Price per GB
$4.81
Median mid-tier catalogue price.
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Ulaanbaatar covered; the steppe is largely off-grid.
Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world, and its networks reflect that: excellent 4G in Ulaanbaatar, main cities and along major roads, but large blank areas in the remote steppe, desert and highlands. MobiCom covers 95% of the population, Unitel 88%, both with 4G speeds of 20 to 30 Mbps. Unitel has Mongolia's most advanced network and ran the first 5G tests in Ulaanbaatar. For travellers on the main tourist circuit (Ulaanbaatar, Terelj, Karakorum, Lake Khuvsgul), coverage is workable. For deep steppe or Gobi ger-camp travel, expect long stretches with no signal on any network.
Typical local SIM: $3 to 10 USD for a SIM with data; 3GB plans start around 5 USD. Very affordable.. Usually sold at Ulaanbaatar Chinggis Khaan International Airport arrival hall (MobiCom and Unitel both have counters) and operator stores in the city. Passport required.. Local SIMs are cheap and easy to buy at the airport with just a passport. A travel eSIM is the no-counter option and works on landing, but for remote steppe or Gobi travel a local Unitel or MobiCom SIM is the most reliable option, since coverage varies significantly by area.
For Ulaanbaatar and the nearby national parks, a travel eSIM lands you online with no fuss. For serious countryside or Gobi travel, a local Unitel SIM gives the best reach at very low cost, and even then you will lose signal for long stretches.
The largest operator, covering 95% of the population with 4G in Ulaanbaatar and main cities. Speeds average 25 to 30 Mbps. Has a dedicated tourist SIM bundle. Strong in the capital and along major roads.
The widest coverage in Mongolia, reaching 88% of the population and most tourist destinations. First to launch 4G in 2016 and ran Mongolia's first 5G test in Ulaanbaatar in 2022. The best choice for travel beyond the capital into the countryside.
Covers 80% of the population including provincial capitals and main transport routes. Speeds are slower at 15 to 20 Mbps. A budget option for city stays, but less reliable for remote travel.
you want to land in Ulaanbaatar connected with no counter visit for a city and nearby-nature trip where 4G coverage is reliable.
you travel into the countryside or the Gobi, where a local Unitel or MobiCom SIM gives the best reach and very cheap local prices.
No first-hand measurement has been published for Mongolia yet. This page will update automatically when a validated field test is added to the shared dataset.
Use this page to compare the current price per GB, network indicator, transparency signal and local-operator reference for Mongolia. It also links to a destination calculator and plan page.
It is the median price per GB of mid-tier plans in the live Mongolia catalogue. Small 1 GB teasers and 50 GB or larger bulk plans are excluded so the figure reflects a typical traveller choice.
The page shows the current mobile speed indicator, a transparency score and the main local operator. These are destination-level signals, not a guarantee for every street or device.
The decision section compares the practical trade-offs. A travel eSIM is usually simpler for a short visit; a local SIM can make sense when you need a local number, longer service or local pricing. Check the current conditions before deciding.
Price per GB is the median of mid-tier plans from the live Mongolia catalogue. Network and transparency indicators come from the shared Drift dataset and are refreshed monthly.
Field measurements are published only after validation. Open dataset: data-asia.json.
Figures updated September 2026. Dataset license: CC BY 4.0.