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You land in Madrid, your phone shows one bar, and your home carrier wants a daily roaming fee for the privilege of using Google Maps. Or you bought a “Spain eSIM” online and found out afterwards that it has no Spanish phone number, so the restaurant can’t call to confirm your table. In 2026, the cost of a SIM card in Spain is low, but the choices are confusing. This guide gives you the real numbers for budget travellers: what each operator charges, where to buy, and how to avoid paying more than you need to.
A quick note on figures: the plan names and prices below are typical 2026 offers. Operators adjust their plans often, so check the operator’s website before you buy.
What a SIM Card Really Costs in Spain in 2026
There are two costs to keep in mind. The first is the SIM card itself, which usually costs €5 to €15. It often comes with some starting credit or a basic plan. The second is the monthly plan, which you top up every 28 days (not every calendar month). Most plans fall between €9.99 and €20.
Budget, mid-range and comfortable tiers
- Budget (€9.99–€10 per 28 days): Lycamobile National S at €9.99 with 30 GB, or Vodafone Prepago S at €10 with 25 GB.
- Mid-range (€14.99–€15 per 28 days): Lycamobile National M (€14.99, 60 GB), Vodafone Prepago M (€15, 50 GB), Orange Prepago Go Play (€15, 40 GB) or Movistar Prepago Plus (€15, 30 GB).
- Comfortable (€20 per 28 days): Movistar Prepago Premium (60 GB) or Orange Prepago Go Max (70 GB).
Add the one-off SIM cost and a budget traveller staying up to four weeks can expect to spend roughly €15 to €25 in total on the cheapest option. A local SIM is clearly cheaper than a third-party travel eSIM for anyone staying more than a few days.
The Four Prepaid Plans Compared
Spain has three main network operators: Movistar, Vodafone and Orange. Lycamobile is a popular virtual operator (MVNO) that runs on the Movistar network. All four plans below include unlimited national calls within Spain.
Movistar: best coverage
Movistar is the largest operator and has the strongest coverage in rural areas. If your route includes small villages, mountain regions or long drives, this is the safest choice.
- Prepago Plus: 30 GB (about 10 GB usable for EU roaming), 20 national SMS, €15 per 28 days.
- Prepago Premium: 60 GB (about 15 GB for EU roaming), 50 national SMS, €20 per 28 days.
- Website: movistar.es/particulares/movil/tarifas-moviles/prepago/
- Top-up: Movistar stores, the website, the My Movistar app, ATMs and retail outlets.
Vodafone: cheap and simple
Vodafone has good coverage and often the lowest price among the big three.
- Prepago S: 25 GB (about 9 GB for EU roaming), SMS pay-as-you-go, €10 per 28 days.
- Prepago M: 50 GB (about 14 GB for EU roaming), SMS pay-as-you-go, €15 per 28 days.
- Website: vodafone.es/particulares/es/movil/prepago/
- Top-up: Vodafone stores, the website, the My Vodafone app and retail outlets.
Orange: more data and more SMS
Orange offers the biggest data bundle on this list, plus generous SMS allowances.
- Prepago Go Play: 40 GB (about 12 GB for EU roaming), 100 national SMS, €15 per 28 days.
- Prepago Go Max: 70 GB (about 18 GB for EU roaming), 200 national SMS, €20 per 28 days.
- Website: orange.es/tarifas/prepago
- Top-up: Orange stores, the website, the My Orange app and retail outlets.
Lycamobile: lowest price
Lycamobile is the budget pick. It gives you unlimited national SMS as well as unlimited national calls.
- National S: 30 GB (about 8 GB for EU roaming), €9.99 per 28 days.
- National M: 60 GB (about 15 GB for EU roaming), €14.99 per 28 days.
- Website: lycamobile.es
- Top-up: the website, the Lycamobile app, kiosks and many small convenience stores.
Because Lycamobile uses the Movistar network, you get Movistar’s reach at a lower price. For most budget travellers, National S or National M is the best value.
How to Buy a SIM Card Step by Step
Where to buy
- Operator stores: Movistar, Vodafone and Orange have shops in most cities and towns. Staff can activate the SIM and answer questions, so this is usually the best option.
