Buying a Sim Card for Singapore in 2023

Are you traveling to Singapore and looking for the best sim card to stay connected? This the ultimate guide for finding the right sim card for your trip to Singapore. Find out where to buy a sim card for Singapore, up to date prices as per August 2023, info about buying a sim card at Changi International Airport SIN, the best 4G/5G network in Singapore, the best e-sim cards for Singapore, my recommendation and experiences, a vlog about my arrival at Singapore Airport and even info about international sim cards for Singapore.

As a full time world traveler trying to visit every country in the world I change countries all the time and therefore I always need to buy a new prepaid sim card or e-sim card when I get to a new country. Local prepaid sim cards are the best way to get connected when you use a lot of data, e-sim cards are very convenient, but sometimes a little more expensive.

On Traveltomtom you can find already more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Asia, Europe, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Thailand, Bangkok, Australia, Sydney, Auckland, USA, New York, Miami, Dubai, Qatar, Turkey, London, Paris, Spain, Kenya and many more.

So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and e-sim card advice for your destination. Bookmark me!

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends buying a Simba sim card for Singapore in the city center. They have the cheapest prepaid sim card deals for Singapore and they have an excellent 4G network and allow where available prepaid costumers to use the 5G network as well.

Buying a prepaid sim card at Singapore International Airport is possible, but at different rates, see below for more info. Also e-sim cards could be a great way to stay connected when traveling to Singapore, but depending on the length of your trip and the amount of data you need it could be a little more expensive.

If you are traveling to multiple countries on your journey when visiting Singapore it is worth looking into a travel sim card with worldwide coverage. These international sim cards with data make traveling much easier. Check out my comparison of the best sim cards for traveling the world in 2023.

Best e-sim cards for Singapore

The easiest way to get connected when traveling to Singapore in 2023 is an e-sim card. No more visiting a store or swapping sim cards. With an e-sim card you arrange everything online within just a couple minutes and you arrive prepared. You order online, receive a QR code and instructions in your email, apply the settings and you are all set within no time.

Check out the above international e-sim card deals for Singapore:

6 GB data for 10 days = $17.90 USD
6 GB data for 12 days = $19.90 USD
6 GB data for 8 days = $19.90 USD
4 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
8 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
6 GB data for 15 days = $39.90 USD

Click here to directly order a Singapore e-sim card.

These international e-sim cards are valid in up to 120 countries. For more info and e-sim card deals for Singapore check out my article about the best e-sim cards for Singapore in 2023.

Why buying a sim card for Singapore

First off to avoid high roaming costs. Don’t let your trip get ruined by excessive high roaming costs. Some operators charge up to $3 USD for 1 MB data that means opening Instagram will cost you $100 USD. And this is not a joke!

Also don’t be fooled by overseas data roaming plans that make you pay $10 per day or so for unlimited data. Did you read the fine print? Unlimited data at what speed? Yes, there you go! Overseas data roaming plans often cap the data speed. Can you still handle 3G?

Staying connected makes traveling to Singapore so much more convenient. Think about ordering a taxi through an app or using Google Maps for getting directions, finding nearby restaurants, stay in touch with friends, use your banking apps for online payments, emergencies, etc.

There are so many good reasons for having data on your phone when traveling to Singapore.

Mobile Internet operators

For a small country like Singapore there are a lot of mobile internet providers. In total there are 4 mobile internet operators in Singapore: Simba, M1, Sing Tel and starhub. All of them sell prepaid sim cards for tourists and you can buy them in one of their retail stores.

Registration process prepaid sim card Singapore

For buying a prepaid sim card in Singapore you need your passport. A copy of your passport page will be taken in the store for the registration. Your new Singapore sim card will be registered on your name and your passport number. If for some reason you want to avoid this then either order an e-sim card for Singapore or buy an international prepaid sim card for Singapore. There is no registration needed for this way of getting connected in Singapore.

Where to buy a sim card for Singapore

If you decide to buy a local prepaid sim card in Singapore then you can either buy a sim card at Changi International Airport on arrival or get a Singapore sim card in the city.

Below I will tell you in detail everything you need to know for buying a sim card at Changi International Airport. However, the convenience of getting connected straight on arrival comes at a price. Prepaid sim card deals at Singapore Airport are more expensive than in Singapore city center.

