Traveling to Mongolia? Wondering if you can get mobile internet in Mongolia? Yes, of course. There is a wide range of options to stay connected and you may choose the most suitable one for a smooth and intriguing trip in Mongolia. Now let us check out the best ways to get online while exploring this country.
In this article
There are three major mobile network carriers in Mongolia, which are Mobicom, Skytel, and Unitel.
From the above coverage maps of major carriers in Mongolia, we can see that:
▶ Our recommendation:
Unitel offers the most reliable coverage throughout Mongolia. Thanks to its robust coverage across most towns and cities and various prepaid SIM card for Mongolia plans, Unitel will be a wise choice for tourists traveling in Mongolia.
Overall, Mongolia currently ranks 128th in the world for mobile internet speeds, according to the Speedtest Global Index in January 2024.
▶ Our recommendation:
For the fastest speeds and most consistent performance of mobile networks in Mongolia, you may choose Mobicom. Unitel is also a great option thanks to its broad coverage across the country.
This table summarizes the five options to help travelers access the Internet while exploring Mongolia.
| Option | How it works | Price | Where to buy | Pros | Cons |
| SIM card | Put a Mongolian SIM card into your phone | Varies, depending on the operator, data plan, and trip duration | Major operator stores, airports, convenience stores | Easy to use, affordable, diverse data plans | Unlocked phone required |
| Mongolia eSIM | Download and activate your eSIM profile online | Slightly cheaper than physical SIM cards | Online from trusted eSIM providers | Convenient, affordable | eSIM-compatible phones required |
| Roaming with home provider | Use existing SIM with data roaming plans | Expensive, depending on your home carrier and package | Via home provider | No need to get a local SIM | Extreme costly for substantial usage |
| Pocket Wifi | Rent portable Wifi device | Quite expensive | Rental shops | Rent a portable Wifi device | Daily rental cost, extra things to carry |
| Public Wifi | Free Wifi at places (cafes, malls,…) | Free | Available at certain spots | Convenient for quick access | Unreliable, security concerns |
▶ Our recommendation:
Pro Tips:
Good to know: USD 1 = MNT 3.450 (as of February 18, 2024)
Mobile data plans are widely available as prepaid options from the three main carriers – Mobicom, Unitel, and Skytel. Standard 1GB data bundles start from around 1500-2000 MNT ($0.50-0.70) for 1-day validity.
| Option | Rate (USD) |
| SIM card Mongolia | – 1GB/day prepaid SIM: 1500 MNT ($0.50 USD)- 5GB/week SIM: 7000 MNT ($2.30 USD) |
| eSIM Mongolia | – 1GB/day prepaid SIM: 1500 MNT (USD 0.50)- 5GB/week SIM: 7000 MNT (USD 2.30) |
| Roaming with major operators in Mongolia | Depends on your home provider and your home country |
| Public Wifi | Free |
| Pocket Wifi | 3-5GB/day: 8000-12000 MNT ($2.70-4 USD); Valid for 7-10 days |
Note: The above information is for reference only. Contact your provider for the most up-to-date details.
▶ Our recommendation:
If you prioritize convenience and budget-friendly rates, you may choose to get a physical SIM card from major carriers in Mongolia or purchase a Unitel eSIM from GIGAGO – a reliable eSIM provider that offers a diverse range of eSIM plans at competitive prices.
A data SIM card is undoubtedly an amazing option for travelers to stay online in Mongolia. It comes with convenience, flexibility, and great value compared to other options like Mongolia pocket Wifi or international roaming.
| Network | Price | Data | Validity |
| Mobicom | 20,000 MNT | 5,000 units of credit, 600MB data for 15 days | 90 days |
| Mobicom | 35,000 MNT | 10,000 units of credit, 1.1GB data for 30 days | 90 days |
| Mobicom | 60,000 MNT | 15,000 units of credit, 5GB data for 30 days | 90 days |
| Unitel | 15,000 MNT | 5,000 units of credit, 3GB data for 5 days | 5 days |
| Unitel | 25,000 MNT | 10,000 units of credit, 5GB data for 5 days | 10 days |
| Unitel | 40,000 MNT | 20,000 units of credit, 20GB data for 5 days | 30 days |
| Skytel | 30,000 MNT | 10,000 units of credit, 5GB data for 10 days | 10 days |
| Skytel | 50,000 MNT | 20,000 units of credit, 10GB data for 15 days | 15 days |
Pro Tip: Only choose to get an eSIM plan if your smartphone supports eSIM technology.
eSIM has become a popular option to get mobile internet among tourists traveling in Mongolia, especially tech-savvy travelers. It provides tourists with many advantages such as easy purchase and activation, instant setup, multiple profiles, no risk of physical loss, etc.
If you want to have an eSIM for your Mongolia trip, you can get it from Mongolia operators or via reputable eSIM providers.
The major mobile carriers in Mongolia like Unitel provide prepaid eSIM packages that are suitable for tourists visiting the country.
Document required:
Pros of getting eSIM from mobile carriers in Mongolia:
Cons of getting eSIM from main carriers in Mongolia:
Another choice is to buy eSIM from Gigago, a reliable eSIM provider. The benefits of getting an eSIM plan for Mongolia via Gigago include:
Advice: It is advisable to select the Mongolian eSIM plan that best suits your data usage, budget, and trip duration.
Yes, prepaid SIM cards are easily available at airports and in cities. Tourists can purchase and use prepaid SIM cards immediately.
Unitel has the most extensive 4G network across Mongolia including remote provinces, offering reliable connectivity throughout the country.
No, using your own network’s roaming costs significantly more than using a local prepaid SIM with affordable data packages available.
Yes, most popular tourist destinations in Mongolia have cellular connectivity. Remote areas may have patchy signals.
To sum up, getting mobile internet in Mongolia is straightforward and you can choose from many options like physical SIM cards, eSIMs, pocket Wifi, etc. It is best to purchase a data SIM card or a data eSIM for flexibility, affordability, and great value. Do not forget to estimate your data usage to select the plan that fits your needs.
Tourists planning a trip to Mongolia should not ignore this blog, as it will explore data roaming in Mongolia and compare the costs and features of roaming versus the best alternatives to get Internet for tourists. By learning about available alternatives and how to enable or disable roaming, travelers can choose the most cost-effective solution to stay connected while exploring Mongolia.
With limited cell service and few Internet cafes, a pocket Wifi in Mongolia can be a lifesaver for tourists who need to navigate tourist spots as well as unfamiliar terrain.
Unitel SIM cards or eSIM offer reliable connectivity for calls, texts, and Internet access nearly anywhere in the country.
Getting MobiCom SIM cards or eSIMs is an easy way to stay connected while exploring the vast grasslands and cultural gems of this beautiful country.
There are several cellular internet providers and Skytel is one of the major ones. Tourists may buy affordable Skytel SIM cards and eSIMs for easy Internet access during their trips to Mongolia.
Getting a SIM card is a great way to stay connected with your family and friends back home and use navigation, transport, delivery, and social media apps for a wonderful trip in Ulaanbaatar.
