Digi is a leading telco in Malaysia that provides various Digi SIM card & eSIM and connectivity solutions to consumers as well as businesses. In this article, we will explore Digi’s offerings of physical SIM cards and discuss the latest digital eSIM technology available on selected devices with Digi’s network.
How to buy a SIM Card at Malaysia Airport & City 2024: Best Plans + Updated Price
Are you going to travel to Malaysia but still wondering about buying a SIM card at Malaysia Airport? Today, we would like to share you with the article: “How to buy a SIM Card at Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Airport & City 2024: Best Plans + Updated Price”. Let’s take a look!
In this article
I. Can I buy a SIM Card at Malaysia Airport?
Yes, getting a SIM card when you travel to Malaysia is a smart move for tourists. These are some pros when tourist buy
Benefits of a Malaysian SIM Card:
- Skip roaming fees: Using your home country’s SIM card in Malaysia can get really expensive. A local SIM card saves you money.
- Easy local info: Get access to apps and websites with information about Malaysian services, transportation, and special deals.
- Stay in touch: Easily call or message family and friends back home.
- Security: Unlike public WiFi, using your own SIM card can be more secure for your personal information.
While convenient, buying a SIM card at the airport can be pricier with fewer plan choices, and you might face a wait during busy arrival times.
II. Where to buy a SIM card for Malaysia?
There are three ways for tourists to buy Malaysia SIM cards: buying online before departure, buying at the airport, and buying in the city center.
1. Online before departure (Malaysia SIM & eSIM)
To buy Malaysia SIM and eSIM, you can buy via online providers. If you would like to buy a physical SIM card pick up at KLIA airport, please visit the website Headout.com. Or if you are interested in eSIM, you can get one from the GIGAGO website – one of the top eSIM providers for tourists.
For the price, these types of SIM have different packages for you to select. Hence, they suit all walks of life. However, it still has some pros and cons:
- It is convenient when you buy a SIM card because it is cheap and we can control the data cost. However, you have to wait for delivery if you buy a SIM card online.
- For an eSIM, you can use the Internet immediately because the provider will send you a QR code to scan, then get an eSIM online, which saves a lot of time. Nevertheless, an eSIM can only be activated with high-model devices like iPhones. Therefore, you should check your phones first to ensure your phones support using an eSIM.
2. At Malaysia Airport
You can buy a SIM card at Malaysia Airport such as Kuala Lumpur Airport, from mobile stalls, and convenience stores at the airport. However, its price is extremely expensive although the benefit is that you can use the Internet immediately after landing. Plus, there are not many options for you to choose and you need to wait for a long time to get one.
3. In the city center
You can buy a SIM card at mobile detailers or stores in the Malaysian city center. However, there may be language barriers between you and Malaysian. Plus, the customers do not always support you in setting up SIM cards, so you have to do it by yourself unless you buy SIM cards from the official stores of mobile operators.
II. Where to Buy a SIM Card at Malaysia Airport?
There are four mobile operators that you can find their stores at the airport in Malaysia Kular Lumpua airport:
- Maxis/Hotlink
- Celcom
- Digi
- U Mobile
These stores are located before and after immigration in the arrival areas of both Terminal 1 and 2. You can find some smaller phone kiosks that also sell SIM cards near the international transfer counters.
Besides Kular Lumpua Airport, you can find some mobile kiosks at other airports such as Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) and Penang International Airport (PEN):
- Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI): DiGi, Celcom, and U Mobile have stores at BKI. Hence, you can buy SIM cards from these operators at this airport as well.
- Penang International Airport (PEN): SIM card stores for operators like Celcom, Digi, and U Mobile. Travelers can find their stores on the arrival floor.
III. Registration Process When Buying a SIM Card at Malaysia Airport – What to Prepare
To purchase a SIM card at Malaysia Airport, travelers have to prepare:
- Passport or VISA: You will need to show your passport at the SIM store for registration and identity verification. The staff will make a replica of your passport to save the information. For certain nationalities, Malaysia requires an on-arrival visa. Make sure to get one in advance if needed. Present the visa along with your passport.
