Which Unlimited SIM Card for Mexico? (Holafly promo code)

Two very different UK travellers come to Mexico. There’s the Yucatán beach trip, Cancún, Tulum, Playa, and there’s the bigger North America run that pairs Mexico with the USA and Canada. And in 2026 there’s a third reason a lot of you are looking: the World Cup, co-hosted across Mexico, the USA and Canada in June and July. Mexico is outside the EU, so your UK roaming won’t save you, and if you’re hopping between three host countries, the wrong setup can cost you a small fortune. Let’s get it right.

Why you need data in Mexico (and how much)

Maps, translation, booking colectivos and tours, calling a verified ride, all the usual. For most travellers 8-10 GB covers two weeks comfortably; go unlimited if you tether or stream.

Three ways to connect: roam on your UK plan (expensive), buy a local Mexican SIM (cheap, great coverage), or use an eSIM. And there’s a fourth angle unique to Mexico, the North America combo, which we’ll get to. Here’s the honest rundown.

Solution 1: roaming in Mexico on your UK plan (the expensive option)

Mexico is a rest-of-world zone, so your “Europe” allowance doesn’t apply:

• EE: “Roam Further” pass around £5.91/day (covers USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, NZ).
• O2: O2 Travel about £7/day, unlimited minutes/texts/data in 75 destinations including Mexico, the USA and Canada.
• Three: Go Roam Global around £5-7/day depending on the zone.
• Vodafone: roughly £8/day (£6 on older contracts).

Over two weeks that’s £80-110 just to stay connected, and a local SIM or eSIM cuts that by three to five times. But note EE’s Roam Further and O2 Travel both span North America, which matters if you’re crossing borders (more below).

Telcel, AT&T México, Movistar: the local operators (and OXXO)

Three networks, and for coverage it’s really a one-horse race outside the cities.

Telcel is the dominant network and the only one you can rely on in remote regions, essential if you’re heading to Chiapas, Oaxaca’s backcountry or Baja. Its “Amigo Sin Límite” prepaid top-ups: 200 pesos (~£8) for ~3 GB/30 days, 500 pesos (~£20) for ~8-10 GB/30 days with unlimited social.

AT&T México is strong in cities and tourist areas (CDMX, Cancún, Guadalajara) and, crucially, ties into that North America combo.

Movistar is the cheapest, fine in cities, thinner in the countryside.

A key local tip: you buy and top up at OXXO convenience stores, they’re on every corner, far cheaper than the airport, and they take cash. Bring your passport for registration (required since 2021).

Pros and cons of SIM cards for Mexico

How much does a Mexican SIM cost in June 2026

Ballpark figures.

A Telcel SIM is around 50 pesos (~£3); the data is in the top-up: 200 pesos (~£8) for ~3 GB, 500 pesos (~£20) for ~8-10 GB a month with unlimited social. Cheap and brilliantly covered, but you’ll need your passport and ideally an OXXO rather than the airport.

Here’s an up-to-date snapshot of the local SIM options in Mexico:

Roam, buy local, or get an eSIM?

Three approaches by traveller type. The honest call.

Holafly Mexico: who it’s really for

For a long overland trip deep into Mexico, a Telcel SIM topped up at OXXO is unbeatable on coverage and price. But an eSIM is the right call when:

• you’re on a Yucatán beach trip and want to skip the Cancún airport rip-off
• you’re crossing the USA, Mexico and Canada (World Cup or road trip) and want one plan
• you want to land already online with no passport registration
• you value a fixed price and zero admin

Network coverage in Mexico: where it’s strong, where it struggles

The Yucatán is easy; the backcountry is Telcel-or-nothing.

World Cup 2026 and the North America road trip: one connection for three countries

The 2026 World Cup is spread across Mexico, the USA and Canada, and plenty of UK fans will be hopping between host cities. Here’s the connectivity trap: roaming across three countries on your UK plan can run to £200-400 over a few weeks, and buying a separate SIM in each country is a faff at every border.

The fix is a single North America plan. A regional eSIM covering US + Mexico + Canada (around £33 for 10 GB) keeps you online across all three on one setup, no swapping, no border admin. If you’d rather go local, Telcel’s Amigo Sin Límite and a US AT&T plan both reach across the three host nations too. Whatever you pick, sort it before you fly so your first match-day morning isn’t spent hunting for a SIM shop.

Further reading: our other SIM card guides by destination

If Mexico is one leg of a bigger trip, here are our other honest, field-tested guides.

Our honest take

In a sentence: for a Yucatán beach trip or a short stay, get the Holafly eSIM with code LAPLANETEDECARO (-5% off) and skip the Cancún airport rip-off entirely. For a long overland trip off the tourist trail, a Telcel SIM topped up at OXXO gives you the cheapest data and the only coverage that holds in Chiapas and Baja. And if you’re crossing the USA, Mexico and Canada (World Cup or road trip), use a North America plan so one connection covers all three.

Whatever you choose, download offline maps before the backcountry, and never buy your SIM at Cancún airport.

Got a Mexico connectivity question we didn’t cover? Drop it in the comments. ¡Buen viaje! (and the tacos al pastor are worth pausing the group chat for).

PS: the Cancún airport SIM counter is the great Mexican tourist trap, $50 for what’s a tenner at the OXXO down the road. Set up an eSIM at home, or walk past the counter and top up in town. Your wallet will thank you before you’ve even left the terminal.