Whether you’re heading to bustling Colombo or want to weave through the tea plantations by train, you’ll likely want to share your experiences on social media or with family. Unfortunately, hotel Wi-Fi may not always be the most reliable, or you may often find yourself out of its reach. The solution is to purchase a SIM card or directly opt for Sri Lanka eSIM. And we’re here to help you choose.
Sri Lanka eSIM: How to Choose the Best One?
You should definitely consider the expected length of your stay and the volume of data you’ll consume. Bear in mind that you’re likely to be outside of Wi-Fi signals on vacation, so your consumption of data might be higher than at home.
Also, consider whether you’ll be staying mainly around big cities and resorts or heading “into the wild”. Based on that, it’s appropriate to select the operator and its coverage. You’ll be best off with operators Dialog and Mobitel.
If you’re heading from Sri Lanka to other Asian countries, a global eSIM covering multiple countries at once might be useful. If unsure, check out our article on choosing the best eSIM.
The Most Cost-Effective Sri Lanka eSIM
Let’s see how much the most commonly used data packages cost. We’ve selected for you the most advantageous and reliable providers.
Cheapest Packages
Need an eSIM just as a backup and 1 GB will suffice? We recommend purchasing from MobiMatter, where you can get 1 GB of data for $3.99. The validity of this package is 14 days, which is enough for an average vacation. In this case, you’ll be connected via the Mobitel operator, which has decent coverage.
For the same price of $3.99, you can also get 1 GB of data from Monty eSIM. However, the validity here is only 7 days, and you won’t know through whom you’ll be connected. However, this eSIM is valid in 50 other countries.
Another alternative is Airalo, where 1 GB costs $4.5, and the validity is also only 7 days, but it offers connection via the country’s best operator, Dialog.
Average Data Usage (5 GB)
If you use Wi-Fi on vacation but still want the option to check maps or opening hours occasionally, then 5 GB of data might be enough for you.
Monty eSIM offers this amount the cheapest at $12.99. Again, you won’t know which operator you’ll be connected to, so it’s not the ideal eSIM for traveling around Sri Lanka. If you’re only there for a few days in the capital and then heading to other Asian countries, it might be suitable since it covers another 50 countries. The eSIM’s validity is 30 days.
Just a cent more expensive, at $13, you can get an eSIM from Airalo. The validity is also 30 days, and you’re connected through the best operator, Dialog.
Nomad offers an eSIM for the same price, but you’ll be connected through Hutch operator, which probably won’t work in the remote parts of Sri Lanka. However, Nomad also offers an eSIM for $14, with which you’re connected through Dialog or Mobitel, which is pretty good since where one operator doesn’t work, the other will.
High Data Usage (10 GB)
For those who don’t like to hold back, there’s the option of a 10 GB package. The cheapest is available from Nomad, at $20 with a 30-day validity and a combination of the best operators in the country. Nomad also offers a 15 GB package for $24.
Just a dollar more expensive, at $21, you have an identical package from Airalo. It also offers a 20 GB package for $32. Following them is MobiMatter with a price of $21.99 for 10 GB. It also offers a 20 GB package, but it’s not really worth it. With Monty eSIM, again, you can get a global eSIM covering multiple countries, priced at $21.88.
Unlimited Data
Unlimited internet is offered only by Holafly and YOHO Mobile.
Holafly offers packages from 5 up to 90 days. The golden holiday middle ground of 15 days is for $47. However, longer-term plans are quite worth it if you’re staying in Sri Lanka for several months. For 90 days, you pay only $99, which is not bad at all for three months of unlimited data. Plus, you’ll be connected through both Mobitel and Dialog, so it couldn’t be better. Just rememberthat with Holafly, you won’t be able to create a hotspot for your laptop.
With Maya Mobile you pay $44 for 15 days. If you want to share data you pay extra $20.
YOHO mobile offers only 30 days of unlimited data for $79.3. Here you can create a hotspot, but unfortunately, it’s not entirely unlimited, as they significantly slow you down after 30 GB.
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Overview of the Most Cost-Effective eSIM Packages for Sri Lanka
| Provider | GB | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| MobiMatter | 1 GB | $3.99 | 14 days |
| Airalo | 5 GB | $13 | 30 days |
| Nomad | 10 GB | $20 | 30 days |
| Holafly | Unlimited | $47 | 15 days |
Traditional SIM Card in Sri Lanka
A local SIM card is a much cheaper option. If you don’t mind waiting in line and presenting your passport.
You can easily get a SIM card at the airport, where SIM cards from three providers – Dialog, Mobitel, and Airtel – are available. Hutch also operates in the country but doesn’t have good coverage or a booth at the airport. Prices at the airport are slightly higher than in the city center, but it’s not so bad that it’s worth shopping around supermarkets after arriving in the center. Be prepared that operators only accept cash in the local currency. With Dialog, you can also purchase an eSIM.
Dialog has the best coverage, followed by Mobitel. If you’re venturing beyond the capital, we recommend choosing one of them, as, for example, with Airtel, it’s a gamble outside of Colombo.
Dialog offers a variety of plans from a few GB to 100 GB. The most popular packages are 10 GB for $2.3; 30 GB for $5.7; 50 GB for $7.7, and if you need a lot of data, then 100 GB is for $10. All these include a few minutes of calls and some SMS. The validity of all packages is 30 days.
Mobitel offers slightly cheaper variants. 30 GB is available for $3.1, again with SMS and calls. You have the option to choose packages with unlimited social media, etc. However, this operator has a rule that you can only use up to 1 GB of data per day.
These are “anytime” packages, meaning you can use the data both day and night. With some operators, you might find that some data volume can only be used during the day (i.e., from 8:00 AM to midnight) and some only at night. So, be careful not to buy a pig in a poke.
Some SIM cards can be topped up directly in the operator’s app. You can ask about this when purchasing. Alternatively, top-ups can be made at any operator’s store or supermarket.
Summary
In summary, a SIM card will be significantly more advantageous than an eSIM. The country offers a large number of packages with various volumes from a few GB to hundreds of GB. Definitely buy from Dialog or possibly Mobitel.
If you still prefer an eSIM, you won’t go wrong with any of the main providers on the market, such as MobiMatter, Nomad, or Airalo. Unlimited eSIM is mainly worthwhile for longer stays, and then Holafly is the way to go.
Whatever your purpose for traveling to Sri Lanka, enjoy your stay.
