Tunisia · roaming cost calculator
Tunisia International Data: Carrier Day Pass vs eSIM Plan
We earn commissions from some links below. This does not affect the price comparisons or rankings shown on this page. Editorial policy
Tunisia eSIM plans sorted by price per GB
Airalo connects to Ooredoo TN's 5G network in Tunisia at $1.02/GB. Coverage spans all major cities and transport hubs.
Get eSIMIn Tunisia, Holafly uses Ooredoo TN infrastructure with no data ceiling. A 7-day unlimited plan costs $21 — AT&T charges $70 for the same week on the same towers.
Get eSIMSaily routes through Ooredoo TN in Tunisia with built-in VPN protection at $1.02/GB. Nord Security's infrastructure backs every plan.
Get eSIMNomad's 30-day refund applies to unused Tunisia eSIMs. Coverage runs on Ooredoo TN's 5G network at $1.02/GB — once the plan is activated, unused data is non-refundable.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Saily vs Nomad
The full picture
Tunisia carrier roaming fees, verified
Every major carrier's published Tunisia rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodafone | Roaming Passport | $6.00source | $42.00 | LTE | Fair-use |
| EE | Roam Abroad | $6.00source | $42.00 | LTE | Fair-use |
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| eSIM · Airalo | 1 GB · 7 days | — | $1.02 | LTE / 5G | 1 GB |
Compare all carrier roaming plans to see how AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and EE stack up against eSIM providers.
Pay-per-use cost audit
How much AT&T charges per hour in Tunisia without a plan
AT&T pay-per-use data in Tunisia costs $2.05/MB when no international day pass is active. At that rate, five common activities add up quickly.
5-minute FaceTime call (~75 MB): $154. 30-minute Zoom meeting (~450 MB): $922. 1 hour of Google Maps navigation (~50 MB): $102. Uploading 20 vacation photos (~200 MB): $410. 1 hour of YouTube (~500 MB): $1025. Combined, those five activities use roughly 1.3 GB — before background app refresh or iCloud sync adds anything. Rates checked June 2026. Source: AT&T international rate card.
Personalize your savings
How much will you save with an eSIM in Tunisia?
Adjust your trip length, carrier, and data habits to see your exact savings.
Network coverage
Data speeds on Tunisia networks
Tunisia runs one carrier: OOREDOO TN. AT&T and Verizon both roam through OOREDOO TN at $10/day. An eSIM connects to the same OOREDOO TN infrastructure at $1.02/GB. AT&T pays OOREDOO TN a wholesale rate and resells access to you at $10/day. The eSIM sells the same access at $1.02/GB. 5G is live on OOREDOO TN's network in Tunisia. AT&T's roaming pass delivers that 5G signal at $10/day. A travel eSIM delivers the same 5G signal at $1.02/GB — no speed penalty for switching. Tunisia has limited 5G coverage. 5G in Tunis; limited Average download speeds reach 25 Mbps on OOREDOO TN's network — identical whether you connect through a carrier roaming pass or a travel eSIM.
Pricing breakdown
eSIM plan costs vs carrier charges in Tunisia
How much does Tunisia roaming cost over 14 days? AT&T: $140. Verizon: $140. T-Mobile high-speed: $210. A 10GB eSIM on Ooredoo TN: $10.20. The difference between the cheapest carrier option and the eSIM is $129.80 less than AT&T.
Translated to a daily rate, the eSIM works out to $0.73/day over 14 days. AT&T and Verizon both charge $10/day, which is 13.7x more per day of data. T-Mobile's paid high-speed tier reaches $15/day, making it the most expensive option for full-speed data in Tunisia.
Tunisia eSIM plans scale up from the smallest tier: 1GB at $2.59 ($2.59/GB), 3GB at $5.47 ($1.82/GB), 5GB at $7.70 ($1.54/GB), 10GB at $14.47 ($1.45/GB), 20GB at $20.39 ($1.02/GB). Pick the tier that matches your expected data use. Heavy users can take the unlimited option at $5.31/day, which totals $74.34 for 14 days, still below AT&T's $140.
