Summary
A local SIM card bought on arrival is still the cheapest option for a single-country trip — India’s Jio offers 28 days of unlimited data for under AUD $5; the Philippines’ Globe and Smart offer 30-day data plans for under PHP 500 (approximately AUD $13); Vietnam’s Viettel charges roughly AUD $3 for 30 days of 4G data
For multi-country trips, a global physical SIM card removes the need to buy a new SIM in each country — OneSim and Orange Holiday World cover 100+ countries with a single card that you buy before you leave Australia; more expensive per GB than local SIMs but significantly more convenient
Australian carrier roaming plans (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) are the most expensive option — convenient but typically 5-10x the cost of a local or global SIM; worth using only for very short trips or in countries where local SIMs are difficult to obtain
When it comes to staying connected overseas, nothing beats a local SIM card for pure value. The moment you land in Mumbai, Manila or Ho Chi Minh City, you can buy a local prepaid SIM for less than the cost of a coffee — and be connected to 4G or 5G within minutes. But local SIMs only work in one country, require a passport, and mean hunting for a phone shop on arrival.
This guide covers the five best physical SIM card options for Australians travelling overseas — from local SIMs in OrbitRemit’s top corridors to global SIMs that work across 100+ countries.
Option 1: Local SIM cards by country — cheapest overall
For a single-country trip, nothing beats a local prepaid SIM bought on arrival. Here are the best options in OrbitRemit’s top destination corridors:
India — Jio
Best local SIM for India from Australia
Jio is India’s largest telecom operator and offers the best value prepaid SIM for travellers. Available at Jio stores and authorised resellers in every major Indian city and airport.
Best plan for travellers: JioSim ₹179 (approximately AUD $3.20) — 28 days, unlimited calls, 2GB data per day (then throttled to 64kbps). For heavy data users: ₹299 (AUD $5.40) — 28 days, 3GB per day.
Coverage: Excellent in cities; 4G and 5G in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai. Coverage extends to most towns and highways.
Important for Australians: You need a local Indian address and Indian reference (someone who has an Aadhaar card) to activate a Jio SIM. Your hotel can usually assist. It takes 24-48 hours to fully activate — buy on Day 1 of your trip.
Alternative: Airtel — similar pricing to Jio, with marginally better rural coverage in some states. BSNL is cheaper but slower and less reliable.
Philippines — Globe or Smart
Best local SIMs for the Philippines
Globe and Smart (PLDT) are the two dominant networks in the Philippines. Both sell tourist SIMs at NAIA airport (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and across convenience stores, 7-Eleven and SM malls nationwide.
Globe GoSAKTO or GoUNLI plans: PHP 299-499 (approximately AUD $8-$13) — 30 days, unlimited data (with varying fair use policies). GCash mobile wallet works on Globe.
Smart GigaLife plans: Similar pricing — 30-day data plans from PHP 349 (approximately AUD $9).
Which to choose: Globe is generally preferred in Metro Manila and the Visayas; Smart can be stronger in Mindanao and some rural areas. Ask locals which network has better coverage in your specific destination.
Coverage: Excellent in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and major islands. More limited on smaller islands — check coverage maps before heading to remote destinations.
Vietnam — Viettel or Vietnamobile
Best local SIMs for Vietnam
Vietnam has four major carriers — Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone and Vietnamobile. Viettel is the largest and has the best coverage nationwide.
Viettel tourist SIM: Available at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City). Starting from approximately VND 60,000-120,000 (AUD $3-$6) for 30 days of 4G data (4-8GB depending on plan).
Vietnamobile: Cheaper but slower — suitable for light data use. Better value if you only need WhatsApp and Google Maps.
Coverage: Excellent in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and tourist areas along the coast. Strong 4G in most provincial towns. Limited in remote highland areas.
Passport required: All Vietnamese SIMs require passport registration at point of sale.
Nepal — NTC or Ncell
Best local SIMs for Nepal
Nepal has two main carriers: NTC (Nepal Telecom, government-owned) and Ncell (private, owned by Axiata). Both are available at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
NTC tourist SIM: Available at the airport. Data plans from NPR 500-1,000 (approximately AUD $5-$10) for 30 days.
Ncell SIM: Slightly better for data speeds in Kathmandu; NTC has better coverage in remote mountain areas (important for trekkers).
Trekking regions: Above 3,000m, any SIM card’s coverage becomes unpredictable. NTC is generally the better choice for trekking routes including Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit.
