In Mongolia, an eSIM gives you data from Ulaanbaatar onward, but no solution covers the whole steppe: outside the cities and main routes, the network becomes scarce. Two Mongolian operators, Unitel and Mobicom, sell « tourist » eSIM offers themselves, and international travel eSIMs run on their networks. Check what your home carrier charges for roaming in Mongolia before you travel.
This guide compares these options using the official prices recorded on 24 October 2026 and helps you prepare for areas with no network. For the trip itself, see our Mongolia guide and when to go to Mongolia.
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eSIM in Mongolia: key points
- Official offers for visitors: Unitel « Tour SIM » (instant eSIM) and Mobicom « Tourist » (eSIM or SIM).
- Mobicom: a free SIM with 1 GB included for international visitors at its NUBIA airport branch (Ulaanbaatar).
- Mobicom’s tourist plans are « data only »: no calls, except to customer service.
- Roaming: check your home carrier’s rate for Mongolia.
- UK FCDO: in rural Mongolia there are large areas with no network coverage.
How an eSIM works in Mongolia
An eSIM is a SIM card built into the phone: you download a carrier profile by QR code or by app. In Mongolia you have two families of offers: tourist eSIMs sold directly by the Mongolian operators, online, and the travel eSIMs of international providers, which run on one of those networks. In both cases, it is the network used that matters for coverage outside Ulaanbaatar.
Is your phone compatible?
- eSIM: in your settings, look for « Add eSIM » or « Add cellular plan ». The code *#06# shows an EID number on compatible devices.
- Unlocking: a phone locked to your home carrier will refuse another provider’s profile. Ask for unlocking before you leave.
- Dual SIM: most recent phones keep your home line active for text messages while the eSIM provides data in Mongolia.
The official tourist offers
| Operator and offer | Data | Duration | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unitel Tour SIM | 15 GB | 10 days | 25,000 ₮ |
| Unitel Tour SIM | 25 GB | 20 days | 40,000 ₮ |
| Unitel Tour SIM | 50 GB | 30 days | 70,000 ₮ |
| Mobicom Tourist | 15 GB | 7 days | 20,000 ₮ |
| Mobicom Tourist | 25 GB | 15 days | 30,000 ₮ |
| Mobicom Tourist | 50 GB | 30 days | 60,000 ₮ |
Price per GB and per day: our calculation
Over 30 days and 50 GB, the Unitel offer works out at 1,400 ₮ per GB (70,000 ÷ 50) and 2,333 ₮ per day, and Mobicom’s at 1,200 ₮ per GB (60,000 ÷ 50) and 2,000 ₮ per day. For a short stay, Mobicom’s 7-day plan costs 2,857 ₮ per day and Unitel’s 10-day plan 2,500 ₮ per day. Destination de Voyage calculation based on the prices published by Unitel and Mobicom on 24 October 2026. Price does not settle everything: network coverage along your route matters more.
Conditions to know
- Mobicom: purchased online (website or Mobi app) by bank card, with a code sent by email; a plan not activated within 30 days of purchase is canceled; validity starts when data is activated. The number can neither make nor receive calls, except to customer service (2222).
- Mobicom at the airport: international visitors receive a free SIM with 1 GB of data at the international airport’s NUBIA branch; the offer is not valid at other branches or on the website.
- Unitel: the Tour SIM page offers a number obtained online or by QR code, with an instant eSIM option; it does not state which ID is required.
Coverage: preparing for the steppe
According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 7 August 2026, read 26 October 2026), most UK phone networks operate in the cities, local SIM cards can be bought, and in rural Mongolia there are large areas that do not have network coverage; the FCDO advises anyone driving in rural Mongolia to take back-up communication devices such as a satellite phone. The U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated July 30, 2026) notes that Mongolia’s vast area and limited road and communications infrastructure make emergency response challenging, and recommends not driving outside Ulaanbaatar or other city centers after sunset; in winter, it advises keeping high-quality cold-weather clothing in vehicles. An eSIM does not solve this problem: it gives you network where there is one.
- Download offline maps of the whole region before leaving Ulaanbaatar.
- If you are traveling with an agency, ask what means of communication the driver or guide carries outside the network.
- Keep a power bank charged and turn off data roaming on your home line.
- Write down the contact details of your embassy and your insurer offline. The police emergency number is 102 and the ambulance and fire number is 103 (U.S. State Department).
What should you choose?
| Profile | Suitable option | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Short stay in Ulaanbaatar and surroundings | Unitel or Mobicom tourist eSIM, or a travel eSIM | 7 to 10 days duration, when validity starts |
| Multi-week tour | 30-day plan from a Mongolian operator | Network along the route, online top-up |
| Need to make local calls | Line with calls (not Mobicom’s Tourist plan) | Offer terms |
| Phone without eSIM | Mobicom physical SIM (blank + online plan) | Unlocked phone |
Installing your eSIM step by step
- At home, check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
- Buy the plan and note when validity starts: at installation or at the first connection on arrival.
- Install the profile on Wi-Fi (QR code or app) and label the line « Mongolia ».
- On arrival, select this line for cellular data, turn on data roaming on that line alone if the provider asks you to, and turn off data on your home line.
- Leave your home line on for bank text messages, after checking that receiving them abroad is not charged.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying the Mobicom plan too early: it is canceled if not activated within 30 days.
- Counting on the network during a steppe tour.
- Choosing Mobicom’s Tourist offer thinking you can make calls: it does not allow calls.
- Installing the profile on arrival without Wi-Fi: do it before you leave.
- Forgetting to turn off data on your home line: it is the one that would bill roaming.
- Deleting the eSIM profile during your trip: many cannot be reinstalled.
Buying an eSIM for Mongolia
To choose, compare the Mongolian network used (Unitel or Mobicom depending on the provider), the data allowance, the validity period, when it starts, hotspot sharing, the option to top up and whether a local number is included. A « data only » eSIM is enough for most travelers: messaging apps replace calls. Offers and prices change often: check the provider’s listing on the day you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy a Mongolian eSIM before you leave?
Yes: Unitel (Tour SIM) and Mobicom (Tourist) sell eSIM plans online. With Mobicom, the plan must be activated within 30 days of purchase.
How much does a tourist eSIM cost in Mongolia?
On 24 October 2026, Unitel listed 25,000 ₮ for 15 GB over 10 days and Mobicom 20,000 ₮ for 15 GB over 7 days. Check the price on the day you buy.
Is there a network on the steppe?
Not everywhere. The UK FCDO says large areas of rural Mongolia have no network coverage: prepare offline maps and back-up communication.
Will my home plan work in Mongolia?
It depends on your carrier and plan: check the roaming rate for Mongolia before you leave.
Is a free SIM given at the airport?
Mobicom advertises one for international visitors at its NUBIA airport branch, with 1 GB of data; it is not valid at its other branches.
Our sources
- Unitel, « Tour SIM » page, consulted on 24 October 2026.
- Mobicom, « Tourist » support page, consulted on 24 October 2026.
- UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Mongolia (GOV.UK, updated 7 August 2026), read on 26 October 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, Mongolia country information (travel.state.gov, last updated July 30, 2026), read on 26 October 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026. Operators’ offers, prices and terms may change: check their websites before you travel.
