Uruguay · roaming cost calculator
Carrier Roaming in Uruguay: Published Rates vs eSIM Costs
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eSIM coverage and pricing for Uruguay
Airalo's app rates 4.8 on iOS and 4.6 on Android. In Uruguay it routes through Antel's 4G LTE network at $2.74/GB — real-time data usage tracking shows how much you have left.
Get eSIMHolafly connects to Antel in Uruguay for unlimited data. Remote workers and streamers avoid per-GB tracking on longer stays — one flat daily rate covers the whole trip.
Get eSIMAntel covers major cities and transport corridors in Uruguay. Saily routes through this network at $2.74/GB with VPN overhead adding under 10ms latency in most markets.
Get eSIMNomad's app rates 4.2 on iOS and 4.0 on Android. In Uruguay it routes through Antel's 4G LTE network at $2.74/GB. Basic data tracking shows remaining balance but no hourly usage estimates.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Saily vs Nomad
The full picture
Carrier-verified roaming rates for Uruguay
Every major carrier's published Uruguay rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| T-Mobile | Magenta (high-speed add-on) | Free*source | $0–105 | 256kbps* | Throttled |
| Xfinity Mobile | International Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | 200 MB/day |
| eSIM · Airalo | 1 GB · 7 days | — | $2.74 | LTE / 5G | 1 GB |
*T-Mobile includes data at 256kbps free; high-speed access is a $5–15/day add-on, shown here as a 7-day range.
* Xfinity Mobile International Pass: $10/day with 200 MB/day high-speed cap
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
AT&T pay-per-use in Uruguay: what each app costs you
AT&T's international pay-per-use rate is $2.05/MB in Uruguay. Mixed phone use — maps, messaging, and social media — runs about 60 MB/hour. One hour of that: $123. Four hours of normal use: $492. Eight hours, a full day out: $984. A 30-minute Zoom meeting alone adds $922. A 5-minute video call with family costs $154. These are AT&T's published pay-per-use figures. Source: AT&T international rate card, June 2026.
Personalize your savings
How much will you save with an eSIM in Uruguay?
Adjust your trip length, carrier, and data habits to see your exact savings.
Network coverage
Uruguay network performance: speeds and coverage
Uruguay: one carrier (Claro), two billing models. AT&T roaming: $10/day. Travel eSIM: $2.74/GB — about $4.11/day at average usage. Same coverage map. Different bill. 4G LTE is the peak speed in Uruguay. Roaming passes and eSIM plans both deliver 4G LTE throughput on Claro. There is no signal quality advantage to paying carrier roaming rates.
Pricing breakdown
Price breakdown: roaming vs eSIM in Uruguay
For 14 days in Uruguay: AT&T charges $140 for daily roaming at 4G LTE. Verizon charges $140 for the same access. A 10GB eSIM on Antel delivers 10GB of 4G LTE data for $27.40. Same speed, same carrier infrastructure, 80% lower bill.
Per-day data costs in Uruguay: AT&T $10, Verizon $10, T-Mobile $15, eSIM $1.96. The eSIM figure is derived from a $27.40 10GB plan spread across 14 days. Carrier rates are fixed regardless of how much data you use each day.
eSIM plan tiers for Uruguay: 1GB at $6.99 ($6.99/GB), 3GB at $17.99 ($6/GB), 5GB at $28.49 ($5.70/GB), 10GB at $43.99 ($4.40/GB), 20GB at $54.80 ($2.74/GB). Unlimited daily data starts at $7.85/day ($109.90 for 14 days). Even the unlimited eSIM tier costs less than AT&T's $140 roaming bill.
Trip cost breakdown
Carrier roaming vs eSIM cost in Uruguay by trip length
AT&T bills $10/day for roaming in Uruguay — that is $0.42/hour around the clock, whether your phone is in your pocket or active. A 2GB eSIM on Antel costs $17.99 for 3 days — $0.25/hour at continuous use. Difference for a 3-day trip: $12.01.
Over 14 days, AT&T's per-hour rate stays at $0.42. A 20GB eSIM on Antel for 15GB averages $0.16/hour over the same 14 days. AT&T total: $140. eSIM total: $54.80. Difference: $85.20.
A 30-day stay at $0.42/hour on AT&T reaches $300. A 50GB eSIM on Antel covering 50GB for video calls and streaming costs $137 — $0.19/hour. Total difference over 30 days: $163 (54%). Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
Uruguay airport data: what it costs and what to skip
SIM card registration at Uruguay airports requires a valid passport. Scanning, forms, and staff processing add 15-30 minutes after you clear customs. A travel eSIM purchased before your flight bypasses local point-of-sale registration. You get 1GB on Antel for $6.99 without presenting ID at any counter.
