Mobile Phones in Bangkok
Compared to Singapore and Hong Kong, telecommunications can be quite pricey in Bangkok.
If you are not on auto roam, there are two ways of being contactable on mobile when in Bangkok
1) Renting a mobile phone
- You can rent a mobile phone from Bangkok International Airport Terminal 1. This is the same place to return the phone to at the end of your stay.
- You will need to pay a deposit of about 20,000 Baht for the phone
- A deposit of 5,000 Baht for call usage
- Rental per day cost 250 Baht for 14 days or less
- 150 Baht per day for 15 days or more
- Call usage is about 6 baht per minute
- This method can be quite pricey and not really recommended.
2) Buying a SIM Card
If you already have a mobile phone, I recommend you buy at pre-paid SIM card.
This saves you roaming charges, and friends can still contact you on a local number. And compared to renting a phone, the cost is about 3 baht per minute.
To buy SIM card
Best to buy from True (previously called Orange). And best to go to the True shop (rather than the many small phone shops in Bangkok). When buying the phone, tell them you want the SIM card protected by your passport number.
In case you lose your mobile phone, you can call True, tell them passport number and they will deactivate the SIM card. You also get to keep any remaining value on the card.
Cost of SIM card at True
99 Baht for the SIM card
Top ups are available in 90, 300, 500 and 1,000 Baht.
The pre paid SIM card is valid only for 30 days. Top up cards’ validity depends on the value of the top up.
To buy a mobile phone
If you do not have a mobile phone, you can buy them from the many phone shops in Bangkok. Or you can go to MBK.
