Uruguay · roaming cost calculator
Uruguay Roaming Price Audit: $12 a Day Against a $54.80 Plan
HelloRoam is the top pick for Uruguay: its 7-day unlimited plan costs $48.36, at full speed for the first 2 GB a day, against $84 for a week on AT&T's $12-a-day pass, a $35 gap, and Holafly ranks second on this site's rubric. HelloRoam's support replies in your own language over live chat, WhatsApp and email. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185. HelloRoam's price is from its catalogue of 29 Oct 2026, rivals' from the 30 Oct 2026 price check; AT&T's rate was checked June 2026.
a 20GB travel eSIM at $54.80 and a $12 day pass are both dollar prices. HelloRoam settles in 31 currencies, so a non-dollar card can skip the 2 to 4 percent conversion on the eSIM side.
eSIM coverage and pricing, Uruguay
Antel covers cities, transport routes, and tourist areas in Uruguay. HelloRoam sells into that market: fixed data from $6.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, and unlimited at $48.36 for 7 days of unlimited data, at full speed for the first 2 GB each day. Rural gaps affect the eSIM and carrier roaming equally.
Get eSIMHolafly sells unlimited daily data in Uruguay. Remote workers and streamers avoid per-GB tracking on longer stays — one flat daily rate covers the whole trip.
Get eSIMNomad's app tracks the remaining balance on a Uruguay plan but gives no hourly usage estimate. Data starts at $2.30/GB on a local 4G LTE network.
Get eSIMAiralo's app shows real-time data usage, so you can see how much of a Uruguay plan is left. Plans start at $2.40/GB on a local 4G LTE network.
Get eSIMAntel covers major cities and transport corridors in Uruguay. Saily sells into that market at $2.60/GB, and its built-in VPN adds little noticeable delay in most markets.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Airalo vs HelloRoam · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Holafly vs HelloRoam · Saily vs Nomad · Saily vs HelloRoam · Nomad vs HelloRoam
The full picture
Carrier-checked roaming rates, 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 | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| T-Mobile | International Pass | $10.00*source | $50.00 | LTE | 2GB per 1 Day pass |
| Xfinity Mobile | International Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | 200 MB/day |
| eSIM · HelloRoam | 20GB data plan | — | $54.80 | 4G LTE | 20GB |
*T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. The 1 Day International Pass costs $10; the 7-day figure is the cheapest pass mix, 10-day pass.
* 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
Your Uruguay saving against $12 a day
Adjust the trip length, the carrier and the daily data below and the calculator reprices both sides. The starting point is the 10-day average stay recorded for Uruguay: $120 on an AT&T day pass at $12 a day, against $54.80 for a 20GB travel eSIM. Both prices buy access to the same local operators.
Network coverage
Uruguay network performance: speeds and coverage
Uruguay: one carrier (Claro), two billing models. AT&T roaming: $12/day. Travel eSIM: $2.74/GB — about $4.11/day at average usage. Same coverage map. Different bill. 4G LTE is the network technology in Uruguay. Roaming passes and eSIM plans both deliver 4G LTE throughput on a local network. There is no signal quality advantage to paying carrier roaming rates.
Network attachment record
The networks behind both prices in Uruguay
HelloRoam publishes 2 local operators for Uruguay: Claro and Movistar.
An eSIM attaches to one of them on arrival.
HelloRoam names no default, so the file cannot say which one your handset picks.
HelloRoam records no 5G operator for Uruguay.
Carrier roaming runs on local operators too. That is what a roaming agreement buys.
Same masts, two invoices. The gap on this page is a billing gap.
5G and 4G here are capability labels. Neither one is a speed reading.
HelloRoam's operator record names Claro and Movistar for Uruguay. The same file holds 185 destinations, 154 distinct operators and 98 destinations with at least one 5G entry. Nothing in it says which operator a handset picks, and neither does this page.
| Operator | Network generation on file |
|---|---|
| Claro | 4G |
| Movistar | 4G |
Source: HelloRoam package feed, read 17 August 2026. The feed publishes an operator list for every destination it sells. No speed test sits behind this table, and we ran none. The full operator map covers 185 destinations.
Pricing breakdown
Price breakdown: roaming vs eSIM in Uruguay
For 14 days in Uruguay: AT&T charges $12 a day, $120 in total, for roaming at 4G LTE. Verizon charges $168 for the same access. A 10GB eSIM on a local network delivers 10GB of 4G LTE data for $27.40. Same speed, same carrier infrastructure, 77% lower bill.
Per-day data costs in Uruguay: AT&T $12, Verizon $12, T-Mobile $10, 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 costs $6.28/day on the 14-day plan ($87.92 in all). Even the unlimited eSIM tier costs less than AT&T's $120 roaming bill.
