A 1-month Thailand SIM card costs anywhere from ฿299 to ฿1,599 (roughly $9 to $50 USD), depending on whether you buy at the airport, at 7-Eleven, in an AIS shop, or skip the physical card entirely with an eSIM. The cheapest eSIM equivalents start at $7.89.
This guide breaks down what each option actually costs in 2026 — airport kiosks, convenience store SIMs, AIS/TrueMove/dtac monthly plans, and eSIM alternatives — so you can pick the cheapest option that matches your trip. We sell eSIMs ourselves, so we're not neutral. But we'll show you exactly when a physical SIM is the better choice.
Quick answer: cheapest 30-day Thailand connectivity in 2026
- Cheapest 30-day option overall: Travelsim Asia eSIM — $7.89 (~฿268) for 5 GB
- Best value 30-day eSIM (10 GB): Travelsim Asia — $9.99 (~฿340)
- Cheapest 30-day physical SIM (in-city): AIS Tourist SIM — ~฿299–฿599 at 7-Eleven
- 30-day unlimited at the airport: AIS ฿1,199 (~$38) — convenient but expensive
- Best for digital nomads: Ubigi monthly subscription — $8/month for 5 GB, auto-renews
- Avoid: Airport kiosks unless you need data immediately on landing — in-city stores and 7-Eleven are 30–50% cheaper
Prices verified September 2026. Airport tourist SIM prices vary by kiosk and may change without notice.
Thailand SIM card prices for 1 month: physical SIM vs eSIM
For a 30-day stay in 2026, you have four real options. Here's what each actually costs, with the trade-offs:
Compare 30-day prices
| Option | 30-day price | USD equivalent | Speed / data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport tourist SIM (AIS, TrueMove, dtac) | ฿999–฿1,199 | ~$32–$38 | Unlimited at 10 Mbps, or 40 GB at 5G speed |
| 7-Eleven / in-city SIM (AIS Tourist) | ฿299–฿599 | ~$9–$19 | Varies by package — typically 15 GB / 8 days, top up for more |
| eSIM 10 GB / 30 days (cheapest) | ~฿340 | $9.99 | Full 4G/5G speed, no throttling |
| eSIM 5 GB / 30 days (cheapest light) | ~฿268 | $7.89 | Full 4G/5G speed, no throttling |
Airport SIM prices per Traveltomtom, August 2026. eSIM prices verified directly with providers. THB conversions at ~฿34/USD.
Bottom line: If you need data the moment you land and can't wait until the next 7-Eleven, an airport SIM at ฿1,199 is fine. If you can install an eSIM before flying, the same 30 days costs you $9.99 — about a third of the airport price — and you skip the queue entirely. The middle option (7-Eleven) saves money but means you're offline at the airport.
Airport SIM card prices: AIS, TrueMove H, dtac (2026)
All three Thai carriers sell tourist SIMs at Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK), Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Samui airports. Prices are similar across carriers — the choice comes down to coverage in your destination and which kiosk has the shortest queue.
AIS tourist SIM packages at the airport
AIS airport plans
| Validity | Data allowance | Price (THB) | USD equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 days | 15 GB + unlimited at 4 Mbps | ฿399 | ~$13 |
| 15 days | Unlimited at 4 Mbps | ฿699 | ~$22 |
| 30 days | Unlimited at 10 Mbps | ฿999–฿1,199 | ~$32–$38 |
| 30 days (5G) | 40 GB at max 5G + unlimited 1 Mbps | ฿1,199 | ~$38 |
Coverage: AIS has the best nationwide network — strongest 5G in Bangkok, solid coverage on the islands and rural areas, ~95% population coverage. The standard ฿1,199 30-day plan caps speed at 10 Mbps, which is fine for maps and messaging but slow for video calls and HD streaming. The 5G version is the better pick if you can find it.
TrueMove H / dtac tourist SIM at the airport
True and dtac merged in 2023 and now operate as TrueMove H. Their airport tourist SIM packages mirror AIS pricing closely:
TrueMove H / dtac airport plans
| Validity | Data allowance | Price (THB) | USD equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 days | 15 GB + unlimited (FUP throttle) | ฿399 | ~$13 |
| 15 days | Tourist Infinite — unlimited (FUP) | ฿599–฿699 | ~$19–$22 |
| 30 days | Tourist Infinite — unlimited (FUP) | ฿999–฿1,199 | ~$32–$38 |
Coverage: Slightly weaker than AIS in rural areas but still excellent in tourist destinations. All TrueMove H "infinite" plans have a Fair Usage Policy — your speed gets throttled after the high-speed allowance is used. The actual FUP threshold is rarely disclosed at the kiosk.
