Data Pass vs Local SIM: The Cost Breakdown

Travelers overpay because they never compare a data pass against a local SIM for the same trip.

• Data pass: $5 to $20 for a week
• Local SIM: $3 to $10 for a month
• Local SIM wins on trips over five days
• Data pass wins on convenience and speed

If your stay passes a week, the local SIM almost always gives you far more data for less money.

The convenience gap narrows at the airport, but once you are in the city the local SIM clearly wins.