SIM Cards & Internet in Mexico: Telcel vs AT&T vs eSIM
Getting connected in Mexico is cheap and easy: a prepaid SIM costs almost nothing, top-ups happen at any OXXO, and home fiber is fast. Here's how to pick.
Prepaid SIM: Telcel vs AT&T Mexico
Telcel (América Móvil) has the best nationwide coverage — the default choice if you travel outside big cities. Its prepaid system is Amigo Sin Límite: top up MXN 50–500 and get unlimited calls/SMS (Mexico/US/Canada) plus a data bundle with WhatsApp included. Representative 2026 packages: MXN 100 ≈ 1.5 GB / 15 days; MXN 200 ≈ 3.5 GB / 30 days; MXN 500 ≈ 8 GB / 60 days. Buy the SIM at any OXXO, Telcel store, or airport kiosk.
AT&T Mexico (formerly Iusacell/Nextel) has simpler 30-day bundles and is popular in cities: roughly MXN 200 for 4 GB / 30 days. Coverage is weaker in rural areas but fine in CDMX, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
Where to buy: OXXO convenience stores sell SIMs and top-ups (recargas) everywhere — just ask "¿Tienen chips Telcel?" Top-ups also work via the Mi Telcel / Mi AT&T apps with a foreign card.
eSIM: Airalo and Telcel eSIM
If your phone supports eSIM, you can land connected:
- Airalo sells Mexico eSIM data packs (e.g. a few GB for ~US$5–15) — great for the first days.
- Telcel also offers eSIM with Amigo Sin Límite packages, activatable via the Saily/Telcel flow or in-store.
eSIM is ideal for keeping your home number active on the physical SIM while using Mexican data on the eSIM.
Home internet: Totalplay vs Telmex
- Totalplay — fiber, widely considered the fastest and most reliable in CDMX; popular with remote workers. Plans start around MXN 500–700/month for 100–200 Mbps.
- Telmex (Infinitum) — the incumbent; decent fiber in many areas, sometimes slower customer service. Similar price bands.
- Izzi — cable, a third option in some neighborhoods.
Ask your landlord which provider is wired in the building before signing — fiber availability varies by colonia.
Practical tips
- WhatsApp is life in Mexico — landlords, delivery drivers, and banks all use it. Your Mexican number becomes your identity.
- Keep your foreign number on eSIM or a cheap plan for 2FA codes from home-country banks.
- Public Wi-Fi is common in cafés (Roma/Condesa especially), but use a VPN on open networks.
- Number portability exists in Mexico: if you later switch from Telcel to AT&T (or reverse), you keep your number — the new carrier handles the port in ~24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need ID to buy a SIM?
Prepaid SIMs at OXXO are sold with no ID hassle in practice. Postpaid plans require residency documents.
Can I top up with a foreign credit card?
Yes — the Mi Telcel and Mi AT&T apps accept foreign cards, and many expats top up that way monthly.
Which is better for rural travel?
Telcel, by a wide margin. AT&T is a city carrier in Mexico.
Sources
- Telcel, Amigo Sin Límite packages: https://www.telcel.com/personas/amigo/tarifas-y-opciones/amigo-sin-limite
- Roafly, Tarjeta SIM de México para turistas (2026): https://www.roafly.com/es/blog/mexico-sim-card-for-tourists
- Saily, Telcel eSIM in Mexico: https://saily.com/blog/telcel-esim/