South Korea eSIM Prices 2026 — Airalo, Holafly, Nomad & More Compared
Last updated: June 17th, 2026
South Korea eSIM prices in 2026 start at $2.99 for 1 GB and run up to $19.99 for a 20 GB 30-day plan — with Travelsim Asia leading on the small (1–3 GB) and large (20 GB) tiers, and the mid-range genuinely split: Nomad is cheapest at 5 GB and Ubigi at 10 GB. The headline number rarely tells the whole story, though: unlimited plans throttle, validity windows differ wildly, and several providers quietly run the same two Korean networks.
This page breaks down exactly what each major South Korea eSIM provider charges in June 2026, what you're actually getting for that price, and where the hidden trade-offs are. We sell eSIMs ourselves, so we're not neutral — but where a competitor offers better value, we'll say so plainly.
Quick summary: South Korea eSIM prices 2026
- Cheapest small plan (1 GB): Travelsim Asia — $2.99 / 7 days
- Best-value large plan (20 GB): Travelsim Asia — $19.99 / 30 days, more than 25% below the next cheapest 20 GB plan
- Cheapest 5 GB: Nomad — $10.00 / 30 days (Travelsim Asia is $11.99 here)
- Cheapest 10 GB: Ubigi — $14.00 / 30 days
- Networks: Travelsim Asia runs on SK Telecom and LG U+, including SK Telecom — Korea's largest network. Airalo and Holafly use the same two; Nomad adds KT.
- No app required: Travelsim Asia
- Best unlimited value: Nomad and Ubigi — both $25 / 7 days
Prices verified June 2026. Always check provider websites before purchasing.
How much does a South Korea eSIM cost? (quick answer)
South Korea eSIM prices range from $2.99 for a 1 GB short-trip plan to around $20 for a 20 GB 30-day plan. Most travelers pay $7–$17 total for a one to two week trip with regular use — Naver Map, KakaoTalk, translation, and social media included.
Here's the full price range at a glance across all major providers:
| Plan size | Price range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $2.99–$4.00 | Short stopovers, 1–3 days |
| 3 GB | $6.99–$9.00 | One week, light use |
| 5 GB | $10.00–$11.99 | One to two weeks, regular use |
| 10 GB | $14.00–$19.00 | Two weeks, heavier use |
| 20 GB | $19.99–$30.00 | Extended trips, remote workers |
| Unlimited (7 days) | $25.00–$27.50 | Heavy daily users — check FUP |
Price ranges based on major providers: Travelsim Asia, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi. June 2026.
Airalo South Korea eSIM prices 2026
Airalo is the most widely recognised eSIM marketplace and a common starting point for South Korea travelers. They offer fixed Korea plans across a wide range of sizes, plus unlimited daily packages sold separately.
Airalo South Korea fixed plans
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 3 days | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| 3 GB | 3 days | $8.00 | $2.67 |
| 3 GB | 7 days | $9.00 | $3.00 |
| 5 GB | 7 days | $10.00 | $2.00 |
| 5 GB | 15 days | $10.50 | $2.10 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $11.00 | $2.20 |
| 10 GB | 7 days | $18.00 | $1.80 |
| 10 GB | 15 days | $18.50 | $1.85 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $19.00 | $1.90 |
| 20 GB | 15 days | $29.00 | $1.45 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $30.00 | $1.50 |
| 50 GB | 30 days | $49.00 | $0.98 |
Networks: SK Telecom and LG U+ — two operator options, the same two networks Travelsim Asia uses. Strong nationwide coverage including Seoul, Busan, and Jeju. Airalo also sells unlimited daily packages (not listed above). App and account required.
Worth knowing: Airalo's fixed Korea pricing is competitive in the middle of the range but climbs steeply at the top — its 20 GB / 30-day plan is $30.00, fully $10 more than Travelsim Asia's $19.99 for the same size and validity. Watch the short validity on smaller plans too: the 1 GB plan lasts only 3 days.
