Mexico City
SIM providers, plans, and activation tips.
You'll find that getting a local SIM card is essential for staying connected in Mexico City. Most newcomers opt for Telcel, which offers the best coverage across the city and the country, with plans starting at 200 MXN/month for 30GB of data. Watch out for unofficial SIM deals at the airport, as they can be scams. Instead, buy your SIM card at a convenience store like OXXO, where you can also top up your account easily. For heavy streamers, AT&T Mexico's unlimited data plan at 350 MXN/month is a good alternative. Today, head to an OXXO store in Roma Norte or Polanco to purchase a Telcel SIM card and get started with a reliable mobile data plan.
Ranked by contributor trust level and quality score.
Polanco · Experience date Apr 3, 2026
Switched to AT&T Mexico for unlimited data at 350 MXN/month. Slower than Telcel in some areas but no throttling. Good for Netflix and video calls. Buy at any AT&T store or Liverpool department store.
Roma Norte · Experience date Nov 27, 2025
On Telcel 30GB plan for 200 MXN/month. Best coverage in Mexico City and across the country. Buy at any OXXO with just your passport. Recharge at OXXO, 7-Eleven, or via the Mi Telcel app.
Insurgentes · Experience date Jan 1, 2026
International calling from Mexico: WhatsApp and Telegram calls (free over data/WiFi) are widely used. If you need traditional phone calls internationally: AT&T Mexico plans include US/Canada calling. Skype credits: work from Mexico for traditional landline/mobile calls at low rates. Google Voice: useful if you need to maintain a US number while in Mexico. VOIP alternatives: Rebtel, Vonage. From a Mexican SIM to a foreign landline: expensive without an international plan ($5–15 MXN/minute on standard rates). For expats working remotely: set up Google Meet, Zoom, or Teams for company calls — don't rely on native phone calls. Mexican area code (CDMX): 55 for landlines, mobile numbers start with 55 or 56.
Centro · Experience date Dec 22, 2025
Telcel is Mexico's dominant mobile operator, owned by América Móvil. Coverage: by far the best in Mexico City and across the country — essential if you travel outside CDMX. Prepaid SIM: buy at any OXXO convenience store (everywhere), Telcel stores, or Walmart. Cost: SIM is free or $30 MXN, plans start at $100 MXN/month (approximately $5 USD) for basic data. Best plan for expats: the 'Amigo Sin Límite' plans — $250–400 MXN/month for unlimited social media plus 5–10GB general data. Registration: requires your passport. The OXXO network of stores makes topping up trivially easy — they're on almost every block in CDMX.
Roma Norte · Experience date Nov 27, 2025
Topping up (recargar) your Telcel or Movistar prepaid SIM in Mexico City: OXXO convenience stores are the easiest option — over 3,000 locations in CDMX alone. Process: tell the cashier your number and how much you want to add, pay in cash. Amounts: $50, $100, $200, $300 MXN common denominations. OXXO accepts cash only for top-ups. Online top-up: use the Telcel Mi Telcel app or AT&T Mexico app — supports foreign credit/debit cards. 7-Eleven, Soriana supermarkets, and Walmart: also sell top-up cards. Auto-recharge: set up via the carrier app with a Mexican card or PayPal — useful to avoid running out of data.
Centro · Experience date Nov 29, 2025
Data-only SIMs in Mexico City: Telcel and AT&T both offer data SIMs for tablets and mobile WiFi devices. Telcel data plans: from $150 MXN/month for 5GB, $300 MXN for 20GB. Mobile WiFi router (Mifi): rent or buy at Telcel stores — useful for shared connectivity for multiple devices. For remote workers with laptops: enable hotspot on your mobile plan instead of buying a separate data SIM — most Mexican prepaid plans include hotspot as standard. OXXO sells Telcel data SIMs that can be activated immediately. Coworking spaces: many in Roma Norte, Condesa, and Polanco include high-speed WiFi in membership — better than relying on mobile data for intensive work.
Condesa · Experience date Mar 28, 2026
Mobile signal quality varies across Mexico City colonias. Strong signal: Polanco, Condesa, Roma Norte, Santa Fe, Insurgentes corridor — all three major carriers perform well. Moderate signal: Coyoacán, Tlalpan, Xochimilco — Telcel best here. Weak signal: some areas of Iztapalapa, outer colonias in the south and east — Telcel is notably better than AT&T or Movistar. Inside buildings: many older 1940s–1970s concrete buildings in Roma and Condesa reduce signal significantly — WiFi calling helps. Altitude: Mexico City at 2,240 metres above sea level — no effect on mobile signal. The CDMX metro has no signal underground but many new metro stations have installed basic WiFi as of 2022–2023.
Insurgentes · Experience date Apr 15, 2026
AT&T Mexico eSIM activation: visit an AT&T store with your passport and Mexican address. Staff generates a QR code. On iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan > scan QR code. On Android: Settings > Network > SIM > Add eSIM > scan QR code. Activation time: 5–10 minutes in store. Postpaid plan required for eSIM — prepaid eSIM not available from AT&T Mexico as of 2024. Cost: plans from $299 MXN/month with eSIM. Advantage: no physical SIM needed, dual-SIM with your existing home country eSIM. Troubleshooting: if QR code fails, ask staff to use the manual activation code (SM-DP+ address + activation code). Most iPhone 13+ users report trouble-free AT&T Mexico eSIM activation.
Centro · Experience date Jan 16, 2026
WhatsApp is the dominant communication platform in Mexico — more important here than almost anywhere else in the world. Business communication: most Mexican landlords, plumbers, doctors, restaurants, and service providers communicate exclusively via WhatsApp. Broadcasts: neighbourhood groups, building groups, local community WhatsApp groups are the main way to stay informed. Set up your WhatsApp with your Mexican number immediately on arrival. Voice notes (notas de voz): extremely common in Mexican WhatsApp culture — don't be surprised to receive 2-minute voice messages instead of text. WhatsApp Web: useful for coworking. Having WhatsApp with a Mexican +52 number significantly improves your ability to interact with local services.
Polanco · Experience date May 3, 2026
Decision guide: Choose Telcel if: you travel outside Mexico City frequently, need maximum Mexico coverage, or don't make regular US/Canada calls. Choose AT&T Mexico if: you frequently call the US or Canada, prefer eSIM convenience, or primarily live in Mexico City (coverage is adequate). Both are good options in CDMX proper — coverage difference is minimal in the urban core. Movistar: only if budget is the primary concern and you're staying in central CDMX. Pricing: all three are remarkably affordable compared to North American or European standards — $200–400 MXN/month ($10–20 USD) for a solid expat plan. Most CDMX expats use Telcel prepaid for simplicity and coverage reliability.