Roaming in Mexico: What it costs and how to avoid surprise fees

How does roaming work in Mexico?

Roaming in Mexico works thanks to partnerships between your home mobile provider and local Mexican carriers. For example, these data roaming deals let US, UK, and Canadian phones use Mexican networks without any extra setup, switching SIM cards, or signing a contract with a local provider. However, this convenience often comes with a hefty price tag.

If you use data roaming, as soon as you arrive in Mexico, your phone will connect to the Mexican network that your home provider has a deal with, likely Telcel, AT&T Mexico, or Movistar. You’ll be able to make calls, send text messages, and use data for a premium charge.

Roaming activates automatically, and you should be extra careful whenever you’re in a border town. Even if you think you’re still in the US, your phone could be jumping between American and Mexican networks unintentionally. To avoid surprise roaming charges, many travelers now use travel eSIMs like Saily, which provide prepaid mobile data in Mexico without needing a physical SIM card. It’s a simple way to stay connected from the moment you land while keeping your travel budget under control.

Roaming charges in Mexico for US carriers

The three main US mobile carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T) all handle data roaming in Mexico differently. Some plans include service in Mexico, but others may require add-ons or roaming fees. Let’s take a closer look at each US mobile provider’s offerings for travelers.

T-Mobile in Mexico

Almost all of T-Mobile’s plans include roaming in Mexico and Canada, including Go5G, Experience, Better Value, MAX, Magenta, ONE, Business Unlimited, and Essentials. However, if you have a prepaid plan, you may need to buy a travel add-on to get data. Otherwise, you’ll only be able to access the internet in Mexico through Wi-Fi.

While most T-Mobile customers won’t automatically incur roaming charges, each plan does have specific data speed caps. Once you reach your data threshold, your speeds will be decreased:

• Better Value and Experience Beyond — up to 30 GB high-speed data, then unlimited data at 256 kbps.

• Experience More — up to 15 GB high-speed data, then unlimited data at 256 kbps.

• Go5G and Business Unlimited Ultimate — up to 10 GB high-speed data, then unlimited data at 128 kbps.

• Magenta, Max, ONE, and Business Unlimited — up to 5 GB high-speed data, then unlimited data at 128 kbps.

• Essentials — unlimited data at 128 kbps.

If you’re a prepaid T-Mobile customer, you’ll pay US$0.25 per minute and US$0.50 per text in Mexico, and you’ll need to get an international pass for data:

• 1 Day Pass — US$10 for 2 GB.

• 10 Day Pass — US$35 for 5 GB.

• 30 Day Pass — US$50 for 15 GB.

You can also get one of these international passes if you need more high-speed data during your trip.

So while it may initially seem like T-Mobile roaming in Mexico is free, you could easily wind up paying extra to maintain reliable, high-speed coverage.

AT&T in Mexico

AT&T is one of the biggest mobile providers in both the US and Mexico, so you can count on reliable coverage while roaming in Mexico. If you have an unlimited plan like Value, Extra, Premium, or Elite, you already have AT&T roaming in Mexico included in your plan.

However, if you have another plan, you’ll incur roaming charges: US$2.05 per MB of data, US$2 per minute, and US$1 per text. AT&T customers also have the option of buying an International Day Pass, a roaming add-on that includes unlimited data, talk, and text for US$12 per day.

Verizon in Mexico

Only one Verizon plan includes free roaming in Mexico — Unlimited Ultimate. If you have a different plan, your pay-as-you-go roaming charges will be US$2.05 per MB of data, US$0.99 per minute, and US$0.50 per text.

However, Verizon customers can buy TravelPass to offset roaming costs. TravelPass costs US$6 per day in Mexico, and you only pay on days you use your phone abroad. It lets you use your domestic talk, text, and data allowance while roaming.

Use this table to quickly compare the US providers’ roaming charges in Mexico:

Note: All data in this article was collected in May 2026. Check with your provider for the most up-to-date rates.

Roaming charges in Mexico for UK and Canadian travelers

If you’re traveling from the UK or Canada, your provider may handle Mexico roaming differently. Here’s a quick overview of roaming charges in Mexico for the top Commonwealth mobile providers.

EE roaming in Mexico (UK)

If you have the EE Full Works or Max plan or the Roaming Inclusive Extra or Roam Further add-on, roaming in Mexico is included. However, other customers will need to pay roaming charges. EE’s standard pay-as-you-go roaming rates are US$3.31(£2.46) per minute and US$1.32 (£0.98) per text. To use data in Mexico, you’ll need to get a travel pass:

• 24-hour pass — US$8.08 (£6) for calls, texts, and use of your UK data allowance.

• 7-day pass — US$40.40 (£30) for calls, texts, and use of your UK data allowance.

O2 roaming in Mexico (UK)

Roaming in Mexico is included in O2’s Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, but if you don’t have this add-on on your plan, you can get one of these packs:

• 1 GB for US$8.08 (£6).

• 3 GB for US$17.51 (£13).

• 5 GB for US$24.25 (£18).

Pay monthly customers also have the option of buying a travel pass for a flat rate of US$9.43 (£7) per day.

Pay-as-you-go users get a slight discount on roaming charges in Mexico, and they can get data access, but for a premium charge:

• US$2.69 (£2) per minute.

• US$0.67 (£0.50) per text.

• US$9.70 (£7.20) per MB.

Vodafone roaming in Mexico (UK)

Vodafone UK’s roaming charges in Mexico vary depending on your plan and when it started. If your plan has the Global Roam add-on, roaming in Mexico is included (up to 25 GB of data).

Vodafone UK pay-as-you-go customers have the option of buying an Around the World Extra:

• US$24.25 (£18) for 2 GB, 100 minutes, and 100 texts for 8 days.