Holafly South Korea eSIM prices 2026
Holafly only sells unlimited plans — no fixed data options. Their Korea pricing is tiered by duration: roughly $4/day on shorter trips, dropping to about $2.46/day on a 30-day plan. Holafly is more expensive than fixed-plan alternatives for typical use, but the longer-duration discount narrows the gap to other unlimited providers.
| Validity | Price (USD) | Price per day | FUP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $12.50 | $4.17 | Not disclosed |
| 5 days | $20.50 | $4.10 | Not disclosed |
| 7 days | $27.50 | $3.93 | Not disclosed |
| 10 days | $36.50 | $3.65 | Not disclosed |
| 15 days | $50.50 | $3.37 | Not disclosed |
| 30 days | $73.90 | $2.46 | Not disclosed |
Worth knowing: Holafly is the most expensive South Korea eSIM for short and mid-length trips. A 15-day trip costs $50.50 — versus $16.99 for a 10 GB fixed plan from Travelsim Asia that covers the same period comfortably for most users. The per-day rate drops on longer durations (a 30-day plan works out to about $2.46/day), so Holafly is more competitive with other unlimited plans at 30 days. Holafly also doesn't disclose its FUP threshold for Korea, so you don't know exactly how much high-speed data you get before throttling.
Networks: SK Telecom and LG U+ — the same two networks as Travelsim Asia. Good nationwide coverage. App optional — can manage via customer panel.
Nomad South Korea eSIM prices 2026
Nomad offers competitive fixed plans and some of the best-value unlimited options in the Korea market. It's also the broadest-coverage provider in this comparison: Nomad connects to all three Korean carriers — SK Telecom, LG U+, and KT.
Nomad South Korea fixed plans
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $8.00 | $2.67 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $10.00 | $2.00 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $18.00 | $1.80 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $28.00 | $1.40 |
| 50 GB | 30 days | $39.00 | $0.78 |
Nomad's 10 GB / 30-day plan is currently on sale from $20.00 to $18.00 — verify before purchase, sale pricing can change.
Nomad South Korea unlimited plans
| Validity | Price (USD) | FUP |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $11.00 | Daily high-speed cap, then reduced speed |
| 5 days | $18.00 | Daily high-speed cap, then reduced speed |
| 7 days | $25.00 | Daily high-speed cap, then reduced speed |
| 10 days | $33.00 | Daily high-speed cap, then reduced speed |
Networks: SK Telecom, LG U+, and KT — all three Korean carriers, the widest carrier set in this comparison. App and account required. Nomad's mid-tier fixed pricing is the strongest in this group: it's the cheapest 5 GB plan at $10.00, and its unlimited tiers are good value at $25 / 7 days.
Saily South Korea eSIM prices 2026
Saily is built by the NordVPN team — clean fixed plans plus unlimited tiers with an honest daily fair-use cap. Korea pricing is quoted natively in USD and sits close to Travelsim Asia and Airalo across the range.
Saily South Korea fixed plans
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $8.99 | $3.00 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $10.99 | $2.20 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $18.99 | $1.90 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $29.99 | $1.50 |
Networks: Saily doesn't name a specific Korean carrier — it states only that it runs on "South Korea's best networks" (Saily is a NordVPN brand reselling local partners). App and account required. Saily also offers unlimited plans from $18.99 / 5 days with a 5 GB/day fair-use cap before throttling to around 1 Mbps — honest about the cap, but Nomad's unlimited tiers undercut it at most durations.
Ubigi South Korea eSIM prices 2026
Ubigi operates as a full MVNO rather than a reseller. In Korea its standout is mid-size data: its 10 GB plans are the cheapest 10 GB in this comparison.
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| 3 GB | 7 days | $7.00 | $2.33 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $9.00 | $3.00 |
| 10 GB | 7 days | $12.00 | $1.20 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $14.00 | $1.40 |
| 25 GB | 30 days | $25.00 | $1.00 |
Networks: Ubigi doesn't publish its local Korean carrier on its plan pages. App and account required. Its 10 GB plans are the best-value 10 GB in this comparison — $12.00 for 7 days or $14.00 for 30 days — and its 25 GB / 30-day plan at $25.00 ($1.00/GB) is strong for heavy users. Ubigi also offers unlimited plans from $25 / 7 days.
Travelsim Asia South Korea eSIM prices 2026
This is our product, so take this section with that in mind. We've tried to be as factual as possible — including where competitors beat us.
