TRAVEL TECH · ESIM PRICE INDEX · OCTOBER 2026
What a week of travel data costs in 34 countries (eSIM price index, October 2026)
Airalo prices for 34 popular destinations, read from Airalo's own country pages on October 22, 2026, next to the $12-a-day international pass from Verizon and AT&T. One table, dated, with the method spelled out.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy an eSIM through them, PracticalPivot may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are the same with or without the link. PracticalPivot is not affiliated with Airalo, Verizon or AT&T. Prepared with AI assistance; all prices were read by script from the providers' public pages on October 22, 2026.
The short answer: on October 22, 2026, a 5GB / 7-day eSIM cost a median of $11.00 across 34 countries, from $7.00 in Thailand to $25.50 in Costa Rica. Seven days of a US carrier's $12-a-day international pass costs about $84. Even a 7-day unlimited eSIM (median $27.00) cost less than that in all 34 countries.
See Airalo plans for your countryKey findings
- Cheapest weeks: Thailand ($7.00), Portugal ($7.50), Spain ($8.00) for 5GB / 7 days.
- Most expensive weeks: Costa Rica ($25.50), Dominican Republic ($24.00), Morocco ($20.00). These three cost roughly double the median.
- Western Europe is cheap: France, Germany, Italy and Ireland were all $10 for 5GB / 7 days; Spain $8 and Portugal $7.50.
- Canada and Mexico cost more than Europe ($14.00 and $12.00), but many US phone plans already include them. Check your plan before you buy anything.
- Unlimited costs about 2.5 times the 5GB plan for the same week. Most travelers who use maps, messaging and some photos stay under 5GB in a week.
The index: Airalo prices by country (checked October 22, 2026)
All prices are in US dollars, data only, for Airalo's single-country plans. "Saved vs carrier pass" compares the 5GB / 7-day plan with seven days at $12, which is what Verizon TravelPass and AT&T International Day Pass charge per day of use.
Asia
| Country | 5GB / 7 days | Unlimited / 7 days | 10GB / 30 days | Saved vs 7 days of a $12/day carrier pass | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $7.00 | $21.00 | $11.00 | $77.00 | our Thailand guide |
| Singapore | $9.00 | $27.00 | $16.00 | $75.00 | Airalo Singapore page |
| Japan | $10.00 | $26.50 | $18.00 | $74.00 | our Japan guide |
| South Korea | $10.00 | $29.00 | $19.00 | $74.00 | our South Korea guide |
| Vietnam | $10.00 | $27.00 | $18.00 | $74.00 | Airalo Vietnam page |
| Philippines | $11.00 | $27.00 | $19.00 | $73.00 | Airalo Philippines page |
| Hong Kong | $11.00 | $26.50 | $18.00 | $73.00 | Airalo Hong Kong page |
| Taiwan | $11.00 | $27.00 | $19.00 | $73.00 | Airalo Taiwan page |
| Indonesia | $12.00 | $27.00 | $21.00 | $72.00 | Airalo Indonesia page |
| India | $13.00 | $39.50 | $24.00 | $71.00 | Airalo India page |
Europe
| Country | 5GB / 7 days | Unlimited / 7 days | 10GB / 30 days | Saved vs 7 days of a $12/day carrier pass | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | $7.50 | $27.00 | $11.00 | $76.50 | Airalo Portugal page |
| Spain | $8.00 | $23.50 | $14.00 | $76.00 | our Spain guide |
| Netherlands | $9.00 | $27.00 | $18.00 | $75.00 | Airalo Netherlands page |
| Turkey | $9.00 | $24.50 | $15.50 | $75.00 | our Turkey guide |
| France | $10.00 | $23.50 | $17.00 | $74.00 | our France guide |
| Italy | $10.00 | $23.00 | $19.00 | $74.00 | our Italy guide |
| Germany | $10.00 | $24.00 | $16.00 | $74.00 | Airalo Germany page |
| Ireland | $10.00 | $27.00 | $17.00 | $74.00 | Airalo Ireland page |
| Greece | $11.00 | $27.00 | $20.00 | $73.00 | Airalo Greece page |
| Iceland | $11.00 | $26.50 | $19.50 | $73.00 | Airalo Iceland page |
| United Kingdom | $12.00 | $27.00 | $19.00 | $72.00 | our United Kingdom guide |
| Switzerland | $13.00 | $25.00 | $23.00 | $71.00 | Airalo Switzerland page |
Americas
| Country | 5GB / 7 days | Unlimited / 7 days | 10GB / 30 days | Saved vs 7 days of a $12/day carrier pass | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $12.00 | $23.50 | $18.50 | $72.00 | our Mexico guide |
| Brazil | $12.00 | $25.00 | $23.00 | $72.00 | Airalo Brazil page |