Data planning
Uruguay data plan sizing for 7-day visits
WhatsApp video calls use about 250 MB/hour. Five 10-minute video calls per day adds 200 MB to your daily total. Add maps and social media and you reach 1.5 GB per day quickly in Uruguay. A 7-day trip at that rate needs 11GB.
For a 7-day trip, the 20GB plan at $54.80 covers 11GB at $2.74/GB. AT&T's roaming pass for the same 7 days reaches $70. For heavy data users, unlimited daily plans start at $7.85/day — still cheaper than any carrier roaming pass.
Connectivity
Trusting public WiFi in Uruguay: risks and alternatives
Airport WiFi in Uruguay is available but typically limited to 30-60 minute free sessions. After that runs out, your options are a paid day pass or a cellular connection. An eSIM on Antel activates the moment you land — no session timers, no login pages, no interruptions.
Plan your data
Estimating data for a trip to Uruguay
AT&T and Verizon customers arriving in Uruguay often leave carrier roaming on by default and pay $10/day without realizing it. Over 10 days that becomes $100. A 20GB eSIM on Antel costs $54.80 — 45% less for the same connection.
Uruguay has one mobile operator: Claro. US carriers pay Claro for roaming access and pass that cost to you at $10/day. An eSIM connects to Claro directly at $2.74/GB — no carrier markup.
Local prices in Uruguay are in UYU ($U), but eSIM plans are priced in USD, eliminating exchange rate uncertainty on your data costs.
Quick reference
Uruguay Travel Essentials
911
911 reaches police, fire, and ambulance in Uruguay. Save the number before you arrive — do not rely on memory in an emergency. 911 works from any phone, including a travel eSIM with no local number.
Type C/F/I/L
Uruguay 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.
UYT (UTC-3)
UYU ($U)
Cash in UYU is preferred across most of Uruguay outside major hotels and tourist centers. Card terminals are not common in local markets or small restaurants. Withdraw enough cash at a reliable ATM before leaving the city — rural areas may not have ATM access.
Good to know
Power sockets in Uruguay are Type C/F/I/L type. US and UK plugs don't fit without an adapter. A depleted phone ends your eSIM connectivity regardless of remaining data balance.
Good to know
Uruguay's emergency number is 911, not 112. Both carrier roaming SIMs and eSIMs can dial emergency numbers without an active data plan.
Step by step
How to cut roaming charges on a Uruguay trip
- Returning eSIM user: delete any old eSIM profile if your slot is full (iPhone stores up to 8 eSIMs) — you need one free eSIM slot for your Uruguay plan
- Last-minute at the airport: Airalo's website works on any airport WiFi — buy the Uruguay 1GB plan for $6.99 and your QR code will be ready before you reach the gate. Browse all eSIM providers for alternatives.
- Scan the QR code to install the eSIM before you leave home so it is ready to activate on arrival
- Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options and turn off Data Roaming for your home SIM. Our data roaming guide covers iPhone and Android in detail.
- Once when you land in Uruguay, go to Settings > Cellular, select your Airalo eSIM, and turn on data
- On iPhone: go to Settings > Phone > WiFi Calling and enable it before departure — incoming calls to your home number route over the Airalo eSIM data in Uruguay at no extra charge
Data tips
Data-saving tips for Uruguay
Currency converter apps use under 1 MB per session. Bank apps with push notifications use minimal background data. The higher risk is two-factor authentication: your bank may send a code to your home number, which requires cellular reception or call forwarding. Test your bank's 2FA method before traveling to Uruguay.
Regional context
Uruguay and South America cross-border data costs
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in Uruguay:
Antel is state-owned with widest coverage
Strong digital infrastructure for South America
Forgot your eSIM?
How to get data in Uruguay if you land without an eSIM
The fastest emergency option in Uruguay: turn on AT&T cellular data long enough to download the Airalo app. The app download is approximately 5 MB. At AT&T's $2.05/MB pay-per-use rate, that download costs $10. Once the app is installed, turn carrier data back off. Connect to the nearest available WiFi, buy a Uruguay eSIM plan, and scan the QR code. Your eSIM on Antel then handles all data at $6.99 for 1GB. The $10 carrier charge is a one-time cost, not a daily fee. Compare that to AT&T's $12/day International Day Pass — the emergency download pays for itself in under two hours.
Uruguay FAQ
Uruguay eSIM & roaming questions
How much does carrier roaming cost in Uruguay?
If you land in Uruguay without activating a roaming plan, AT&T bills $2.05 per megabyte. A 10-second Google Maps load at 1.5 MB costs $3.08. Ten minutes of casual app use: $30–$60. AT&T's day pass caps the damage at $10/day. A travel eSIM on Antel at $6.99 for 1GB is the only option with a fixed, predictable total cost from day one.
Is T-Mobile's free international data fast enough in Uruguay?