- Cash or Credit Card: You need to have enough cash or credit card to pay for the sales.
Note: Check your phone's lock status before buying a prepaid SIM card for using abroad. Moreover, do not forget to check your SIM size because there are different phones using nano, micro, or standard SIM sizes.
IV. Best Tourist Malaysia Airport SIM Card Options and Price
Good to know: 1 Malaysian Ringgit equals = 0.21 United States Dollars (Updated in January 2024)
There are 04 main mobile operators for you to buy SIM cards at the airport:
- Tune Talk (Celcom Network): You can buy a SIM card from KLIA airport with a LITE plan up to RM25 (nearly USD 5.80). You will have 15GB of data valid for 7 days
- Celcom will offer SIM cards for tourists from KLIA, KKIA, and PEN airport stores. Here are two main options that you can choose: 12GB data for 7 days: RM25 (~USD5.80) and 25GB data for 15 days: RM38 (~USD8.75)
- Digi also has its kiosks at KLIA, KKIA, and PEN airports. You can buy a SIM card with 15GB of data for 7 days which costs about RM28 (~USD6.50). And 30GB of data for 15 days with a price up to RM38 (~USD8.75)
- Maxis/Hotlink only has its stores at KLIA airport. Tourists have to pay RM30 (~USD6.95) for 15GB of data for 7 days and RM55(~USD12.75) for 20GB of data for 7 days.
► Our recommendation: Overall, buying SIM cards from Tune Talk, Celcom, and Digi SIMs between RM25-30 provides the best value when purchasing at Malaysian airports.
VI. eSIM for Malaysia – an Alternative to Prepaid SIM Card Malaysia
You can choose a SIM card at the international airport if you have a suitable budget. If not, an eSIM can be considered the top plan to get connected in Malaysia. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of eSIMs and Physical SIM Cards:
eSIMs | Physical SIM Cards | |
Pros | – It is convenient and easy to set up because you do not need to physically insert or remove a SIM card, just scan the QR code and activate it. – An eSIM is flexible when you can switch between different providers, and plans using device settings easily. | – It is affordable because its price is quite cheap. – SIM cards can be found everywhere and used for most device types. |
Cons | – An eSIM will require a high-model device to set up such as an iPhone. | – eSIMs can be lost easily if the owners remove them from the device. – It is difficult to set up because a SIM card requires us to remove and insert a card into devices. |
Hence, if your devices support eSIM, it will be better to use eSIM to get a smooth trip in Malaysia. You can buy eSIMs before your departure when you’re still in your home country via the Gigago website.
GIGAGO is an eSIM provider that offers you different plans and packages. You will receive an eSIM code immediately through this operator. Please refer to the below information to get to know more about GIGAGO’s eSIM plans and packages.
VII. FAQs
1. Which SIM card is best in Malaysia for tourists?
There are six main mobile operators in Malaysia including Digi, Maxis/Hotlink, Celcom, U Mobile, Yes, and Unifi/Bebas. We highly recommend you buy SIM cards from Digi, Maxis/Hotlink, and Celcom because they offer the best service for customers.
2. Where to get a SIM card at KLA?
You can buy a SIM card at the kiosks of mobile operators such as Maxis/Hotlink, Celcom, Digi, and U Mobile. Let’s visit their stores and get one for yourself!
3. Can I buy a SIM card from the airport?
Yes, you can buy a SIM card from the airport. However, the price of SIM cards is quite high when you buy them at the airport.
VIII. Conclusion
In conclusion, tourists can purchase SIM cards at Malaysia Airport from mobile operators’ stores here. However, you will have to pay a higher price if you tend to buy SIM cards at the airport. Plus, you also do not have various plans to choose from and need to wait in line.
Therefore, we still highly recommend you to buy an eSIM for your Malaysian trip due to its convenience, and affordable price. Moreover, you also can save a lot of time by buying a SIM card at Malaysia airport.