Trip cost breakdown
AT&T vs eSIM costs for Tunisia trips of every length
If you visit Tunisia for 3 days and need 2GB for maps and messaging: AT&T charges $30 ($10/day x 3 days). A 3GB eSIM on Ooredoo TN costs $5.47. You save $24.53.
If you visit for 14 days with 15GB of photos and video calls: AT&T reaches $140 per person. A 20GB eSIM on Ooredoo TN covers the same stay for $20.39 — $119.61 less, a 85% reduction.
If you stay 30 days and need 50GB for video calls and streaming: AT&T totals $300 over the month. A 50GB eSIM on Ooredoo TN costs $50.99. You save $249.01 (83%). Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
Airport data options when you land in Tunisia
SIM counters at Tunisia airports close overnight. If you land after 10 PM or before 6 AM, the kiosk may not be open. A 1GB eSIM at $2.59 activates on Ooredoo TN's towers as soon as you disable airplane mode — it does not depend on airport operating hours.
Data planning
Planning your data usage in Tunisia
Most US travelers use more data at home than abroad because they rely on WiFi less when navigating an unfamiliar city. In Tunisia, 1.5 GB per day is a fair budget for 7 days, totaling 11GB. Good WiFi in hotels and cafes reduces your mobile data needs.
At $20.39 for 7 days, the 20GB plan works out to $2.91/day. AT&T charges $10/day for the same network access on Ooredoo TN. Both connect to the same towers. The billing model is different. For heavy data users, unlimited daily plans start at $5.31/day — still cheaper than any carrier roaming pass.
Connectivity
Tunisia WiFi reliability for travelers
WiFi and a travel eSIM work best as a pair in Tunisia. WiFi is available in cities but drops outside them. Use it where it is strong. An eSIM on Ooredoo TN handles navigation, ride-hailing, and payments everywhere else at $1.02/GB.
Plan your data
Tunisia data allowance guide for travelers
AT&T and an eSIM both connect to Ooredoo TN's towers in Tunisia. AT&T charges $10/day for that connection. An eSIM charges $1.02/GB. At typical daily usage, AT&T's rate is 7x higher per gigabyte.
Tunisia has one mobile operator: OOREDOO TN. US carriers pay OOREDOO TN for roaming access and pass that cost to you at $10/day. An eSIM connects to OOREDOO TN directly at $1.02/GB — no carrier markup.
Airport SIM counters at Tunis-Carthage (TUN) charge $3-8 for 5-10GB / 30 days — still more than a 20GB eSIM at $20.39. Tunisia mobile networks deliver an average 25 Mbps download speed — the same whether you roam on AT&T or connect through a travel eSIM. WiFi in Tunisia is available in hotels and cafes. An eSIM fills the gaps at $1.02/GB instead of AT&T's $10/day roaming charge.
Quick reference
Tunisia Travel Essentials
197/198/190
197, 198, 190 are the emergency numbers in Tunisia. Different numbers may route to different services — save all of them before your trip. Emergency calls work from any mobile device, including travel eSIMs.
Type C/E
Tunisia uses Type C outlets (European two round-prong). US plugs require a Type C adapter. Check that your phone and laptop chargers show 100-240V input — most modern chargers are compatible.
CET (UTC+1)
TND (د.ت)
Cards are accepted at hotels, tourist-facing shops, and chain restaurants in Tunisia. Local markets, small vendors, and rural businesses prefer cash. Withdraw TND at an ATM on arrival — airport ATMs have the same rates as city ATMs.
Quick tip
WiFi availability in Tunisia is rated good. Enabling WiFi Calling on your phone before departure lets you receive calls and texts over hotel or cafe WiFi without triggering a carrier roaming day pass.
Quick tip
Tunisia law requires identity verification for any physical SIM purchase. Passport required An eSIM purchased before departure involves no in-country registration process.
Step by step
Tunisia eSIM installation guide
- At the airport before departure: if Settings > Cellular shows an "Add eSIM" option, your phone is ready — buy and install a Tunisia plan in under 5 minutes on any airport WiFi
- Airalo offers the Tunisia 1GB plan for $2.59 — buy it directly from their app or website. Compare all eSIM providers to find the best option for your trip.
