- Vlog about buying a sim card at JFK Airport
- How to get from JFK Airport to New York City Center
Some links in this article about how to buy a sim card at JFK Airport in New York are affiliate links, which means I earn a small percentage in case you decide to purchase something after clicking on an affiliate link. This is at absolutely no extra costs to you!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a sim card at New York JFK Airport.
You can get a prepaid sim card from a vending machine only and you pay $29 USD for 1 GB data. Trust me... do NOT buy a tourist sim card at JFK Airport in New York!
If your phone is eSIM compatible simply order an eSIM for the USA. You can get a Jetpac eSIM for the USA with 50 GB for just $25 USD.
Check out my guide with a list of the best eSIMs for traveling to the USA in 2025.
If you want to buy a prepaid sim card in New York then wait till you get to the city center and walk into a phone store from Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T. Also not cheap, but much better prices than New York Airport. For more info check my guide on how to buy a tourist sim card in USA in 2025.
Also much recommended is an international sim card for traveling abroad in 2025. In the link you can find my comparison of the best travel sim cards out there. For $24.90 USD you can get a sim card valid in 56 countries with 10 GB data.
Why buying a sim card for the USA
While there is WiFi everywhere you don't really need a sim card is what a lot of people say. Yes, in an ideal world, but don't rely on WiFi in the USA. Although most restaurants, bars and hotels have free WiFi, it is no guarantee.
Having a working data connection on your phone also makes traveling to the USA so much more convenient and safer! What about emergency situation when on the road, getting directions from Google Maps, checking your online banking apps, finding nearby restaurants or order a taxi through an app? Trust me you will like being connected when traveling to the USA.
The first thing I do when arriving in a new country is buying a local prepaid sim card or an eSIM to stay connected.
Therefore on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 prepaid sim card guides: Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Toronto, Panama City, Costa Rica, Bogota, Colombia, Brazil, Thailand, Bangkok, Vietnam, Malaysia, Dubai, London, Paris, Rome, Portugal, Greece, Europe and many more.
I also wrote sim card guides for the airports of San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Newark.
So next time when planning your next adventure abroad visit Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money.
Arriving at JFK Airport New York
Although New York is most probably the most famous city in the world, its airport(s) are very much outdated. Don't expect a fancy arriving hall or anything like that. The arrival halls at JFK Airport are pretty small and regardless which international terminal you arrive it doesn't include many facilities. Unfortunately that also counts for buying a prepaid sim card at New York JFK Airport.
At least there is good, fast and reliable free public WiFi on JFK Airport for arriving and departing passengers.
Where to buy a USA sim card at New York JFK Airport
Just like many other international airports in the USA buying a prepaid sim card is a pain. There used to be 2 little kiosks but they have been abandoned now for the last couple years. Which narrows it all down to sim card vending machines. There are 4 sim card vending machines at New York JFK Airport and they are easy to find when you walk into the arrival hall.
Buying a sim card from a vending machine means you will have to do everything yourself. The activation and the registration. There is NO service included or anyone around helping you. The sim cards work based on plug and play.
The sim card vending machines accept international credit cards as well as USD notes.
Prices prepaid sim cards JFK Airport
The sim card vending machines contain 4 different prepaid sim cards with data for the USA. These sim cards are NOT from one of the main internet providers in the USA: T-Mobile or AT&T, but are international sim cards.
Travel Sim
This sim card costs $20 USD and comes with $10 USD credit, no data or calling/texting is included. You can use the credit to buy a data bundle on the Travel Sim website. The cheapest data bundle costs $19 USD which you will be able to add to your account after signing up on the Travel Sim website. You will have to follow the instructions displayed after buying the package from the vending machine.
Unlimited Data* Talk & Text
Don't be fooled by the name ‘Unlimited Data'! Unlimited data in this case means browsing on E-network (2G) after you used your data bundle allowance. Barely enough for sending emails and using WhatsApp. USELESS basically!
They offer 3 different sim cards that all include unlimited calling & texting within the USA:
- 4 GB data = $60 USD
- 6 GB data = $80 USD
- Unlimited data on 4G speed = $100 USD
All the above packages are valid for 30 days and rechargeable after.
Best prepaid sim card at New York JFK Airport in 2025
If you really want to get connected straight after you land then simply get an eSIM and you are online as soon as the plane lands. An Airalo eSIM for the USA with 10 GB + 200 minutes is only $34.90 USD or a Jetpac eSIM for the United States with 10 GB data-only for $13 USD.
Check out my guide for buying a USA eSIM in 2025 with much more info.
It is just not worth buying a sim card at JFK Airport in New York.
The best tourist sim card deal is $29 USD and you only get 1 GB data! On top of that you buy it through a sim card vending machine and you have to activate the package yourself and register on their website! Please... just do NOT!
If you wait till New York city center it gets much easier when you walk into a Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T phone stores or buy a sim card from a kiosk at one of the bigger train stations in New York.
For more info check out my guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card in the USA.
