Thailand 1 Month SIM Card Prices: Airport, 7-Eleven, eSIM
Last updated: May 1, 2026
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 $7.99.
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: Saily eSIM — $7.99 (~฿270) for 5 GB
- Best value 30-day eSIM (10 GB): Travelsim Asia — $10.49 (~฿355)
- 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 April 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:
| 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) | ~฿355 | $10.49 | Full 4G/5G speed, no throttling |
| eSIM 5 GB / 30 days (cheapest light) | ~฿270 | $7.99 | Full 4G/5G speed, no throttling |
Airport SIM prices per Traveltomtom, April 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 $10.49 — 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
| 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:
| 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.
| 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.
Thailand eSIM prices for 1 month: full comparison
eSIMs skip the airport queue, the passport scan, and the SIM swap. You install before flying, activate on landing, and never touch a physical card. For 30-day plans specifically, here's how the major providers compare:
| Data (30 days) | Travelsim Asia | Saily | Airalo | Nomad | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 GB | $8.99 | $7.99 | $8.00 | N/A | N/A |
| 10 GB | $10.49 | $10.99 | $11.00 | $12.00 | $13.90 |
| 20 GB | $19.99 | $19.99 | $18.00 | N/A | N/A |
| 25 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $24.90 |
| 50 GB | N/A | N/A | $27.50 | N/A | N/A |
| Unlimited | N/A | $71.99 | $49.00 | $33.00 | N/A |
All plans 30 days validity. Bold = cheapest at that data tier. Holafly excluded ($74.90 / 30-day unlimited only). Prices verified April 2026.
Verdict for 1-month travelers: Travelsim Asia's 10 GB / 30-day plan at $10.49 (~฿355) is the cheapest 10 GB plan and covers typical traveler usage — maps, Grab, social media, messaging — at full speed. For lighter users, Saily wins at 5 GB for $7.99. For heavier use, Airalo's 20 GB at $18.00 is the cheapest. Travelsim Asia is the only provider here that requires no app and no account to purchase or activate.
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 (airport / 7-Eleven) | eSIM (online) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest 30-day price | ฿299 (~$9) at 7-Eleven, basic plan | $7.99 (~฿270) 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.
Best 1-month Thailand eSIM by user type
- The light-use traveler (mostly WiFi, some maps and Grab): Saily 5 GB / 30 days at $7.99. Travelsim Asia at $8.99 is $1 more but removes the app and sign-up requirement. Either works.
- The typical 1-month traveler (regular use, mix of WiFi and mobile data): Travelsim Asia 10 GB / 30 days at $10.49 is the cheapest in this category. Saily $10.99 and Airalo $11.00 are within $0.50 — pick on app preference, not price.
- The heavy data user (less WiFi reliance, lots of streaming or hotspot): Airalo 20 GB / 30 days at $18.00 is the cheapest. Saily and Travelsim Asia both at $19.99. For very heavy use, Airalo's 50 GB / 30 days at $27.50 is the only fixed 50 GB / 30-day plan available.
- The digital nomad working from Thailand: Ubigi's monthly subscription plans — 5 GB/month at $8 or 20 GB/month at $19 — auto-renew and don't expire. Better than buying a new one-shot plan each month if you're staying longer than 30 days.
- The frequent Thailand visitor: Ubigi's annual plans — 24 GB for $25/year (2 GB/month) or 60 GB for $49/year (5 GB/month) — are exceptional value if you visit Thailand multiple times per year. The 5 GB/month tier works out to $4.08/month, less than half the price of any standalone monthly plan.
- The streamer who wants no limits: Nomad unlimited at $33 / 30 days is the cheapest 30-day unlimited option. Holafly at $74.90 and Saily at $71.99 are both significantly overpriced for the same trip length — and the FUP throttling on unlimited plans means you'll hit reduced speeds anyway. For most travelers, a fixed 20 GB plan is more practical.
Should you buy unlimited for 1 month in Thailand?
For a one-month stay, the math on unlimited rarely works in your favor — whether physical or eSIM. Here's the comparison:
| Plan | 30-day price | Effective daily allowance | Throttling? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travelsim Asia 20 GB / 30d (eSIM) | $19.99 (~฿680) | ~666 MB/day | No — full speed throughout |
| Airalo 20 GB / 30d (eSIM) | $18.00 (~฿612) | ~666 MB/day | No — full speed throughout |
| Airalo 50 GB / 30d (eSIM) | $27.50 (~฿935) | ~1.66 GB/day | No — full speed throughout |
| AIS unlimited 30d (airport SIM) | ฿1,199 (~$38) | Capped at 10 Mbps | Yes — speed-limited from start |
| Nomad unlimited / 30d (eSIM) | $33.00 (~฿1,122) | Daily cap, then throttled | Yes — speed reduced after daily cap |
| Holafly unlimited / 30d (eSIM) | $74.90 (~฿2,547) | Not disclosed | Yes — FUP not published |
The hidden problem with unlimited: "Unlimited" means unlimited volume, not unlimited speed. AIS's airport unlimited plan is capped at 10 Mbps from the start. Nomad and Holafly unlimited plans drop speed after a daily cap — often around 1 Mbps, which makes Google Maps stutter and Instagram videos fail to load. A fixed 20 GB plan with full speed delivers a more consistent experience for most travelers, at half the cost.
The one case where 30-day unlimited makes sense: you genuinely don't know your usage in advance, you're streaming or hotspotting heavily, and you need predictable cost. Even then, Nomad at $33 is the only unlimited eSIM option that's not severely overpriced — and AIS's airport ฿1,199 plan is a reasonable physical alternative if you need a Thai phone number anyway.
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: $7.99 (~฿270) 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 $7.99 (~฿270) for 5 GB and $10.49 (~฿355) for 10 GB. The cheapest 30-day connectivity overall is an eSIM bought online before you fly.
How much data do you actually need for 1 month in Thailand?
Daily usage in Thailand tends to be modest — translation apps aren't really needed, most tourist-area menus have English, and WiFi is widely available at guesthouses, cafes, and co-working spaces. But over 30 days, even moderate daily use adds up.
| Usage profile | Daily use | Monthly total | Recommended plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maps, Grab, occasional messaging (mostly on WiFi) | ~150 MB | ~4–5 GB | 5 GB eSIM or ฿299 7-Eleven SIM |
| + social media, photos, regular messaging | ~300 MB | ~9–10 GB | 10 GB eSIM ($10.49) |
| + frequent video calls, some streaming on the go | ~600 MB | ~18–20 GB | 20 GB eSIM ($18–$19.99) |
| Remote work with hotspot, heavy streaming | ~1.5 GB+ | ~45 GB+ | 50 GB eSIM or AIS ฿1,199 unlimited |
Most 1-month Thailand travelers fall in the second row: 10 GB / 30 days is the right plan for the majority. Guesthouses, cafes, and co-working spaces in Thailand have reliable WiFi that handles streaming, downloads, and video calls — leaving mobile data for what you actually use it for: maps, Grab, messaging, and social media on the go.
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 $10.49 (~฿355) — about a third the price of an airport unlimited SIM. AIS and TrueMove H networks (Thailand's two largest carriers). 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.
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.