Prepaid SIM Cards in Spain: The Real Cost Breakdown
When I first arrived in Madrid, I walked into a Movistar store and bought a prepaid SIM card. The salesperson told me it would cost €10 for the card and €10 for a monthly plan. Three months later, I realized I'd been paying almost €18 per month after all the hidden fees. That's when I decided to test every major prepaid option in Spain.
What I Tested
Over the past three years, I've used prepaid SIMs from Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, and Yoigo. I've tracked every cost, tested coverage in different cities, and compared what you actually get versus what's advertised. Here's the honest breakdown.
Movistar Prepaid: The Premium Option
Movistar is Spain's largest network, and you pay for that coverage. I used their prepaid service for 8 months.
Actual costs:
- SIM card: €10 (one-time)
- Monthly plan: €15 for 8GB
- Hidden fees: €2.50 monthly service fee
- Total per month: €17.50
What you get: Excellent coverage even in rural areas, fast speeds in cities, reliable service. The app is well-designed and customer service responds quickly.
Downsides: Most expensive option, data runs out quickly if you stream videos, and they charge extra for calls to other networks.
Best for: People who travel around Spain frequently and need reliable coverage everywhere.
Orange Prepaid: The Balanced Choice
I switched to Orange after Movistar and stayed with them for 14 months. Better value for money.
Actual costs:
- SIM card: €5 (often free with promotions)
- Monthly plan: €12 for 10GB
- Hidden fees: €1.50 monthly service fee
- Total per month: €13.50
What you get: Good coverage in cities and towns, decent speeds, includes some EU roaming. Their prepaid plans often have promotions where you get extra data.
Downsides: Coverage drops in very rural areas, customer service can be slow, and the app is less intuitive than Movistar's.
Best for: City dwellers who want a good balance of price and coverage.
Vodafone Prepaid: The Data-Heavy Option
I tested Vodafone for 6 months specifically because they advertised "unlimited" data plans.
Actual costs:
- SIM card: €10 (one-time)
- Monthly plan: €20 for "unlimited" (actually 25GB at full speed)
- Hidden fees: €2 monthly service fee
- Total per month: €22
What you get: After 25GB, speeds drop but don't cut off completely. Good for heavy users. Coverage is solid in urban areas.
Downsides: Expensive, "unlimited" is misleading, and speeds slow significantly after the cap. Not worth it unless you use 20GB+ monthly.
Best for: Heavy data users who don't mind paying premium prices.
Yoigo Prepaid: The Budget Winner
Yoigo uses Movistar's network but charges less. I've been using them for the past year.
Actual costs:
- SIM card: €5 (often free online)
- Monthly plan: €10 for 12GB
- Hidden fees: €0 (no monthly service fee!)
- Total per month: €10
What you get: Same network coverage as Movistar (they're owned by the same company), no hidden fees, straightforward pricing. The app is basic but functional.
Downsides: Customer service is minimal, fewer physical stores, and the app lacks some features. But honestly, for the price, these are minor issues.
Best for: Budget-conscious users who want Movistar coverage without Movistar prices.
Real-World Comparison Table
| Provider | Monthly Cost | Data Included | Coverage Quality | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movistar | €17.50 | 8GB | Excellent | Rural travelers |
| Orange | €13.50 | 10GB | Good | City users |
| Vodafone | €22 | 25GB | Good | Heavy users |
| Yoigo | €10 | 12GB | Excellent | Budget users |
Hidden Fees Nobody Tells You About
Here are the fees I discovered that aren't clearly advertised:
- Monthly service fee: Most providers charge €1.50-€2.50 per month just for having an active line. Yoigo is the exception.
- SIM card activation: Some stores charge an extra €5-€10 for "activation" even though the SIM should work immediately.
- Data overage: If you run out of data, most providers charge €0.10-€0.15 per MB. This adds up fast.
- International calls: Even calling other EU countries can cost €0.20-€0.50 per minute on prepaid plans.
My Recommendation After Three Years
If you're staying in Spain for more than a month and want the best value, go with Yoigo. You get Movistar's excellent coverage at half the price, with no hidden fees. I've saved over €200 compared to when I was with Movistar.
For shorter stays or if you need customer service in English, Orange is a solid middle ground. Their stores are everywhere, and staff usually speak English.
Avoid Vodafone's "unlimited" plans unless you genuinely use 20GB+ monthly. The price jump isn't worth it for most people.
Where to Buy
You can buy prepaid SIMs at:
- Official provider stores (most reliable, but sometimes more expensive)
- Electronics stores like MediaMarkt or El Corte Inglés (often have promotions)
- Online from provider websites (cheapest, but requires Spanish address for delivery)
- Corner stores and tobacco shops (convenient but limited selection)
I recommend buying online from the provider's website if you have a Spanish address. You'll often get the SIM card for free and avoid store markups.
Final Thoughts
The prepaid SIM market in Spain is competitive, but hidden fees are everywhere. Always ask about monthly service fees before buying. Check coverage maps if you'll be traveling outside major cities. And remember: the cheapest upfront cost isn't always the cheapest long-term.
After testing all these options, I'm sticking with Yoigo. It's the best balance of price, coverage, and transparency. But your needs might be different, so use this guide to make an informed choice.