7-Eleven and in-city SIM card prices for 1 month
If you can wait until you're past airport arrivals, buying at 7-Eleven or an AIS retail store saves you 30–50% compared to airport kiosks. The main trade-off is you'll need WiFi or roaming until you reach a store.
In-city SIM prices
| Where to buy | Typical 30-day price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven (any location) | ฿299–฿599 | Pre-packaged tourist SIMs, basic 30-day data plans |
| AIS / TrueMove retail store | ฿199–฿899 | Full plan range; staff can help with package selection |
| Family Mart / Tesco Lotus Express | ฿299–฿599 | Same SKUs as 7-Eleven, slightly less common stock |
| Airport kiosk (for comparison) | ฿999–฿1,199 | Markup of ~30–50% over in-city prices |
Worth knowing: 7-Eleven SIMs are the cheapest physical option but the packages are basic — typically 15 GB for 8 days, or smaller daily allowances. For a full 30 days you'll usually need to top up at least once. Topping up at 7-Eleven is straightforward (just give them your phone number and the amount), but you'll need to install the carrier's app to actually activate the data package. The cumulative cost over a full month often ends up similar to an eSIM, with more friction.
Which eSIM to buy for a month in Thailand
Travelsim Asia 10 GB for 30 days at $9.99, about ฿340, is what most month-long visitors should buy. Set against the physical options above that is roughly a third of the ฿1,199 the airport wants for its unlimited tourist SIM, and only a little more than the basic ฿299 7-Eleven plan that gives you a fraction of the data. You install it before you fly, and you keep your own number instead of swapping the tray.
If you barely touch mobile data, our 5 GB at $7.89 is the cheapest 30-day plan in this comparison. If you want 20 GB or more, Airalo is genuinely cheaper than we are and worth taking.
- Saily. $7.99 for 5 GB, $10.99 for 10 GB. A cent behind us at 5 GB and a dollar behind at 10, and it needs an app and an account.
- Nomad. $8.00 for 5 GB, $10.00 for 10 GB. Close on price at every size, app required.
- Airalo. $11.00 for 10 GB, but $18.00 for 20 GB and $27.50 for 50 GB. If you are a heavy user staying a month, this is the cheaper buy and we would rather say so.
- Ubigi. $12.00 for 10 GB. Its monthly subscription is a different proposition and is covered further down.
- Holafly. $73.90 for 30 days of unlimited. That is roughly double what the airport charges for an unlimited physical SIM, so it only makes sense if you genuinely cannot track usage.
Every provider and tier side by side sits in our Thailand eSIM price guide, and if unlimited is what you are weighing up, our unlimited Thailand eSIM breakdown works through the fair-use terms provider by provider.
Should you buy a physical SIM or an eSIM for 1 month in Thailand?
The honest answer depends on three things: whether your phone supports eSIM, whether you need a Thai phone number, and how much data you actually use.
Physical SIM or eSIM
| Physical SIM (airport / 7-Eleven) | eSIM (online) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest 30-day price | ฿299 (~$9) at 7-Eleven, basic plan | $7.89 (~฿268) for 5 GB |
| Setup time | 15–45 min queue at airport, or trip to 7-Eleven | Install before flying — online on landing |
| Includes Thai phone number? | Yes | No (data only) |
| Paperwork | Passport scan, registration form | None |
| Loses your home number? | Yes (single SIM tray) | No (runs alongside home SIM) |
| Top-up access | 7-Eleven, AIS shop, app required | Web portal, often no app required |
| Phone compatibility | Any unlocked phone | eSIM-capable phone (iPhone XS+, most flagships 2020+) |
Pick a physical SIM if: You need a Thai phone number for verifications, calls to local businesses, or rental contracts (motorbike, apartment). Or your phone doesn't support eSIM. Or you specifically want unlimited data and don't mind paying ฿1,199 for it.
Pick an eSIM if: You only need data (which is what 95% of travelers actually need). Or you want to keep your home number active for WhatsApp/iMessage. Or you want to skip the airport queue. Or you want the cheapest possible 30-day connectivity.
Long-stay specifics: things 1-month travelers ask
What if my data runs out before 30 days?
On a physical SIM: top up at any 7-Eleven (cash) or via the carrier's app (international card accepted). AIS, TrueMove, and dtac all offer add-on packages that extend your data without changing your plan or phone number.