- Open your phone's eSIM settings and scan the QR code — do this before your flight to Tunis-Carthage (TUN) so it activates the moment you land
- Turn off Data Roaming (Settings > Cellular on iPhone, or Connections > Mobile Networks on Android) to stop carrier charges. Read the full how-to-turn-off-data-roaming guide for device-specific steps.
- On iPhone at Tunis-Carthage (TUN): tap Settings > Cellular, select your Airalo eSIM line, and set it as the active data SIM — Ooredoo TN's 5G signal appears in the status bar within 30 seconds
- On Samsung Galaxy: go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > WiFi Calling and enable it on your home SIM — calls route over the eSIM data connection in Tunisia
Data tips
Reducing data consumption on a Tunisia trip
Ride-hailing apps in Tunisia use about 2-5 MB per trip — including the map, driver tracking, and payment confirmation. Live navigation with Google Maps or Apple Maps runs roughly 50 MB/hour. Download offline maps first and switch to offline navigation to cut that number to near zero.
Regional context
Tunisia in regional context: Africa data costs
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in Tunisia:
Tunisia SIM registration: Passport required. A travel eSIM purchased abroad bypasses local SIM registration requirements at the point of sale.
Competitive mobile data pricing
Ooredoo TN has good tourist packages
Coast coverage good; southern Sahara weaker
Forgot your eSIM?
Buying an eSIM after you land in Tunisia: what it costs
You landed in Tunisia without an eSIM. Here is what that costs and what you can still do.
All four major providers — Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad — allow post-arrival purchase and installation over WiFi. You do not need a local SIM to buy an eSIM. Tunis-Carthage (TUN) has free WiFi in the arrivals hall. Connect there, open Airalo or Holafly, and install a 1GB plan at $2.59 before you leave the terminal. If airport WiFi is unavailable, hotel lobby WiFi works as a fallback — most front desks in Tunisia give you the password at check-in. Last resort: turn on carrier data long enough to download the eSIM provider app (~5 MB, roughly $10 on AT&T pay-per-use), then switch to the installed eSIM immediately. That one-time charge is far below a full day at AT&T's $12/day rate.
Tunisia FAQ
Tunisia eSIM & roaming questions
How much does carrier roaming cost in Tunisia?
T-Mobile includes Tunisia in its free international plan, but throttles every connection to 256 Kbps — one-eighth the speed of basic 2G. AT&T costs $10/day, Verizon costs $10/day. A travel eSIM on Ooredoo TN at $2.59 for 1GB provides full 5G — the same towers, none of the speed cap, and less money than either paid carrier option.
Is T-Mobile's free international data fast enough in Tunisia?
No. T-Mobile caps free international data at 256 Kbps in Tunisia — one-eighth the speed of basic 2G. At that rate, Google Maps takes 15+ seconds to load a single tile and will not work for navigation. Streaming video requires at least 1.5 Mbps; video calls need 2 Mbps. Basic WhatsApp text messages work, but anything else does not. T-Mobile's high-speed add-on for Tunisia costs $15/day. A travel eSIM on Ooredoo TN's 5G network delivers full local speeds at $1.02/GB — cheaper per GB than the speed upgrade.
How is my roaming bill calculated in Tunisia?
Your carrier uses one of two models. Per-day billing: AT&T charges $10 and Verizon charges $10 for each calendar day your phone connects in Tunisia — even if you only check a notification at midnight. Per-MB billing: without a day pass, AT&T charges $2.05 per megabyte, which adds up to $2,099 per GB. Both models penalize casual background data usage. A travel eSIM uses flat-rate billing — you pay 1GB for $2.59 upfront, with no per-day activations and no per-MB overages. Once purchased, the cost is fixed regardless of usage patterns.
How much does 1 GB of roaming data cost in Tunisia?
On AT&T without a plan: roughly $2,050 (at $2.05/MB). With AT&T International Day Pass: $10/day — you get access to your home plan's data allowance, but the day fee applies regardless of usage. With a travel eSIM: $1.02 per GB on Ooredoo TN's 5G network. The eSIM is the only option where you pay strictly for what you use at a predictable, low per-GB cost.
