Traveling to New York soon and looking for the best way to stay connected in the USA? This is your complete guide for buying a sim card at Newark International Airport in New Jersey with up to date prices as per December 2023, where to buy a sim card, my recommendation and even info about international and e-sim cards for the USA.
Don’t get stuck with high roaming charges on your trip to New York City. A local prepaid sim card for the USA is the cheapest way to avoid this. But staying connected has many more advantages, like ordering an Uber on the streets of New York, finding nearby coffee places, restaurants, bars. Getting directions from Google Maps, use data to find the metro back to your hotel, emergencies, bank transactions, etc.
There are many reasons to stay connected when traveling abroad. Buying a USA sim card at Newark Airport is easy and done fast, but is it worth it! Let me help you…
Buying a local prepaid sim card is the first thing I do when traveling to a new country and as Traveltomtom is on a journey to visit every country in the world you can find almost 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: Paris, Rome, Dublin, Madrid, Toronto, Johannesburg, Panama City, Nairobi, Istanbul, Cairo, Jeddah, Dubai and many more.
Of course you can also find an extensive article with everything you need to know when buying a sim card for the USA in 2023 or if you just want e-sims then check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best e-sim cards for the USA in 2023.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a prepaid USA sim card at Newark Airport. Why not? Ridiculously overpriced! E-sim cards for the USA already start from just $4.5 USD for 1 GB data.
However, if you really want to get connected straight away the cheapest option is a ‘Travel SIM’ sim card from the sim card vending machine in the arrival hall.
When buying a prepaid sim card in New York City at any AT&T or T-Mobile store you will save at least $30 USD compared to tourist sim cards Newark Airport.
Traveltomtom also recommends international sim cards for the USA as they are cheaper than the sim cards sold at Newark Airport. Check out my article with a comparison of the best international travel sim cards for 2023 and find the one that suits your trip to New York.
Best e-sim cards for the USA
No more visiting a phone shop and no more swapping physical sim cards! Get an e-sim card for your trip to New York, right here, right now. You order an e-sim online, receive a QR code in your email, follow the instructions, change some settings and you are all done.
E-sim cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to New York in 2023 and Traveltomtom wrote a complete e-sim card guide for the USA including answers to all FAQ's.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim card provider for the USA. Check out their e-sim card deals 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
Click here to order a USA e-sim card directly online via SimOptions.
The above Change e-sim cards are valid only in the USA and they operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of Verizon and T-Mobile. Yes, this e-sim card for the USA supports 5G.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another e-sim card provider and they also sell international e-sim cards valid in multiple countries including the USA.
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.9 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $34.9 USD
They also have USA-only e-sim cards:
- 1 GB data for 30 days = $4.9 USD
- 6 GB data for 10 days = $17.9 USD
- 10 GB data for 15 days = $19.9 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for the USA via SimOptions.
Nomad
Then there is also Nomad and they actually have the best value USA e-sim card deal with a plan as low as $1.6 USD per Gigabyte:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for USA from Nomad.
For more information and tips and tricks for buying an e-sim card for the USA check out my recent article about the best e-sim cards for traveling to the USA in 2023.
EWR - Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark International Airport is a great hub for visiting New York City. When landing in New Jersey you can already see the magnificent skyline of Manhattan and New York City. Times Square is only a 20 minute taxi ride aways from Newark Liberty International (EWR) Airport.
All international flights arrive at Terminal B and there is only one exit door. Navigating Newark Airport Terminal B is very easy. There is free WiFi at Newark Airport for all passengers arriving and departing.
Where to buy a sim card at Newark Airport
It is very simple, as soon as you enter the door into the arrival hall and walk down the hallway, you will see a Sims on the GO shop on your right hand side, it is impossible to miss. There is only 1 shop and nothing else in the wide open hallway.
Another option for buying a sim card at Newark Airport is a sim card vending machine. You can find this sim card machine if you turn right under the big flag of the Unites States of America. Then it is just 30 meters straight in front of you next to the toilets.
To make it even easier, you can watch my vlog about buying a sim card at Newark Airport.
Prices prepaid USA sim cards at Newark Airport
Don’ expect to find the best USA prepaid sim card deals at Newark Airport. In fact that doesn’t only count for Newark Airport but basically for all airports around the United States.