Therefore if you want the best sim card deal for Singapore you will have to buy your sim card in the city center. There are plenty of official retail stores from the mobile internet operators across Singapore. If you go to any of the bigger shopping malls you will find them there or simply use Google Maps to locate the nearest sim card shop next to your hotel.

Buying a sim card at Changi International Airport

Info and prices below are updated in August 2023: $1 USD = $1.34 SGD and $1 SGD = $0.74 USD.

The most convenient place to buy your prepaid sim card for Singapore is of course on arrival at Singapore International Airport. There are 3 different terminals for international arrivals, but regardless where you land you are able to buy a prepaid sim card for tourists.

There are several shops that sell sim cards for tourists at Singapore Airport and it is very easy to find them. They are the first stores you see when walking into the arrival hall. After you picked up your bag from the luggage belt you walk through the glass sliding doors and depending which exit you will see sim card stores and car rentals either on your left or right hand side in front of you.

There is a shop called Changi Recommends which has big signs for sim cards. It is impossible to miss!

Also in the arrival hall there are several money exchange kiosks next to the information desks and they also sell prepaid sim cards. The sim card shops at Singapore Airport are open 24 hours, 7 days a week and they accept international credit cards.

Starhub sim cards Singapore Airport

You can buy the Starhub prepaid sim cards from the Money Exchange or from the Changi Recommends stores and they offer the following prepaid sim card deals:

100 GB data for 10 days + 5 GB data roaming for 30 days + $50 SGD credit = $50 SGD ($37 USD)
100 GB data + 5 GB data roaming + 3,000 minutes + 5,000 sms for 12 days = $32 SGD ($24 USD)

M1 sim cards Singapore Airport

See the above photo for the M1 prepaid sim card deals at Singapore Airport. In short:

2 GB per day for 28 days + 5,000 minutes + 1,000 sms = $35 SGD ($26 USD)
2 GB per day for 84 days + 5,000 minutes + 1,000 sms = $60 SGD ($44 USD)

Singtel prepaid sim card Singapore Airport

Singtel offers a 4G sim card and a 5G sim card:

100 GB data on 4G network + 500 minutes = $50 SGD ($37 USD)
120 GB data on 5G network + unlimited calls/sms = $70 SGD ($52 USD)

The Singtel prepaid sim card deals in the city center are $20 SGD cheaper for the exact same package.

As you can see the cheapest sim card for Singapore at Changi International Airport is a Starhub prepaid sim card for $32 SGD ($24 USD) and gives you 100 GB data for 12 days on 4G speed.

If you want a prepaid sim card with 5G speed you have to buy a Singtel sim card. It will cost you $70 SGD ($52 USD) and you will get 120 GB data for 30 days.

Buying a prepaid sim card in Singapore City Center

Packages, prices and data plans constantly. Traveltomtom keeps these blogs as up to date as possible. These are the latest prepaid sim card deals for Singapore as per August 2023.

M1

At M1 they offer a wide range of prepaid sim card plans for tourists:

100 GB data for 7 days + 500 minutes + 100 sms + 20 minutes international calls = $12 SGD ($9 USD)
2 GB data per day for 84 days + 15,000 minutes + 3,000 sms = $60 SGD ($44 USD)
150 GB data for 30 days + 3,000 minutes + 1,000 sms + 50 minutes international calls = $30 SGD ($22 USD)

Be aware that these prepaid sim cards do NOT support 5G.

All the above M! Singapore prepaid sim card deals you can also buy at Singapore International Airport Changi. For more info check the M1 website.

Simba

A Simba prepaid sim card costs only $10 SGD ($7 USD) and gives you 100 GB data for 30 days + unlimited calls/text in Singapore + 1 GB data free roaming. Well that is a great Singapore sim card deal!

Simba allows prepaid costumers to use the 5G network. However, below you will see that Simba has the smallest 5G network in Singapore.

For more info check the Simba website.

SingTel

At Sing Tel they have 2 prepaid sim cards for tourists valid for 28 days. These prepaid sim card deals allow you to use the 5G network.

100 GB data with 5 GB data roaming = $30 SGD ($22 USD)
120 GB data with 10 GB data roaming = $50 SGD ($37 USD)

Both prepaid sim card deals come with unlimited calls/text in Singapore, free* data roaming in Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia.

For more information check out the SingTel website.