• US$38.73 (£28.75) for 4 GB, 200 minutes, and 200 texts for 15 days.

If you don’t buy any extras, your pay-as-you-go roaming charges in Mexico will be:

• US$0.81 (£0.60) per minute.

• US$0.11 (£0.08) per text.

• US$0.89 (£0.66) per picture message.

• US$0.16 (£0.12) per MB of data.

Rogers roaming in Mexico (CA)

While none of Rogers Communications’s plans include roaming in Mexico, they do offer a variety of different add-ons that you can get to use your Canadian data, talk, and text allowance on your trip:

• Roam Like Home Daily — US$13.15 (CA$18) per day.

• 7-day Caribbean and Mexico Travel Pass — US$43.82 (CA$60).

• 14-day Caribbean and Mexico Travel Pass — US$51.12 (CA$70).

• 30-day Caribbean and Mexico Travel Pass — US$65.72 (CA$90).

If you don’t have a travel pass, Rogers will charge you the following pay-as-you-go rates:

• US$2.19 (CA$3) per minute.

• US$0.55 (CA$0.75) per text.

• US$10.95 (CA$15) per 10 MB of data.

Bell roaming in Mexico (CA)

Bell Canada’s Roam Better plan allows customers to roam like at home in Mexico for an additional US$11.68 (CA$16) per day. If you don’t have the Roam Better plan, you can order a travel add-on:

• 14-day Caribbean and Mexico Travel Pass — US$51.12 (CA$70).

• 30-day International Travel Pass — US$87.63 (CA$120).

If you don’t have a travel pass, you’ll be charged Bell’s pay-per-use rates for Mexico:

• US$1.82 (CA$2.50) per minute.

• US$0.72 (CA$0.99) per text.

You don’t get data access on the pay-per-use rates, so you have to order a travel pass if you want to get data in Mexico.

This table compares UK and Canadian mobile providers’ roaming charges in Mexico:

Note: Prices accurate as of May 2026. 

How to avoid roaming charges in Mexico

Whether your provider is from the US, the UK, or Canada, roaming fees in Mexico can add up quickly. Follow these practical tips to avoid roaming charges in Mexico:

• Turn off data roaming. If you turn off data roaming on your phone before your trip, your phone won’t be able to connect to international networks. That means you won’t get any unexpected roaming charges, but you also won’t be able to access cellular data.

• Monitor data usage. If you don’t want to turn off roaming entirely, you can monitor your data usage so that you understand exactly how much your phone bill will be. Check your data usage in your phone’s settings, turn off background activity for apps, and avoid high-data activities like video streaming and downloading large files.

• Use Wi-Fi when available. Wi-Fi allows you to connect to the internet without using data or incurring roaming fees. Most carriers support Wi-Fi calling, and you can also use Wi-Fi to search the internet and send texts via apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and iMessage. However, keep in mind that public Wi-Fi networks can be unsafe.

• Pre-download content. Download maps, videos, and music that you’ll need during your trip to your device before you leave. That way, you won’t need data to access them.

While your phone will work in Mexico, data roaming isn’t the only way to access the internet in Mexico. Keep reading for more cost-effective alternatives.

Best alternatives to roaming in Mexico

Let’s explore the best alternatives to roaming in Mexico.

eSIMs: The easiest way to stay connected in Mexico

An eSIM is a virtual SIM card. eSIMs use technology that is pre-built into most of today’s smartphones to connect to international networks without the hassle of swapping out physical SIM cards in your device.

With an eSIM for Mexico, you can get reliable, high-speed data access from top Mexican carriers. Like data roaming, an eSIM activates as soon as you arrive in Mexico. However, unlike data roaming, prepaid eSIM data plans are much more affordable. Plus, eSIMs give you extra security, and you never have to worry about your SIM being lost, stolen, or damaged.

Simply put, for most travelers, an eSIM is the easiest way to stay connected in Mexico. eSIMs offer the best combination of performance, value, and convenience.

Local SIM cards in Mexico

If you have an older phone that isn’t eSIM compatible, you can buy a local SIM card in Mexico. Telcel, AT&T Mexico, and Movistar all offer prepaid SIM cards designed for tourists. You can pick up a Mexican SIM card at the airport, mobile providers’ retail locations, and convenience stores. If you don’t speak Spanish, your best bet will be to buy your local Mexican SIM at the airport, as all the attendants there will speak English, even though airport SIM card prices tend to be more expensive.

When you use a physical SIM card, you’ll temporarily lose access to your home phone number while the local SIM is inserted, and you’ll need to make sure that you don’t lose or damage your home SIM card during the swap. Not to mention, while Mexico is safe to visit, petty crime is possible in crowded urban areas like Mexico City. If a pickpocket steals your wallet or bag where you’re storing your home SIM card, they could use it to access your accounts or steal your identity.

💡 Pro tip: If your phone can support both an eSIM and a physical SIM, check out our article on an eSIM vs. a physical SIM to determine which option is best for you.

Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is widely available throughout Mexico in hotels, restaurants, and cafes, and you can also find Wi-Fi at Cancún Airport and other transit centers. However, public Wi-Fi is not a very reliable way to access the internet during your trip. You may not be close to a free network when you really need it, and public Wi-Fi has very lax security, opening you up to the dangers of cybercriminals and malware. If you do connect to public Wi-Fi in Mexico, be sure to use a VPN for protection.

Plan ahead and save money on your Mexican vacation

You can find many amazing things to do in Mexico, and you’ll likely want your travel budget to go towards tamales, museum tickets, and souvenirs, not your phone bill. You can avoid high roaming charges in Mexico by understanding your provider’s plans and managing your data usage carefully.

However, if you want to skip the high fees entirely, an eSIM gives you all the convenience of data roaming with none of the price tag. Download an eSIM for Mexico to maximize fun and minimize stress!