Telcel has by far the best coverage, and you can buy the SIM in any OXXO with no passport and no paperwork. 200 MXN gets 3 GB plus unlimited WhatsApp for 30 days; airport kiosks charge 200 to 400 MXN more for the same thing.
- Buy Telcel - it has the widest 4G and 5G footprint across cities, rural areas and highway corridors, and is the only sensible choice outside the resorts.
- Buy it at an OXXO, not the airport. Convenience stores sell prepaid chips for 50 to 100 MXN with no passport and no identity check; airport kiosks charge 200 to 400 MXN over retail.
- 200 MXN buys 3 GB for 30 days, and 500 MXN buys 10 GB.
- Every package includes unlimited WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and X outside your data allowance, so the 200 MXN option goes much further than 3 GB suggests.
- Official carrier stores are the one place paperwork appears - they require an original passport to activate a line.
Buy Telcel, and buy it at an OXXO rather than the airport.
- Telcel is the market leader with the widest 4G and 5G footprint - cities, rural areas and highway corridors. If you are leaving the resorts, this is the only sensible choice.
- AT&T Mexico is a strong second in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Cancun, weaker on secondary highways.
- Movistar is cheaper, fine in cities, limited outside them.
Where to buy, and why it matters
- OXXO, 7-Eleven and Circle K sell prepaid chips for 50 to 100 MXN with no passport and no identity check. There is an OXXO on practically every corner. This is the easy path.
- Airport kiosks at MEX, CUN and GDL charge 200 to 400 MXN over retail for the same product.
- Official carrier stores (Centro de Atencion a Clientes Telcel) do require an original passport or photo ID to activate a line, which is the one place the paperwork appears.
Telcel prepaid packages (Paquete Amigo Sin Limite)
| Top-up | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 100 MXN | 1.3 GB | 15 days |
| 200 MXN | 3 GB | 30 days |
| 300 MXN | 4.5 GB | 30 days |
| 500 MXN | 10 GB | 30 days |
All of them include unlimited WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and X, which do not consume your data allowance, plus unlimited calls and SMS within Mexico, the US and Canada. In practice the 200 MXN package goes much further than 3 GB suggests, because messaging is free.
eSIM
- Telcel sells a tourist eSIM online and AT&T Mexico supports eSIM in stores and online.
- An international eSIM: Saily rides on the big local networks at USD 4.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, USD 16.99 for 5 GB over 30 days or USD 24.99 for 10 GB over 30 days. Its daily-cap plans start at USD 18.99 for 5 days.
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