- Airports: Kiosks and operator stores at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez and Barcelona-El Prat sell SIMs. Prices can be slightly higher, but you get data the moment you land.
- Supermarkets and electronics stores: Carrefour, El Corte Inglés and MediaMarkt often sell prepaid SIMs from several operators.
- Locutorios and newsstands: These small shops sometimes sell Lycamobile and other virtual-operator SIMs.
- Online: Some operators deliver to a Spanish address, but that rarely works for a short trip.
What you need
Spanish law requires ID for every SIM purchase. Non-EU visitors show a passport. EU citizens and Spanish residents can use a national ID card (DNI or NIE). The seller scans or records your details, and the SIM is usually active right after purchase. Bring the physical document, not just a photo.
The process
- Unlock your phone before you leave home. A locked phone will not accept a new SIM.
- Find an official operator store or a trusted retailer.
- Choose a plan. If you plan to visit other EU countries, ask about the EU roaming data limit.
- Show your passport or EU ID.
- Pay for the SIM and the first 28-day plan.
- Let the staff activate it, then insert the SIM.
- Test it before you leave the shop: make a call and load a web page.
If you want to practise some Spanish, try “Tarjeta SIM de prepago, por favor,” “Con datos,” and “¿Cuánto cuesta?” Staff in tourist areas often speak English, but these phrases are quicker in small towns.
eSIM or Physical SIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM. You scan a QR code and your phone connects, with no plastic card and no shop visit. It only works on compatible phones, so check your model first.
eSIMs from Spanish operators
Movistar, Vodafone and Orange are expected to offer prepaid eSIMs directly in 2026. Availability for short-term prepaid plans may still be limited compared with physical SIMs. The process is typically: buy online or in a shop, receive a QR code by email, and scan it with your phone. Prices should be similar to the physical plans, but ask whether there is an activation fee before you pay.
Third-party travel eSIMs
Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and eSIM.me sell Spain-only or Europe-wide eSIMs. They cost more per GB than a local SIM, but you can install one before you fly and connect on arrival. Holafly’s Spain plan is a typical example: unlimited data with a fair-usage policy at €29 for 7 days, €37 for 15 days and €47 for 30 days. It gives you data only, with no Spanish phone number. Some plans include limited calls through an app.
That missing number matters. Spanish hotels, tour guides and restaurants often confirm bookings by call or SMS. If you stay under a week and only need maps and messaging apps, a travel eSIM is easy. For longer trips, a local SIM with a Spanish number is better value and more practical.
EU Roaming Rules and Your Real Data Cap
Under the “Roam Like At Home” policy, a plan bought in Spain can be used in any EU or EEA country at no extra charge, within a fair-usage limit. Calls and SMS are generally unlimited, but data has a cap, and that cap is smaller than your full Spanish allowance.
How the cap is calculated
The formula is: (plan price ÷ €2.50) × 2 = EU roaming data cap in GB. The €2.50 per GB wholesale cap is the 2026 figure, down from €3.00 in 2022, and the scheduled figure for 2027 is €2.00.
Example with Movistar Prepago Plus at €15: (15 ÷ 2.50) × 2 = 12 GB. So even though the plan includes 30 GB in Spain, you can use up to 12 GB in other EU or EEA countries. Movistar’s own plan listing shows about 10 GB, so plan around the lower number to be safe.
If you go over
Once you pass the cap, a surcharge of around €0.0022 per MB (€2.20 per GB) applies in 2026. Operators send an SMS when you approach and when you pass the limit.
Where roaming does not apply
“Roam Like At Home” does not cover countries outside the EU/EEA. The UK, Switzerland, Andorra and Morocco are all excluded, and roaming there can be expensive. Day trips from Spain to Andorra or Gibraltar catch many travellers out. Turn off mobile data or use airplane mode with WiFi near borders.
WiFi and Pocket Hotspots
WiFi is easy to find, but relying on it alone is risky. You do not want to be hunting for a signal while standing on a corner trying to find your hotel.
Where free WiFi works
- Airports: Most major airports offer free WiFi, sometimes limited to about 30 minutes, or unlimited after you register.
