Buy a Local SIM Card or eSIM for Cheap Data

The Problem

Your US carrier charges $10/day for international data. A 2-week trip costs $140 in data alone.

The Hack

Option 1: Buy a local SIM card at the airport ($10-20 for a week of data). Option 2: Buy an eSIM before travel through Airalo or Holafly app ($10-30 for regional data).

Why It Works

Local SIM cards use local network rates — pennies per GB. US carriers charge premium international rates. eSIMs install digitally without swapping physical cards — activate before landing.

Pro Tips

• Airalo: eSIM app with plans for 200+ countries, from $5
• No SIM swapping: eSIM installs alongside your regular number
• Buy at the airport arrival hall — vendors help with setup
• Your regular number still receives texts via WiFi at your hotel