On an eSIM: top up your existing eSIM with more data — most providers (Travelsim Asia, Airalo, Saily, Ubigi) offer top-up packages directly on the active eSIM, no need to install a new one. Or buy a brand new plan and install it as a second eSIM alongside the first.
What if my trip extends past 30 days?
30-day validity is calendar-based, not data-based — meaning your plan expires after 30 days even if you have data left. If your trip slips by a few days:
- Buy a small top-up plan (1 GB / 7 days, ~$1.99–$2.99) to bridge the gap
- Install a fresh eSIM as a second profile
- For longer regular stays, switch to Ubigi's monthly subscription — auto-renews on the same date each month, cancel anytime
Can I activate the eSIM before my trip starts?
Yes for installation, no for activation. You can install the eSIM profile on your phone weeks in advance — but activation (which starts the 30-day countdown) only happens when you connect to a Thai network on landing. Buy and install before you fly; the validity timer doesn't start until your plane lands.
Is it cheaper to buy a SIM card in Thailand or before I go?
Cheaper in Thailand if you buy at 7-Eleven (฿299–฿599) — but more expensive at the airport (฿999–฿1,199). The cheapest option overall is buying an eSIM online before you fly: $7.89 (~฿268) for 5 GB / 30 days. Same coverage, no queues, no SIM tray swap.
How much is a SIM card in Thailand for 30 days?
Between ฿299 and ฿1,599 (~$9 to $50 USD) depending on where you buy and what's included. 7-Eleven SIMs start around ฿299. Airport tourist SIMs with unlimited data are ฿999–฿1,199. eSIM equivalents start at $7.89 (~฿268) for 5 GB and $9.99 (~฿340) for 10 GB. The cheapest 30-day connectivity overall is an eSIM bought online before you fly.
Long-stay digital nomads: consider Ubigi's monthly subscriptions
If you're staying in Thailand longer than 30 days — or you're a digital nomad cycling between Asian countries — Ubigi's monthly subscription plans deserve a closer look. They work differently from one-shot eSIM plans:
- Auto-renewal: $8/month for 5 GB or $19/month for 20 GB, charged automatically every 30 days. Cancel anytime.
- No re-installation: Same eSIM profile, same activation, just a recurring data refill. Saves the hassle of buying and installing a new eSIM each month.
- Network coverage: AIS and TrueMove H — two of Thailand's three major carriers, same coverage as a one-shot Ubigi plan.
- Where it falls short: The 20 GB monthly plan at $19 is more expensive than equivalent one-shot 20 GB plans from Airalo ($18.00) or Travelsim Asia ($19.99). The savings come from not having to repurchase, not from the plan itself being cheap.
For frequent Thailand visitors, the annual plans are even better value: $25/year for 24 GB (2 GB/month) or $49/year for 60 GB (5 GB/month). At $4.08/month for the 5 GB tier, that's less than half the price of any standalone monthly plan.
Travelsim Asia for 1-month Thailand stays
This is our product, so take this section with that in mind. We've tried to be factual about both strengths and limitations.
Strengths for 1-month travelers: Cheapest 10 GB / 30-day plan at $9.99 (~฿340) — about a third the price of an airport unlimited SIM. AIS and dtac networks (a network from each of Thailand's two big mobile groups). No app, no account — eSIM delivered by email, installs from any browser. Top-up available via web portal. Full speed, no throttling. Home SIM stays untouched.
Where we fall short for some 1-month travelers: No unlimited plans. No monthly subscription option (Ubigi wins for digital nomads who need recurring billing). No 50 GB / 30-day plan (Airalo is the only provider with this). No Thai phone number (any physical SIM provides one). If your usage is consistently above 20 GB/month or you need a local number, we're not the right fit.
Thailand eSIM plans
10 GB / 30 days for $9.99 — the cheapest 1-month Thailand eSIM in this comparison. About a third the price of an airport unlimited SIM. No app, no account, delivered to your inbox in minutes.
Dig deeper
One-month-specific guidance is useful, but the rest of the decision matrix matters too:
- Thailand eSIM Prices 2026 — Full Comparison — provider-by-provider pricing across every data tier and validity period, not just 30 days.
- Best eSIM for Thailand (2026) — full comparison of Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi, and Travelsim Asia on coverage, throttling, and setup.
- Are Unlimited Thailand eSIMs a Scam? — the truth about Fair Usage Policies, what throttled speed actually feels like, and a provider-by-provider breakdown.
- How to Install a Thailand eSIM — step-by-step setup for iPhone and Android, activation at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, and troubleshooting.
- Cheapest Thailand eSIM 2026, the lowest price at every plan size, per gigabyte, and by trip length.