Sims on the Go
Buying a prepaid sim card at Newark Airport costs $25 USD + tax in the Sims on the Go shop. This is just for the sim card and there is no credit included. Then on top you can buy one of the additional prepaid sim card data packages as shown in the picture above. All plans have unlimited calling and texting within the USA included.
T-Mobile prepaid sim cards
- 2 GB data = $35 USD
- 4 GB data = $45 USD
- 6 GB data = $55 USD
- 10 GB data = $60 USD
- Unlimited data = $75 USD
AT&T prepaid sim cards
- 1 GB data = $35 USD
- 15 GB data = $50 USD
- Unlimited data = $65 USD
As I mentioned before a prepaid sim card for the USA is expensive at Newark International Airport!
Sim card vending machine
When buying a USA sim card at the vending machine, you will have to activate the sim card yourself, there is no additional service. Meaning it is only adviced for those who know what they are doing.
You can find the following USA prepaid sim card deals at the vending machine:
- Travel SIM = $20 USD and comes with $10 credit
You will have to go online to the Travel SIM website and activate a data packages and/or a package for calling/texting. Starting price: 1 GB data = $19 USD. Reminder that an e-sim card for the USA costs just $4.5 USD for 1 GB data.
- Unlimited Data* Talk & Text
Don’t get fooled by the name, the unlimited data just means that if you use your bundle, you will get unlimited data at E network speed. Meaning barely enough to even use WhatsApp or receiving emails.
There are 3 different packages available: for $60 you get 2 GB data, for $80 you get 5 GB data and for $100 you get unlimited 4G speed data.
Best prepaid USA sim card at Newark Airport in 2023
Well, someone has to win this award, although all tourist sim cards for the USA at Newark airport are pretty overpriced. Based on the prices it is very clear that Travel SIM is the cheapest prepaid sim card at Newark International Airport in 2023. For $29 you get 1 GB data.
However, you will have to do the registration yourself and go online to their website to sign up, create a profile, add extra credit with your credit card and then activate a data package. Calling & texting is extra!
I am sure this all sounds like way too much work and I totally agree! Therefore in the beginning of this article I already came with my conclusion that buying a sim card at Newark Airport is NOT recommended.
So what is the best way to stay connected when traveling to the USA in 2023? Click on the link to read everything about buying a sim card for the USA.
Personally I prefer to use e-sim cards for the USA as they give you the best value for money. Therefore I also wrote a complete guide for the best e-sim cards for traveling to the USA in 2023.
Order a prepaid sim card for USA online
There are also physical international prepaid sim cards for the USA and some of them are definitely worth mentioning in search for the best sim card for the USA.
These global travel sim cards are pre-activated and will be delivered to your home address before your trip to the USA. Especially for travelers with a phone that is not e-sim compatible this is a great solution.
SimOptions offers the following international sim card deals with coverage in the USA:
- 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 traveling in the USA via SimOptions.
Another reminder that you can also order an e-sim card for the USA directly online if your phone is e-sim compatible. You fix it all within a couple minutes and you keep your own phone number. Click on the link above to read my complete guide or order direct via Airalo, Nomad or SimOptions.
My experience buying a sim card at Newark International Airport
As you can guess already I did NOT buy a sim card for the USA at Newark Airport. From my own article about the best prepaid sim card for the USA in 2023 I knew the prices offered for USA sim cards in New York city center.
However, on arrival I actually used the free WiFi of Newark Airport to get myself an e-sim card for the USA. It only takes a couple minutes and you get 3 GB data for just $11 USD. There is good and fast free WiFi in most places in New York and I was only staying for 5 days anyway.
To me it is still shocking that the USA barely has sim card facilities in place for tourists. Buying prepaid sim cards at International Airports in the USA is a nightmare. In Los Angeles the cheapest sim card at the airport cost $82 USD for 15 GB data. Can you believe it? Similar are New York JFK and Miami.
I hope all the above tips for buying a USA tourist sim card at Newark International Airport were helpful for your upcoming trip to New York. If you have any questions regarding USA sim cards or traveling to New York City in general please leave me a comment below.
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 New York!