Cheap is very subjective. There is always a way cheaper Esim option, especially if you have high usage.

Not the common Esim provider spamming all of Google. But you often find local Esim resellers for local networks.

Writing this from my Caravan WiFi, with a small streaming computer, 2 mobiles and a laptop using about 250 GB a month :)

In my experience, getting an eSIM is usually cheaper than the airport SIM card plans, but often there are cheaper plans available when you get to the city. In any case, having both options is nice!

>getting an eSIM is usually cheaper than the airport SIM card plans, but often there are cheaper plans available when you get to the city

I find that for light data users (ie. < 5GB), esims are always almost cheaper than local sims, except for maybe in developing countries.

I think it depends on how you define “developing countries”!

I’m currently in Thailand and I got 6 GB for about $2 total (50 baht for the SIM with 3 GB for 3 days, another 20 baht top up for another 3 GB / 3 days). I did use eSIM for about a month before that though (I just wanted a local number to order some stuff from Lazada).

Another example (also from Southeast Asia, FWIW): Malaysian SIMs are also cheaper, though topping them up is painful so I’d personally stick with an eSIM there.

Those are all developing countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IMF_advanced_economies_an...

What is the best way to find a cheap eSIM? Do you wait until you arrive in the country? Or can you ship somewhere before arriving?