Is an eSIM worth it for Tunisia?
Yes, if you use more than a few megabytes per day. AT&T charges $10/day for roaming in Tunisia, which totals $70 for a week. A travel eSIM on Ooredoo TN starts at $1.02/GB for the same 5G speeds. The breakeven point is day one: even a single day of eSIM data costs less than one day of carrier roaming. The eSIM connects to the same local towers your carrier uses, so speed and coverage are identical.
Do US carriers support roaming in Tunisia?
AT&T covers Tunisia at $10/day. Verizon covers most African countries at $10/day. T-Mobile includes Tunisia at 256 Kbps (free but unusable for data-heavy apps). A travel eSIM on Ooredoo TN provides full 5G speeds at $1.02/GB — the same carrier infrastructure as roaming, at a fraction of the cost.
Is mobile data reliable enough in Tunisia to replace carrier roaming?
Tunisia has 1 carrier providing 5G coverage. Urban and tourist areas have solid coverage; rural regions may have gaps. A travel eSIM connects to Ooredoo TN — the exact same network carrier roaming uses — at $1.02/GB. Coverage quality is identical to what AT&T or Verizon routes through.
How much does a 10-day trip to Tunisia cost in carrier roaming versus an eSIM?
AT&T International Day Pass for 10 days: $100. Verizon TravelPass: $100. T-Mobile high-speed: $150. A travel eSIM on Ooredoo TN at $1.02/GB for 10 days at 1.5 GB/day average costs roughly $15.30. The eSIM saves over 80% versus any carrier's paid roaming option. Rates checked June 2026.
Does carrier roaming work in rural areas of Tunisia, or only in cities?
Both carrier roaming and travel eSIMs connect through Ooredoo TN's towers in Tunisia. Coverage outside major cities depends on how widely Ooredoo TN has deployed — the same gaps that affect an eSIM also affect AT&T and Verizon roaming. Urban centers and tourist corridors have consistent signal; rural and off-road areas may have limited or no service. There is no coverage advantage to choosing carrier roaming over an eSIM; both are subject to the same Ooredoo TN network footprint.
How much does carrier roaming cost for a week in Tunisia?
AT&T: $70/week (International Day Pass at $10/day). Verizon: $70/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: free at 256 Kbps or $105/week for usable speed. The cheapest eSIM for Tunisia starts at $1.02/GB on Ooredoo TN's 5G network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
Common myths about roaming and eSIM in Tunisia
eSIM drains more battery than a physical SIM
An eSIM is a programmable chip embedded in your phone's hardware — the same radio module that handles physical SIM cards. It draws no additional power beyond what a physical SIM uses. Battery drain in Tunisia is driven by signal strength and data activity, not by SIM format. Weak signal forces your radio to search harder — that is the actual drain variable regardless of SIM type.
A VPN eliminates roaming costs
A VPN changes the routing of your data packets — it does not change which cellular network your phone connects to. In Tunisia, your phone attaches to Ooredoo TN's towers whether or not a VPN is active. AT&T still bills $10/day for that connection even when you tunnel traffic through a VPN server. A VPN also adds 10–20% overhead to your total data consumption on top of the carrier charge.
eSIMs use different, slower networks
A travel eSIM in Tunisia connects to the same Ooredoo TN towers as AT&T and Verizon roaming. The radio frequency bands, signal strength, and 5G speed are identical. AT&T's roaming agreement with Ooredoo TN and a travel eSIM provider's agreement with Ooredoo TN both access the same physical infrastructure. No speed penalty exists for switching from roaming to eSIM.
Our recommendation
Our pick for Tunisia
The numbers point to Nomad for Tunisia. Nomad offers the lowest per-GB rate for Tunisia at $1.02/GB on Ooredoo TN. The checkout takes under 2 minutes and QR code delivery is instant. A 1GB plan at $2.59 covers a week of maps, messaging, and social media. Airalo is the pick if you want regional bundles or multi-country coverage from a single eSIM.
Tunisia data: 99% price difference between eSIM and carrier roaming
Tunisia eSIMs run on the same local towers as carrier roaming. The cost is $1.02 vs $42 for a week.
Get a Tunisia eSIM