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $6.99 | $2.33 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $11.99 | $2.40 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $16.99 | $1.70 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $19.99 | $1.00 |
Networks: Travelsim Asia runs on SK Telecom and LG U+ — including SK Telecom, Korea's largest network — both with 5G. No app, no account — eSIM delivered by email and installed in any browser. Fixed plans only, full speed, no throttling. Top-ups via web portal. No unlimited plans.
Where we lead, and where we don't. Travelsim Asia has the lowest-priced 1 GB, 3 GB, and 20 GB South Korea eSIM plans, and matches the market's best 1 GB price — at $2.99 it's the cheapest 1 GB anywhere. The 20 GB plan at $19.99 is the standout: more than 25% below the next cheapest 20 GB. But we're honest about the middle — Nomad is cheaper at 5 GB ($10.00 vs our $11.99) and Ubigi is cheaper at 10 GB ($14.00 vs our $16.99). If you need exactly 5 or 10 GB, they're worth a look.
Price comparison table: all providers side by side
All prices in USD. Fixed data plans only — unlimited plans excluded from this table as throttling makes direct comparison misleading.
| Data | Travelsim Asia | Airalo | Nomad | Saily | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $2.99 / 7d | $4.00 / 3d | $4.00 / 7d | $3.99 / 7d | $4.00 / 7d |
| 3 GB | $6.99 / 15d | $9.00 / 7d | $8.00 / 30d | $8.99 / 30d | $9.00 / 30d |
| 5 GB | $11.99 / 30d | $11.00 / 30d | $10.00 / 30d | $10.99 / 30d | — |
| 10 GB | $16.99 / 30d | $19.00 / 30d | $18.00 / 30d | $18.99 / 30d | $14.00 / 30d |
| 20 GB | $19.99 / 30d | $30.00 / 30d | $28.00 / 30d | $29.99 / 30d | $25.00 / 30d (25 GB) |
| 50 GB | — | $49.00 / 30d | $39.00 / 30d | — | — |
Prices verified June 2026. Always check provider websites before purchasing — plans and pricing change. "d" = days validity. Ubigi's largest standard plan is 25 GB (shown in the 20 GB row).
The Korea market splits by plan size. Travelsim Asia owns the ends of the range — cheapest 1 GB ($2.99), cheapest 3 GB ($6.99), and a 20 GB plan ($19.99) that's more than 25% below the next option. The middle goes to others: Nomad is cheapest at 5 GB ($10.00) and Ubigi at 10 GB ($14.00). Beyond price, the differentiators are app requirements (only Travelsim Asia needs no app and no account) and carrier set — Travelsim Asia, Airalo, and Holafly all run SK Telecom + LG U+, while Nomad adds KT.
Which South Korea eSIM gives the best value?
There's no single best answer — it depends on your plan size and priorities. Here's a straightforward breakdown:
- Best for short trips (1–3 GB): Travelsim Asia — $2.99 / 1 GB / 7 days and $6.99 / 3 GB / 15 days, the lowest at both sizes. Saily's 1 GB is next at $3.99; Airalo, Nomad, and Ubigi sit at $4.00. For 3 GB, Ubigi's $7.00 (7 days) is closest, with Nomad at $8.00 for a longer 30-day window.
- Best for 5 GB: Nomad — $10.00 / 30 days, the cheapest 5 GB in this comparison. Saily is $10.99 and Airalo $11.00. Travelsim Asia is the priciest here at $11.99, so if 5 GB is exactly what you need, Nomad is the value pick.
- Best for 10 GB: Ubigi — $14.00 / 30 days, clearly the cheapest 10 GB. Travelsim Asia is next at $16.99 (and beats Nomad's $18.00, Saily's $18.99, and Airalo's $19.00), but Ubigi wins this tier outright.
- Best for large plans (20 GB): Travelsim Asia — $19.99 / 30 days, and it's not close. The next cheapest 20 GB is Nomad at $28.00, then Saily at $29.99 and Airalo at $30.00. At $1.00/GB, Travelsim Asia's 20 GB even undercuts most providers' 10 GB plans on a per-GB basis. For a longer trip or a heavier data user, this is the strongest deal in the market.
- Best for unlimited data: Nomad and Ubigi — both $25 for 7 days, ahead of Holafly's $27.50, and Nomad/Ubigi are clearer about their fair-use behavior than Holafly, which doesn't disclose its Korea FUP. Saily's unlimited (from $18.99 / 5 days) has a transparent 5 GB/day cap.