Starhub

Starhub offers 2 prepaid sim card deals for tourists:

100 GB data for 10 days + 1,000 minutes + 100 sms = $12 SGD ($9 USD)
100 GB data for 30 days + 3,000 minutes + 5,000 sms = $12 SGD ($9 USD)

Be aware that these Starhub prepaid tourist sim cards are 4G only and do NOT support 5G. There is a couple GB’s roaming to neighboring countries included

For more information check out the Starhub website.

Best 4G/5G network in Singapore in 2023

For determining the best prepaid sim card for traveling in Singapore we should also have a look at the mobile internet coverage and compare the 4G/5G network maps of the mobile internet operators.

Is there 5G in Singapore?

Yes, there is 5G in Singapore. The 5G network in Singapore is probably one of the most advanced ones in the world. Pretty much everywhere you go there is a 5G signal and all the tourist attractions in Singapore have a 5G signal.

However, not all prepaid sim cards for tourists allow you to use 5G, so always ask when buying a sim card in Singapore.

Simba 4G/5G network coverage maps

M1 4G/5G network coverage maps

Starhub 4G/5G network coverage maps

Sing Tel 4G/5G network coverage map

When comparing the above 4G/5G network coverage maps of the mobile internet operators in Singapore. We can come to the simple conclusion that it doesn’t matter so much which prepaid sim card you buy. All of them have a more than excellent 4G network all across the country. However, it is pretty clear that SingTel has the best 4G/5G network in Singapore in 2023.

Best prepaid sim card for Singapore in 2023

One of the conclusions after comparing the prepaid sim card deals for Singapore is that buying a sim card at Changi Airport is more expensive than buying the same prepaid sim card in Singapore city center. So if you want the cheapest prepaid sim card deal you have to wait until you get to the city.

However, buying a sim card on arrival at Singapore Airport is the most convenient place to get connected as shops are open 24 hours and it takes just a couple minutes.

Curious what it looks like arriving and buying a prepaid sim card for Singapore at Changi International Airport then check out my video below.

Comparing the e-sim card deals and international sim card plans for Singapore with a local prepaid sim card it is a very easy conclusion that e-sim cards for Singapore are much more expensive. The great thing about an e-sim card though is that you can order one with the free WiFi from Singapore Airport and it just takes a couple clicks. The first e-sim data plan starts from $17.90 USD.

If you really want a 5G prepaid sim card you have to buy a Singtel sim card. They offer 5G on their prepaid plans. At Singapore Airport the 5G sim card costs $70 SGD, but in the city you can already get a 5G sim card for $30 SGD.

All mobile internet providers in Singapore have an excellent 4G network and therefore when comparing the prices we conclude that SIMBA is the best prepaid sim card for Singapore for tourists in 2023. They already give you 100 GB data + unlimited minutes/calls for 30 days for just $7 USD.

Unfortunately Simba prepaid sim cards are NOT sold at Changi International Airport.

Order a sim card for Singapore online

If all the above sounds like too much hassle or you simply like to make it easy for yourself then you order an international sim card for traveling to Singapore directly online. There pre-activated international prepaid sim cards are valid in 70 – 120 countries and will be shipped to your home address before your trip. On arrival in Singapore you put them in your phone and it is like plug and play. Simple as that and you can order them within just a couple clicks.

Have a look at the following international sim cards for traveling to Singapore:

6 GB data for 10 days = $19.90 USD
10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
12 GB data for 30 days = $29.90 USD
12 GB data for 1 year = $59.90 USD
24 GB data for 2 years = $79.90 USD

Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Singapore directly online.

Also a last reminder that you can also order an e-sim card for Singapore and get connected within just a couple minute without changing a sim card and visiting a store.

How to get from Singapore Airport to the city center

Check the above information sheet for getting to the city center from Changi Airport. However, my prefered way getting from the airport to Singapore center is an Uber/Grab. And although Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, arranging a taxi through the app Grab is not that expensive. Expect to pay for a 25-30 minute taxi ride around $20 – $25 USD.

I am sure some of the above tips for getting connected in Singapore were helpful for your upcoming trip. Wether you buy a prepaid sim card in Singapore, order a sim card online or get an e-sim card I am sure it will make your trip to Singapore much more convenient.

IF you have any more questions please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on social media.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of August 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.

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Enjoy your trip to Singapore!