If you are planning a trip to Thailand, you’ll need a local SIM card to stay connected during your trip and with your folks back home. Using international roaming on your Indian SIM card is definitely an option but it is not cost-effective.

Thailand Sim card for tourists

Whenever we travel abroad, we prefer to buy a local tourist SIM card for two reasons: it is a budget-friendly option and works brilliantly (there are chances your Indian SIM card may not work in a remote location in Thailand).

Thailand has several great options for a better 4G/5G coverage across the country, and their SIM card prices are much cheaper than your international roaming fees. If you are sure you won’t be using calls and texts on the local SIM, you can opt for data-only tourist SIM cards. Using these, you can maintain contact with others via various apps.

Also Read: Sanctuary of Truth: Your detailed guide of Pattaya’s iconic structure

Some popular SIM card options from Thailand mobile operators include dtac, AIS and TrueMove.

We have visited Thailand twice, and on both occasions, we opted for dtac Sim card. We can assure you that it worked great across islands and cities we visited, such as Krabi, Koh Lanta, Phuket, Phi Phi Island and Bangkok.

How to get SIM card in Thailand

You may buy the local SIM card in Thailand at the airport, in official stores of mobile network operators, or in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven.

Thailand SIM card price

Dtac tourist sim

We paid 399 Thai Bhat for eight days and got unlimited calls and internet data with dtac. We got this price at a 7-Eleven store in Krabi. However, on dtac’s official website, the price of the tourist sim for eight days is 449 TBH.

There are dtac stalls at various Thai airports too including Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Donmuang International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Samui International Airport and Chiang Mai International Airport.

We bought dtac’s local sim from 7-Eleven in Krabi © Journo Travellers

AIS tourist sim

You may also buy AIS. We have not used it, but we have read decent reviews about it. If your trip is for a week, you may opt for their eight-day plan worth 299 TBH (15GB internet and call credit of 50 TBH).

You can buy an AIS SIM card at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Muang International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Samui International Airport, AIS stores and FamilyMart stores.

Also Read: Budget-Friendly Places To Eat, Drink In Bangkok: 7 bars/cafes that won’t burn your pocket at the Thai capital

(These prices are as of July 2024)

These days, eSIMs are gaining popularity in Thailand. You can buy the eSIMs from online stores of Thailand mobile operators if you have an eSIM-compatible device.