- Most expensive for short trips: Holafly — at about $4/day its unlimited pricing is the most expensive option on short trips (a 7-day plan is $27.50), with a non-disclosed FUP. The per-day rate drops on 30-day plans (~$2.46/day, total $73.90), making it more competitive at that duration.
Hidden costs to watch out for
The headline price rarely tells the full story. Here are the things that trip people up when choosing a South Korea eSIM.
- Throttling on unlimited plans. "Unlimited" means unlimited volume — not unlimited speed. Once you hit the daily cap, speeds drop. Saily throttles after 5 GB/day to about 1 Mbps; Nomad and Ubigi apply a daily high-speed cap; Holafly doesn't disclose its threshold at all. At throttled speeds, Naver Map and translation apps can struggle. A fixed plan at full speed is often the better experience.
- Validity mismatch. Always check the validity window alongside the price. Airalo's 1 GB plan lasts only 3 days at $4.00 — fine for a stopover, poor value for a week. Travelsim Asia's 1 GB is $2.99 for 7 days. Ubigi's headline-cheap 10 GB at $12.00 is only 7 days; the 30-day version is $14.00.
- App and account requirements. Most providers require downloading an app and creating an account. If you're buying last-minute at Incheon with no data, that's a catch-22. Travelsim Asia delivers by email — no app, no account, installs in any browser.
- Unnamed carriers. Saily and Ubigi don't publish which Korean network you'll be on. That's usually fine in Seoul and Busan, but if you're heading to Jeju, the mountains, or rural Gangwon, knowing you're on SK Telecom (Korea's widest network) — as you are with Travelsim Asia, Airalo, and Holafly — is reassuring.
Unlimited vs fixed: which is actually better for South Korea?
South Korea is one of the destinations where this question genuinely matters — because you use your phone constantly. Korea blocks Google Maps from offering full turn-by-turn, so you'll lean on Naver Map and KakaoMap; add KakaoTalk, translation, and finding restaurants, and it adds up.
| Fixed data plan | Unlimited plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Full speed, all the time | Full speed until daily cap, then throttled |
| Predictability | Know exactly what you're getting | Depends on daily usage patterns |
| Price | Lower for typical users | Higher — you pay for peace of mind |
| Best for | Most travelers | Heavy streamers, hotspot users |
| Runs out? | Yes — but you can top up | No — but may throttle badly |
For most South Korea travelers, a fixed plan is the sweet spot. A 3–5 GB plan covers a week of Naver Map, KakaoTalk, translation, and social media at full speed for less than an unlimited plan costs. If you're a heavy user or hotspotting a laptop, the smart move in Korea is Travelsim Asia's 20 GB at $19.99 — it's cheaper than most rivals' 10 GB plans and gives you headroom without the throttling that comes with "unlimited." See how much data you actually need for South Korea.
How much data do you actually need for South Korea?
South Korea is data-hungry compared to many destinations. Google Maps can't offer full navigation in Korea (a long-standing map-data export restriction), so you'll run Naver Map or KakaoMap instead, use KakaoTalk for messaging, and lean on Papago for translation — all day, every day.
| Usage type | Per day | 7 days | 14 days | Recommended plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maps, translation, messaging | 300–700 MB | 2–5 GB | 4–10 GB | 3–5 GB |
| + social media and photos | 1–1.5 GB | 7–10 GB | 14–20 GB | 10 GB |
| + video calls and streaming | 2–4 GB | 14–28 GB | 28–56 GB | 20 GB+ |
Most travelers fall in the first or second row. Hotel and café WiFi can supplement your data for heavier tasks.
Dig deeper
Need more detail on a specific topic? We've covered the South Korea eSIM decision from every angle:
- Best eSIM for South Korea (2026) — full comparison of Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi, and Travelsim Asia on coverage, throttling, and setup.
- Cheapest South Korea eSIM 2026 — pure price comparison: the lowest price at every data tier, across all major providers.
- Travelsim Asia vs Airalo South Korea eSIM — head-to-head on price, network, and setup between the two most popular options.
- How Much Data Do You Need for South Korea? — full breakdown of typical usage and the right plan size for your trip.
Not sure which plan is right for your trip? Our support team is available 24/7 via email and live chat — typical response time under one hour.