Uruguay publishes five unlimited durations: 1 day at $7.85, 3 days at $22.37, 7 days at $48.36, 14 days at $87.92, 30 days at $160.14. Buying the 30-day block brings the daily price to $5.34. Unlimited here means 2GB a day at full speed before a fair-use policy applies. Catalogue prices read 29 Oct 2026.
Trip cost breakdown
Carrier roaming vs eSIM cost in Uruguay by trip length
AT&T bills $12/day for roaming in Uruguay — that is $0.50/hour around the clock, whether your phone is in your pocket or active. A 2GB eSIM on a local network costs $17.99 for 3 days — $0.25/hour at continuous use. Difference for a 3-day trip: $18.01.
Over 14 days, AT&T's per-hour rate stays at $0.36. A 20GB eSIM on a local network for 15GB averages $0.16/hour over the same 14 days. AT&T total: $120. eSIM total: $54.80. Difference: $65.20.
A 30-day stay at $0.17/hour on AT&T reaches $120. A 50GB eSIM on a local network covering 50GB for video calls and streaming costs $137 — $0.19/hour. Total difference over 30 days: $-17 (-14%). 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 a local network 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 $84. For heavy data users, a 1-day unlimited plan costs $7.85, still under AT&T's $12/day 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 a local network 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 $12/day without realizing it. Over 10 days that becomes $120. A 20GB eSIM on a local network costs $54.80 — 54% 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 $12/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: HelloRoam'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 HelloRoam 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 HelloRoam 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
Nearby
Related destinations
6 destinations near Uruguay are priced on the same rate card. AT&T bills $12 a day in every one of them, and the figure beside each flag is that destination's own per-gigabyte floor. The cheapest of the group is Brazil at $1.78 a gigabyte.
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 a local network then handles all data at $6.99 for 1GB. The $10 carrier charge is a one-time cost, not a daily fee. AT&T's International Day Pass costs $12 for that same day and $12 again for every day after it.
Savings math
How much you save in Uruguay
Solo traveler
The per-day math for a solo Uruguay trip: AT&T charges $12 for each 24 hours that starts when your phone touches local towers. A 20GB eSIM spread across 10 days works out to $5.48/day. AT&T's $12 daily rate is 2.2x higher. Over 10 days, that multiplier turns into $65.20 in real savings.
Family trip
The lowest-cost family option for Uruguay: buy two 20GB eSIMs at $54.80 each. Each parent's phone shares data via hotspot with one child's device. Total family data cost: $109.60 for 10 days. Compare: AT&T for four lines costs $300. The tethering approach saves $190.40 (63%). Both eSIMs connect to a local network at 4G LTE.
AT&T roaming rate analysis
Some travel insurance policies cover data charges from bill shock. AT&T pay-per-use at $2.05/MB in Uruguay can reach hundreds of dollars from a single app sync. Day Pass caps the damage at $12/day but still costs $120 over 10 days. An eSIM at $54.80 eliminates bill shock entirely: fixed price, no overages, no claims needed. Prevention costs less than insurance.
All-carrier summary
AT&T: AT&T International Day Pass costs 119% more than an eSIM for Uruguay.
Verizon: Verizon TravelPass costs 119% more than an eSIM for Uruguay.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile's International Passes cost less than this eSIM plan for Uruguay.
An eSIM saves money in Uruguay for every trip longer than one day. The single exception: a same-day layover where you need your US number active for voice calls. AT&T's $12 for that one day may be worth the convenience. For any trip of 2+ days, the 20GB eSIM at $54.80 saves $65.20 over 10 days on a local 4G LTE network.
Quick answers
Common questions about Uruguay data costs
Is eSIM cheaper than roaming in Uruguay?
AT&T and Verizon both charge $12 a day for data in Uruguay; AT&T totals $120 over 10 days. A travel eSIM on the same local 4G LTE network costs $54.80 for 20GB. The eSIM is 54% less expensive with identical network performance. Rates checked June 2026.
How much does roaming cost in Uruguay?
AT&T charges $12/day in Uruguay. A 7-day trip costs $84. A 14-day trip costs $120. A 10-day trip costs $120. An eSIM alternative on a local network starts at $54.80 for the same network. Rates checked June 2026.
Does T-Mobile work in Uruguay?
T-Mobile works in Uruguay on its included allowance: Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. For 10 days of high-speed data, the cheapest pass mix is $50 (10-day pass). A Antel eSIM delivers full 4G LTE speed for $54.80. Rates checked June 2026.
AT&T fine print for Uruguay
$12 covers 24 hours from the first time your phone uses a foreign network, and a single background push notification at 2 AM can start it. AT&T bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle (terms read 31 Oct 2026).
iCloud Photos, email push, app updates all trigger the daily charge. A phone left in a bag with data roaming on starts a new $12 fee each time a sync lands after the last 24 hours ran out.