- Train stations: Big Renfe stations such as Madrid Atocha and Barcelona Sants have free WiFi, especially in AVE areas and lounges.
- Accommodation: Almost all hotels and hostels include free WiFi.
- Cafes and restaurants: Look for “WiFi gratis” signs, especially in tourist areas. Ask for the password when you order your coffee.
- Public spaces: Some cities offer municipal WiFi in plazas and public buildings, but coverage can be patchy.
Pocket WiFi (MiFi)
A MiFi device creates a personal hotspot you can rent at airports or online. Expect to pay €5 to €10 per day for unlimited data. At that price, it only makes sense for groups or people with several devices. A single traveller will spend far less on a SIM, since a 28-day plan costs about the same as one or two days of MiFi.
What Has Changed Since 2024
- More data for similar prices: All major operators have raised the data in their prepaid plans without big price jumps, and this trend continues in 2026.
- Slightly higher entry prices: A €10 plan from 2024 may cost around €11 to €12 in 2026 because of inflation or extra data.
- More eSIM options: Direct prepaid eSIMs from Movistar, Vodafone and Orange are expected to be easier to get, and third-party eSIM providers have widened their ranges and cut prices.
- Higher roaming allowances: The wholesale roaming cap has fallen, so fair-usage data limits are slightly higher.
- Better apps: My Movistar, My Vodafone, My Orange and the Lycamobile app have all improved for checking balances, topping up and managing plans.
- Fewer old plans: Some older, less competitive prepaid plans have been dropped or rebranded in favour of data-rich options.
- Better public WiFi: Networks are faster and more reliable, and more businesses offer free WiFi as standard.
Common Mistakes That Waste Money
- Assuming all the data works abroad. A 60 GB plan does not mean 60 GB in Portugal. Check the roaming portion before you cross a border.
- Buying a travel eSIM and expecting a phone number. Data-only plans cannot receive Spanish calls or SMS.
- Forgetting your passport. No ID means no SIM. A photo on your phone may not be accepted.
- Bringing a locked phone. Ask your home carrier to unlock it before the trip.
- Counting months instead of 28-day periods. Plans renew every 28 days, so a four-week trip fits one plan neatly, but a month-long stay may need two top-ups.
- Paying for MiFi when you travel alone. A SIM is much cheaper per day.
- Ignoring the apps. Download your operator’s app (My Movistar, My Vodafone, My Orange or Lycamobile) to check data and top up. Do not rely on codes you read in older guides, as operators change them.
- Throwing the SIM away. If you return to Spain, keep it. As long as you recharge periodically (every 6 to 12 months, depending on the operator’s policy), the number stays active.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a SIM card cost in Spain?
The SIM card itself usually costs €5 to €15, often with some credit or a basic plan included. Monthly prepaid plans then run from about €9.99 to €20 per 28 days, depending on the operator and data allowance. A budget traveller can expect to spend around €15 to €25 for a month.
Which is the cheapest prepaid SIM in Spain?
Lycamobile National S is the cheapest option in this guide at €9.99 per 28 days, with 30 GB and unlimited national calls and SMS. Vodafone Prepago S is close behind at €10 for 25 GB. Both are good choices for budget travellers who mainly need maps and messaging.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in Spain?
Yes. Spanish law requires ID for all SIM purchases. Non-EU visitors must show a passport, while EU citizens and Spanish residents can use a national ID card (DNI or NIE). The vendor records your details, and the SIM is normally activated straight after purchase.
Is an eSIM better than a physical SIM for Spain?
It depends on your trip. A travel eSIM lets you connect before you land but costs more per GB and usually gives no Spanish number. A physical SIM is cheaper and includes a local number. For stays over a week, a local SIM is usually better value.
Can I use my Spanish SIM in other EU countries?
Yes, under “Roam Like At Home” you can use calls, SMS and data across the EU and EEA without extra charges, up to a fair-usage data cap. The cap is (plan price ÷ €2.50) × 2 in GB. It does not apply in the UK, Switzerland, Andorra or Morocco.
📷 Featured image by Kevin Zhong on Unsplash.