| Canada | $14.00 | $28.87 | $23.00 | $70.00 | our Canada guide |
| Colombia | $15.00 | $27.50 | $28.00 | $69.00 | Airalo Colombia page |
| Peru | $15.50 | $27.00 | $26.00 | $68.50 | Airalo Peru page |
| Dominican Republic | $24.00 | $37.00 | $37.00 | $60.00 | Airalo Dominican Republic page |
| Costa Rica | $25.50 | $36.50 | $34.00 | $58.50 | Airalo Costa Rica page |
Oceania, Middle East and Africa
| Country | 5GB / 7 days | Unlimited / 7 days | 10GB / 30 days | Saved vs 7 days of a $12/day carrier pass | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $10.00 | $26.50 | $18.00 | $74.00 | Airalo Australia page |
| United Arab Emirates | $11.00 | $27.50 | $20.00 | $73.00 | Airalo United Arab Emirates page |
| New Zealand | $13.00 | $27.00 | $24.00 | $71.00 | Airalo New Zealand page |
| Egypt | $19.00 | $32.00 | $33.00 | $65.00 | Airalo Egypt page |
| Morocco | $20.00 | $35.00 | $34.00 | $64.00 | Airalo Morocco page |
How we checked (method)
- Source: each country's public page on airalo.com (for example airalo.com/japan-esim), read by script on October 22, 2026, from a US connection, in US dollars. We used the lowest price when a country had more than one network option.
- Plans compared: 5GB / 7 days (a typical one-week trip), unlimited / 7 days, and 10GB / 30 days (a long trip). Regional plans (Europe, Asia) and plans with calls are not in this table.
- Carrier baseline: Verizon's international travel page, read October 22, 2026, lists TravelPass at $12 a day in 210+ destinations; AT&T's International Day Pass was $12 a day when we checked on October 20, 2026. Both charge only on days you use the phone abroad. Verizon's $100 International Monthly Plan is an option for trips of 9 days or longer.
- What this does not measure: network speed, coverage outside cities, or promo codes. Prices change often; Airalo runs sales that this table does not show.
What to do with these numbers
- Check your own plan first. Many T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T plans include Canada and Mexico, and some T-Mobile plans include basic data abroad. Your carrier's app shows what your line has.
- Trip of 1-2 days and you need your number? A $12/day pass is simpler and costs about the same.
- Trip of 4+ days? A 5GB / 7-day eSIM saved $58-$77 over seven days of the carrier pass in every country we checked. Buy it before you leave and install it on Wi-Fi.
- Free option: Wi-Fi at the hotel and cafés plus offline Google Maps costs nothing. It works for short city trips if you can live without data in between.
- If your eSIM won't connect: see Airalo eSIM not working: fixes by phone.
Cite this data
Free to quote and link. Suggested credit: "Source: PracticalPivot eSIM price index, October 2026 (practicalpivot.com/esim-price-index)." Please link to this page so readers see the date and method. Corrections: whatdoeszoknow@gmail.com.
Questions
How much does a travel eSIM cost for one week?
On October 22, 2026, Airalo's 5GB / 7-day plan cost a median of $11.00 across the 34 countries we checked, from $7.00 (Thailand) to $25.50 (Costa Rica). A 7-day unlimited plan had a median of $27.00.
Is an eSIM cheaper than my US carrier's international day pass?
For data, usually yes. Verizon TravelPass and AT&T International Day Pass charge $12 per day you use the phone abroad, about $84 for a full week. Every 5GB / 7-day plan we checked cost less than that, and so did every 7-day unlimited plan. The day pass keeps your own number for calls and texts, which an eSIM data plan does not.
When is the carrier pass the better deal?
For one or two days abroad, if you need your US number for calls and texts, or for Canada and Mexico, where many US plans include usage at no extra charge. Check your own plan first.
How often is this index updated?
On the 1st of each month, and whenever a reader reports a change. Each update keeps the date it was checked.
Related guides
- eSIM by country: every PracticalPivot eSIM guide
- Europe eSIM: one regional plan or country plans?
- Airalo Japan eSIM
- Best eSIM for Mexico
- France or Spain eSIM in Monaco, Andorra or Gibraltar?
Last checked: October 22, 2026. Next update: November 1, 2026. By Zo, PracticalPivot.