Uruguay FAQ
Uruguay eSIM & roaming questions
Uruguay carrier roaming costs $12 a day on AT&T and on Verizon
Land in Uruguay without a roaming plan and AT&T bills $2.05 per megabyte. An hour of Google Maps navigation uses about 8 MB, so that hour alone costs about $16.40. One gigabyte at that rate is $2,099. A day pass caps the damage at $12/day. Every travel eSIM removes per-megabyte billing outright: you pay once and background syncs cost nothing extra. Fixed plans on a local network start at $6.99 for 1GB, and HelloRoam's unlimited plan drops the gigabyte count at a 7-day median of $21.50, the lowest of the five. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
T-Mobile's included data in Uruguay runs at high speed until the allowance ends
Not past the allowance. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. A photo message runs 2 MB to 4 MB, about two minutes at 256Kbps, so it drags from Uruguay. A travel eSIM delivers full 4G LTE on a local network from $2.74/GB, and HelloRoam at $2.01/GB holds the lowest median 5 GB rate in the market, Nomad next at $2.30. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Uruguay roaming bills by the day, not by the gigabyte
Carriers bill Uruguay roaming two ways. AT&T and Verizon bill $12 for each 24 hours from first use, so one background app sync can start a fee. Without a day pass, AT&T bills $2.05 per MB, or $2,099/GB. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data, and its 1 Day pass costs $10. Four of the five eSIM providers sell a fixed bucket instead, starting at 1GB for $6.99, and HelloRoam sells unlimited plans beside its buckets. Holafly sells unlimited only, at a 7-day median of $27.50 against $21.50 on HelloRoam. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
A Uruguay travel eSIM is refundable while it stays unactivated
Only if you never activated it, and the window varies more than any other term in this market. HelloRoam and Holafly refund unactivated plans for 180 days, the longest here and a genuine tie. Saily runs 30 days and Nomad runs 30. Airalo runs 14 days, the shortest of the five. Once the QR code is scanned and the profile lands on your phone, none of them refunds it, whether or not you traveled. AT&T works differently: International Day Pass at $12/day only bills on days the pass activates in Uruguay, so a cancelled trip costs nothing at all. Read the refund clause before you buy, not after. Rates checked June 2026.
Text messages keep working in Uruguay with data roaming switched off
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.
AT&T's day pass keeps your number live in Uruguay, which a data-only eSIM does not
Your own number, live on the cellular network, with no app and no WiFi. That is the whole list, and it is worth $12/day to some travelers. International Day Pass covers Uruguay at $12/day, or $84 a week, and draws data from your home allowance. Without it AT&T bills $2.05 a megabyte, which reaches $2,099 a gigabyte. Data-only plans from HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily cost $2.74/GB on Antel and carry no number at all. Most travelers close that gap free with WiFi Calling, which routes the home number over any connection. If calls from local numbers matter to you, the day pass is the simpler product. Rates checked June 2026.
Verizon TravelPass costs $84 for a week in Uruguay
No. Verizon TravelPass costs $12/day in Uruguay — $84 for a week. A travel eSIM starts at $2.74/GB on a local 4G LTE network. The eSIM delivers the same speed on the same carrier infrastructure at 80-95% lower total cost.
T-Mobile's free international data in Uruguay carries text and little more
T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. Past the allowance, GPS navigation, photo messaging, video calls and ride-hailing apps stall; basic text-only WhatsApp works. T-Mobile's 1 Day International Pass costs $10, against $12 per 24 hours at AT&T and $12 at Verizon. A travel eSIM on Antel at $2.74/GB delivers full 4G LTE without per-day billing.
Switching data roaming off before landing in Uruguay stops the bill
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 overnight — at $12 per 24 hours. 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.
A week of Uruguay carrier roaming costs $84
AT&T: $84/week (International Day Pass at $12/day). Verizon: $84/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on its Experience plans, then up to 256Kbps, or $50 for a week of passes (10-day pass). The cheapest eSIM for Uruguay starts at $2.74/GB on a local 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 a local network 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 a local network covers those gaps for $6.99. AT&T charges $12/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 a local network 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 HelloRoam. HelloRoam covers Uruguay on a local network and scores 9.9/10 on our rubric, the highest of the 5 providers we price. A 1GB plan costs $6.99. Unactivated plans are refundable for 180 days, and its support replies in your own language. Holafly is the alternative for heavy data users: it states no daily cap, at a 7-day unlimited median of $27.50 on 30 Oct 2026.
Learn more
Travel guides, Uruguay
4 guides carry the parts of a Uruguay trip this page does not price: installing the profile before departure, switching data roaming off on the home SIM, and what happens to the allowance once a fair-use policy applies. Each one reads the same rate card as this page, where AT&T bills $12 a day.
Compare Uruguay eSIM plans vs carrier roaming rates
eSIM plans for Uruguay start at $54.80. AT&T roaming starts from $12/day.
Get a Uruguay eSIM