After researching sim cards at more than 150 airports around the world it still surprises me that in the USA there are barely any shops with tourist sim cards. Not only in New York JFK Airport, but neither in San Fransisco, Newark, Miami and Los Angeles.
Best eSIMs for USA
Traveltomtom strongly recommends eSIMs to stay connected when traveling to the the USA. The easiest way to get data on your phone when traveling to New York is by ordering an eSIM for the USA on the internet.
No need to buy a sim card at New York JFK Airport, with an eSIM you are online as soon as the plane lands.
Order an eSIM for New York directly on the internet, you process the payment, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the instructions and instal the eSIM in a couple simple steps. You are all set in less than 2 minutes.
For much more detailed info check out Traveltomtom's guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for the USA.
Here are some of my USA eSIM recommendations.
Jetpac
After extensively testing Jetpac the Traveltomtom Team came to the conclusion that Jetpac is more than just an eSIM solution. Check out our honest review about Jetpac eSIMs.
Jetpac also offers a free VPN subscription and much more services. But the main reasons why Jetpac is listed as one of the best eSIMs for USA are their competitive prices.
Check out the Jetpac eSIM plans for USA in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD
- 50 GB data for 10 days = $25 USD
Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for the United States.
Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the promo code: TOMTOM10 at check out!
The Jetpac USA eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. Data is valid in USA only and the Jetpac eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of T-Mobile USA. 5G is supported.
Airalo
Airalo is another recommended eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo eSIMs uncountable times all around the world. Airalo has now data-only eSIMs as well as eSIMs for the USA including data/calls/text.
Check out the following Airalo data-only eSIM plans for the USA:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $42 USD
And here are the Airalo data/text/calls eSIMs plans for the USA:
- 1 GB data + 20 minutes + 10 sms for 7 days= $7 USD
- 2 GB data + 40 minutes + 20 sms for 15 days= $12.5 USD
- 3 GB data + 60 minutes + 30 sms for 30 days= $16 USD
- 5 GB data + 100 minutes + 50 sms for 30 days= $22.5 USD
- 10 GB data + 200 minutes + 100 sms for 30 days= $34.5 USD
- 20 GB data + 400 minutes + 200 sms for 30 days= $49 USD
Click here to order a USA eSIM directly via Airalo or find more info.
The Airalo eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of Verizon and T-Mobile and are 5G ready.
Before ordering an eSIM for the USA make sure your phone is first of all unlocked. eSIMs only work in unlocked phones. Second, make sure your phone is eSIM compatible. Pretty much all newer smartphones are eSIM compatible.
For a complete guide about using eSIMs when traveling to the USA and a comparison of the best eSIMs for USA in 2025 click on the link and read all my tips, including more eSIM offers from Roamless, SimOptions, Sim Local, Nomad, Holafly, etc.
Order a prepaid sim card for the USA online
eSIMs are amazing, convenient and easy but not every phone is eSIM compatible. Those who do not have an eSIM compatible phone and are looking to buy a physical prepaid sim card for the USA online should check out the following international sim cards for the USA from SimOptions.
These sim cards will be shipped to your home address before your trip and are pre-activated. It is plug and play:
- 10 GB data valid in 56 countries for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data valid in 124 countries for 30 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international physical prepaid sim card for the USA via SimOptions.
As you can see buying a sim card for the USA is even cheaper on the internet than buying a sim card at JFK Airport in New York on arrival. Plus you save the hassle of going to a mobile phone shop when arriving in the USA and getting everything sorted.
However, by now you know that Traveltomtom recommends eSIMs for traveling to the USA.
My experiences buying a sim card at New York JFK Airport
As you can understand I did NOT buy a sim card from one of the vending machines at New York JFK Airport. I am still really surprised how the worlds most famous country does NOT cater for USA tourist sim cards on arrival at their international airports.
As of January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world and almost everywhere you can find sim card shops in the arrival hall. Well, with the rise of eSIMs I am not sure this will ever change in the USA.
If you prefer to buy a physical sim card then go to one of the T-Mobile or AT&T stores in New York City center and get your USA sim card there. You will get much more value for money, but prices are much higher than ordering an eSIM for the USA online.
Vlog about buying a sim card at JFK Airport
See above my vlog with all my experiences including tips on where to go exactly on arrival and how to buy a sim card at JFK Airport in New York.
How to get from JFK Airport to New York City Center
Taking an Uber is a good and safe option and you can use the free public WiFi at JFK Airport for ordering one. That said when checking the price to lower Manhattan I was quoted $77 USD and found out that a yellow taxi which you can order on the left side of the arrival hall has flat fares and turned out to be a little cheaper even after tax and the 'mandatory' tip.
The yellow cabs also accept credit card payments. Uber cars are much more convenient though and next time I will definitely take an Uber from JFK Airport to New York City Center.
I hope all the above information about buying a USA prepaid sim card at New York JFK Airport was helpful. If you have any additional questions then please leave me a comment below and I will try to help you out.
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 January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to New York City!