UK — EE, O2 or Three
Best local SIMs for the UK
Available at Heathrow, Gatwick and major UK airports, or ordered online before you travel.
Three (3): Best value for data — unlimited data SIMs from £10-£15 per month (approximately AUD $20-$30). Three’s Go Roam covers 49 European destinations on basic plans and 160+ worldwide destinations on Complete plans — one of the most generous roaming networks in the UK in 2026. Note: a £2.75/day charge applies in Europe and £8/day worldwide on plans joined after December 2025 unless roaming is built into your plan.
EE: Best coverage across the UK including rural Scotland and Wales. More expensive than Three but fewer dead zones.
O2: Competitive data plans; strong London coverage.
Online before you travel: All three carriers sell UK SIMs online that can be delivered to your Australian address before you fly — activate on arrival.
Option 2: Orange Holiday World — best global physical SIM
Coverage: Europe + 100+ countries worldwide including Australia, India, Philippines, Vietnam, USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea and more Best for: Multi-continent trips; travellers visiting multiple countries on one trip Pricing: From approximately USD $40-$60 for a 14-day plan with data across covered countries
Orange Holiday World is a physical SIM card from Orange (one of Europe’s largest carriers) that works across Europe and 100+ countries worldwide. Unlike local SIMs that only work in one country, a single Orange Holiday World SIM covers multiple countries simultaneously — you cross a border and it switches to the local Orange partner network automatically.
Strengths: One SIM for multiple countries; no need to buy a new card at each border; reliable Orange network quality; available online before you leave Australia Weaknesses: 14-day plan limit (not ideal for longer trips); data allowances are not as generous as local SIMs for the price; slower speeds than local carriers in some markets
Best for: Australians doing a Europe + Asia multi-country trip of 2 weeks or less.
Option 3: OneSim — best global SIM for long trips
Coverage: 200+ countries Best for: Long-term travellers; digital nomads; those visiting many countries Pricing: USD $9.95 for the SIM card plus pay-as-you-go data; or choose country-specific data packages
OneSim is a long-standing global SIM card that gives you a phone number and pay-as-you-go connectivity in 200+ countries. It comes with two numbers (one from Estonia, one from your choice of USA, UK, Australia or Canada) — useful for maintaining a local number for your home country contacts while abroad.
Strengths: 200+ country coverage; Australian number option; no monthly commitment; incoming calls on European number often free or very cheap Weaknesses: Pay-as-you-go data is expensive per GB compared to local SIMs; better suited to occasional use than heavy data
Best for: Frequent travellers who want one SIM that works everywhere without buying local cards in each country.
Option 4: Telstra, Optus or Vodafone International Roaming — most convenient but most expensive
Coverage: 80-200 countries depending on carrier and plan Best for: Very short trips; emergencies; travellers who need calls and SMS to work seamlessly Pricing (confirmed August 2026):
| Carrier | Plan | Price | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | Zone 1 (NZ, Fiji, Pacific) | AUD $5/day | 2GB/day |
| Telstra | Zone 2 (80+ global destinations) | AUD $10/day | 2GB/day |
| Telstra | Prepaid roaming pack | AUD $15 for 7 days | 38 countries |
| Optus | Daily Roaming (Choice Plus plans) | AUD $5/day | 5GB/day |
| Optus | Travel Plus (other postpaid plans) | AUD $10/day | 1GB/day |
| Vodafone | Day Pass (100+ countries) | AUD $5/day | Uses local plan allowance |
| Vodafone | Extended destinations | AUD $10/day | Uses local plan allowance |
Vodafone’s standout feature: At AUD $5/day, Vodafone lets you use your existing Australian plan inclusions overseas — if you have 50GB at home, you draw from that pool while abroad. This makes it the best value roaming option for high-data Vodafone plan holders.
Optus’s standout plan: The AUD $5/day Daily Roaming option offers 5GB/day — the most data-generous daily roaming plan of any Australian carrier — but is only available on Choice Plus, Plus Family and Plus Promo plans.
Telstra’s advantage: Widest physical coverage at 80+ destinations; best for remote or unusual travel destinations where Optus and Vodafone may not have roaming partners.
Warning: Without an active roaming plan, all three carriers charge pay-as-you-go rates of up to AUD $3-$20 per MB. Always activate your roaming plan before you land — or switch off data roaming entirely if using a local SIM or eSIM.
