Buying a Mexican SIM Card

Hola, mis amigos.

I want to switch SIM cards in Mexico to avoid exorbitant roaming charges--and wondered the best place to buy one.

My iPhone is unlocked, but won't take an eSim card. I've switched out a SIM card before at the Paris airport, and it was fast and easy, so I bet I could do the same at the Mexico City airport TelCel shop on my way to Zihua. Is there any advantage to waiting until Zihua?

Has anyone done this? Would it be any cheaper in Zihua than it would be in Mexico City? Is TelCel the best bet?

Gracias in advance,

Bob

Hola, mis amigos.

I want to switch SIM cards in Mexico to avoid exorbitant roaming charges--and wondered the best place to buy one.

My iPhone is unlocked, but won't take an eSim card. I've switched out a SIM card before at the Paris airport, and it was fast and easy, so I bet I could do the same at the Mexico City airport TelCel shop on my way to Zihua. Is there any advantage to waiting until Zihua?

Has anyone done this? Would it be any cheaper in Zihua than it would be in Mexico City? Is TelCel the best bet?

Gracias in advance,

Bob

It is dirt cheap in Zihua. I don't know about the airport in Mexico City. I ask the attendant to install it and give them a nice tip. My fingers are way too big for those tiny things.

Telcel is ubiquitous in Mexico and has very inexpensive $50 peso weekly paquetes that work for me when I am there.

Even OXXO sells them, they might cost a dollar or two more at the airport, but they are already ridiculously cheap!

Thanks for the info! I guess you can also buy an Orange SIM card in advance in the States--from Amazon, for example--but it will cost more, about $40US for the typical tourist card.

I also found this fellow on the internet--and he's pretty good. This includes SIM cards and eSIM cards if anyone else is curious.

https://www.traveltomtom.net/destinations/north-america/mexico/best-mexico-sim-card

Bob

Thanks for the info! I guess you can also buy an Orange SIM card in advance in the States--from Amazon, for example--but it will cost more, about $40US for the typical tourist card.

You will pay a fraction of that amount at any Telcel store or Oxxo in Zihua. There is a Telcel store right on the main drag across from the Mercado Municipal.

Thanks, Padrino!

Depending upon where you are, a prepaid SIM card will cost you from 29 and 150 pesos. Then, just pay as you go. Every OXXO, grocery store and many other places will top your phone off for you. Check out the different plans and packages on line for TelCel.

Last year I bought a Telcel Amigo plan SIM at the Oxxo store at the airport in Mexico City. Popped it in and it worked immediately. I think that I paid C$15 for 5 GB. Dirt cheap.

Sorry to revive this thread, but it's such a shame that your iPhone won't take an eSIM card. I've been using only eSIMs for my travels for about a year and a half now.
I was just in Mexico recently and used this Mexico eSIM, which worked perfectly and was affordable. With a local SIM, you can easily get scammed, and as you mentioned, roaming is ridiculously expensive.

Or you could switch to T-mobile which with most plans allows 15 gig a month of high speed data for free, After 15 gig it throttles but still works.

Last year I bought a Telcel Amigo plan SIM at the Oxxo store at the airport in Mexico City. Popped it in and it worked immediately. I think that I paid C$15 for 5 GB. Dirt cheap.

Hola
I've been using Telcel Amigo for years. It is inexpensive. You can call anywhere in between Mexico, Canada and the USA for as long as you want for no extra fees. I have never run out of data but If you are a heavy data user you can add more for a nominal fee. The only drawback that I can see is if you are a heavy phone user and you are in Canada or the USA , return calls are charged long distance rates. You can get around that by not accepting the call, but call them back immediately. Makes you wonder how one of the richest men in the world, Carlos Sim can charge so little for a wonderful plan when all the Canadian and USA firms are charging a fortune especially for roaming fees.

We have always assumed that the TelCel fees are low because you have to listen to an ad. Think of all the advertising revenue.

We have always assumed that the TelCel fees are low because you have to listen to an ad. Think of all the advertising revenue.

Hola
I don't recall any ads. Maybe I just block them out.