eSIM for Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai: what to know before you go

Getting there

The airport (CNX) is right next to the old city. Many visitors also arrive by sleeper train or short flight from Bangkok.

Remote work

Cafés and coworking spaces are everywhere, and many people work on video calls. An eSIM hotspot is a useful backup when wifi fails.

Mountains

Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep and the roads toward Pai have signal gaps. Download offline maps before you ride or drive.

Scooters

Many visitors rent a scooter. Check the insurance, and keep your phone mounted so you do not hold it while riding.

How much data you need

A week of maps and photos takes about 3 GB. A month with remote work and calls takes 20 GB or more.

Written 23 October 2026. Opening rules, fees and prices at attractions change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Thailand eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

9 plans, from $2.99 (1 GB, 7 days) to $13.99 (20 GB, 30 days). Networks: DTAC 5G and TrueMove H 5G.

Network

DTAC 5G, TrueMove H 5G

Top-up

Yes, from the eSIM page, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 512 Kbps

Updated October 24, 2026

Questions about Chiang Mai

Is the eSIM good enough for remote work?

For messaging, email and calls, yes. For a full workday of video calls, choose a larger plan or top up, and check the plan's hotspot rules.

How much does an eSIM for Chiang Mai cost?

Chiang Mai uses the Thailand plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $2.99 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 9 plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Do I need a local SIM card in Chiang Mai?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming in Chiang Mai?

With roaming, your own carrier bills the data you use abroad, usually by the day or by the megabyte, at the prices of your plan. The eSIM is prepaid: you know the cost before you leave and nothing is added later. Keep data roaming off on your usual line, so it cannot charge you.

Which networks does the Chiang Mai eSIM use?

Yapsim connects to DTAC and TrueMove H, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from its page, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order and on the site, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Yapsim does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the eSIM page. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (512 Kbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Yapsim line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.