Only recommended for:
- Trips of 1-3 days where setting up a local SIM is not worth the effort
- Destinations where local SIMs are very difficult to obtain
- Emergency backup when your local SIM fails
Important: Switch off data roaming on your Australian SIM before you land if using a local or eSIM — otherwise your Australian carrier will start charging the moment you connect to a foreign network.
Option 5: Jetpac Asia-Pacific — best value for Asia-Pacific multi-country
Coverage: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam Best for: Australians doing multi-country Asia-Pacific trips Pricing: USD $40 for 30GB/30 days (approximately AUD $61); or unlimited data with 3GB high-speed per day
Jetpac is an Australian-founded eSIM (also available as a physical SIM in some markets) specifically designed for the Asia-Pacific region. Its 30GB/30-day plan at USD $40 works out to approximately USD $1.33 per GB — among the best value for the Asia-Pacific region. Extras include free airport lounge access on delayed flights and a free VPN subscription.
Traveltomtom (3 days ago): “The Jetpac Asia-Pacific plan with 30 GB data for just $40 USD makes it the best value eSIM for Asia.”
Strengths: Excellent value for Asia-Pacific; covers 16 countries including all major OrbitRemit corridors; built for Australian travellers; airport lounge access and VPN included Weaknesses: Asia-Pacific only — not suitable for Europe or Americas trips
Quick comparison
| Option | Coverage | Cheapest price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local SIM (India/PH/VN) | One country | AUD $3-$13 | Single-country, long stay |
| Orange Holiday World | 100+ countries | ~AUD $60-$90 | Europe + multi-country, 14 days |
| OneSim | 200+ countries | USD $9.95 + data | Long trips, many countries |
| AU carrier roaming | 80-200 countries | AUD $5-$10/day | Short trips, maximum convenience |
| Jetpac Asia-Pacific | 16 Asia-Pacific countries | USD $40/30 days | Asia-Pacific multi-country |
Local SIM vs eSIM vs roaming — which is right for you?
Choose a local SIM if:
- You are visiting one country for more than a week
- You want the cheapest possible data
- You are comfortable buying a SIM on arrival (airport stores are easy)
Choose an eSIM if:
- You are visiting multiple countries
- You want to set everything up before you land
- Your phone supports eSIM (iPhone 14+, most modern Android)
- See our companion guide: The 5 best eSIMs for international travel from Australia →
Choose roaming if:
- Your trip is 1-3 days
- Convenience matters more than cost
- You need calls and SMS to work seamlessly
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
What is the cheapest SIM card for travelling to India from Australia?
Jio is the cheapest and most reliable option — available at Indian airports and Jio stores nationwide. A 28-day plan with 2GB/day costs approximately AUD $3.20 (₹179). You need a local Indian reference to activate — your hotel can usually help.
Can I buy an international SIM card before I leave Australia?
Yes — Orange Holiday World, OneSim and Jetpac all sell online with delivery to Australian addresses. Australian carrier roaming is automatic. Most local SIMs (Jio, Globe, Viettel) must be bought on arrival.
Should I turn off data roaming on my Australian SIM when overseas?
Yes — always. If your Australian SIM connects to a foreign network while abroad, your carrier will charge roaming rates regardless of whether you intended to use it. Turn off data roaming in Settings > Mobile Data > Roaming before you land.
Which SIM works in both India and Philippines on the same trip?
Jetpac Asia-Pacific covers both countries on a single plan. Orange Holiday World also covers both. Alternatively, buy a local Jio SIM in India and a Globe/Smart SIM in the Philippines — typically cheaper than a global plan.
Do I need a passport to buy a local SIM overseas?
In most countries yes — India, Philippines, Vietnam and Nepal all require passport registration for prepaid SIMs. Keep your passport accessible at the airport SIM counter.
What it means for your transfers
Whether you are in India, the Philippines, Vietnam or Nepal — once you are connected, sending money home to family in Australia or receiving money from family is straightforward with OrbitRemit. AUD to INR, PHP, VND and NPR transfers are fee-free from Australia.
Prices are indicative and subject to change. Always verify current plans and coverage at each provider’s official website before purchasing. Last updated August 2026.
Sources: Traveltomtom — Best international SIM cards 2026 (2 days ago) | Traveltomtom — Best SIM cards for Asia 2026 (3 days ago) | The Broke Backpacker — Best international SIM cards 2026 (June 30, 2026) | GoAbroad — Best international SIM cards 2026 (May 15, 2026) | Traveltomtom — Best prepaid SIM card for Australia 2026 (May 26, 2026)
