Prepaid SIM / eSIM in Chile: How much does it cost? Where to buy one? (2024)
Buy an eSIM valid for Chile
If you have an eSIM-compatible phone and want one for Chile, you can go through Holafly (read our article on the topic).
See eSIM offers for Argentina. Feel free to use the promo code TOURDUMONDE5CONTINENTS
Holafly offers plans with unlimited internet. The price varies depending on the number of days you want.
In a few clicks, you have internet on your phone!
Buying a SIM card at the airport
Having landed quite late and still having my Argentine SIM card (which also works in Chile), I didn’t take the time to check the offers available at the airport.
If you have any info, feel free to share it in the comments.
Buying a SIM card in town
Chile is one of the countries I’ve visited where it’s easiest to buy a SIM card in town.
You’ll find newsstands, phone shops, operator stores, … selling them on every street corner.
Just keep your eyes open to spot one of the operators’ logos (Movistar, Claro, Entel, …) or see “SIM Chip” written.
The offers are cheap, you don’t need to show ID, and the SIM activates automatically once it’s in your phone.
Movistar
We bought our first SIM card directly at our hotel reception, which had them available.
It was a Movistar card with 2GB of internet and 100 minutes of WhatsApp, valid for 7 days. At a price of 3,000 CLP (the hotel was surely taking a small cut).
Movistar works great, but if you want to top up your card, it’s not really designed for foreigners. The app can’t be installed if your phone isn’t geographically set to Chile. To create an account on the website, you need a Chilean ID, …
It’s certainly possible to top up by buying credit from a merchant, but it’s not practical.
Claro
We preferred to buy another SIM card.
We passed by a photocopy shop that offered Claro SIM cards.
For 2,000 CLP, we got 3GB of data and 300 minutes of calls. Valid for 3 months.
After inserting the SIM card into your phone, you receive a text with your number and a link to top up the card (without even needing to create an account). You can pay by bank card. Very convenient.
Wom
By chance during our travels, we passed by this small street kiosk of the operator Wom that had a particularly interesting offer: 7GB + 200 minutes of calls, valid for 30 days, for only 1,000 CLP.
For Easter Island?
If you plan to go to Easter Island, choose an Entel card. It’s the only operator that works properly on the island.