No. To use Uruguay as a normal traveler — ride-hailing, mapping, messaging with photos — you need at minimum 1 Mbps. T-Mobile's free tier delivers 256 Kbps, which is one-quarter of that floor. The high-speed add-on costs $15/day. A travel eSIM connects to Antel's 4G LTE network at $2.74/GB — the same towers, real speeds, no daily charge trigger.
How is my roaming bill calculated in Uruguay?
Carriers bill Uruguay roaming two ways. AT&T and Verizon use per-day billing at $10/day — the charge triggers even if a background app syncs at 11:59 PM. Without a day pass, AT&T bills $2.05 per MB ($2,099/GB). T-Mobile provides free data at 256 Kbps but charges $15/day for usable speed. An eSIM plan at 1GB for $6.99 is a one-time purchase with no per-day triggers and no usage surprises.
Does turning off roaming affect text messages in Uruguay?
No. Incoming SMS arrives with data roaming off — texts travel on the voice network, not the data network. Disable data roaming only, not the SIM itself. Your home SIM stays active for calls and texts while the eSIM on Antel handles data at $2.74/GB. This setup costs nothing on your carrier bill — only the eSIM plan fee.
When does my eSIM plan clock start in Uruguay?
Most travel eSIMs for Uruguay start the validity clock when you first use data — not when you purchase or install the plan. A 7-day plan bought two weeks early begins counting from your first data session in Uruguay, not from purchase date. AT&T International Day Pass at $10/day works differently — it bills on each calendar day your phone touches a Uruguay tower, even briefly from a background app sync. The eSIM model on Antel at $2.74/GB does not charge on travel days when you stay on hotel WiFi. Confirm the start-trigger with your provider before purchase. Rates checked June 2026.
How much does AT&T roaming cost in Uruguay?
AT&T International Day Pass charges $10/day in Uruguay. Without a plan, pay-per-use rates reach $2.05/MB. A 7-day trip with a day pass costs $70. A travel eSIM on Antel covers the same week at roughly $28.77 at 1.5 GB/day average usage — a saving of over 80%.
Is Verizon TravelPass worth it for Uruguay?
No. Verizon TravelPass costs $10/day in Uruguay — $70 for a week. A travel eSIM starts at $2.74/GB on Antel's 4G LTE network. The eSIM delivers the same speed on the same carrier infrastructure at 80-95% lower total cost.
What is T-Mobile's free international data speed in Uruguay?
T-Mobile caps free international data at 256 Kbps in Uruguay. That is too slow for GPS navigation, photo messaging, video calls, or ride-hailing apps. Basic text-only WhatsApp works. T-Mobile's paid high-speed add-on costs $15/day — the same rate as AT&T and Verizon. A travel eSIM on Antel at $2.74/GB delivers full 4G LTE without per-day billing.
How do I avoid a surprise roaming bill when visiting Uruguay?
Turn off data roaming on your carrier SIM before landing in Uruguay. AT&T's per-day charge fires from any background cellular contact — even a push notification at midnight — at $10/day. Without a plan, the rate is $2.05/MB. Install a travel eSIM via QR code before departure and set it as the active data SIM. Your carrier SIM stays active for calls and texts with WiFi Calling; the eSIM handles data at $2.74/GB.
How much does carrier roaming cost for a week in Uruguay?
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 Uruguay starts at $2.74/GB on Antel's 4G LTE network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
eSIM and roaming: facts vs. assumptions for Uruguay
Airport SIMs are the cheapest option
Airport SIM counters in Uruguay apply a tourist markup over in-city prepaid prices. Expect to queue 15–30 minutes and hand over your passport for registration. A 1GB eSIM on Antel costs $6.99 and installs from your phone before you board. Rates checked June 2026.
WiFi is always available abroad, so you do not need a data plan
Hotel WiFi in Uruguay covers your room. It does not cover the taxi line, the train platform, or the restaurant street. Navigation, ride-hailing, and payment QR codes all need a live cellular connection outside the hotel. A 1GB eSIM on Antel covers those gaps for $6.99. AT&T charges $10/day for the same access.
International calling cards cover data
Traditional international calling cards provide prepaid voice minutes for international calls — they do not include mobile data. Using a calling card in Uruguay leaves you without data for maps, messaging apps, or anything internet-based. A 1GB eSIM on Antel at $6.99 provides data-only coverage. Pair it with a calling card if you also need voice minutes to landlines. Rates checked June 2026.
Our recommendation
Uruguay trip data conclusion
Bottom line for Uruguay: go with Airalo. Airalo covers Uruguay on Antel's network with the widest plan selection in the market. A 1GB plan costs $6.99. Regional bundles cover neighboring countries on a single eSIM. The app tracks data usage in real time — helpful for managing a fixed-GB plan. Holafly is the alternative for heavy data users — unlimited daily plans start at $7.85/day.
Compare Uruguay eSIM plans vs carrier roaming rates
Install an eSIM before you fly. It activates when you land in Uruguay.
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