For a working holiday or study period in Canada, you can think of your phone as a combination of a local SIM and an eSIM you set up before departure. This guide covers the monthly prices of the 7 local carriers listed on BLOOM ABROAD and how to split things between a local SIM and an eSIM you set up before departure. Checked: 1 Nov 2026.
In short
If you will live there for a while, a local SIM with a monthly plan is the basic route. All 17 listings from the 7 carriers we list support eSIM. You could also start with an eSIM set up before departure for your first days, then pick a local SIM once you have settled in.
For a long stay a local SIM is the basic choice
If you will live in Canada for several months or more, paying a local carrier a monthly fee is the basic route. Some of the local carrier plans we list include calls and text messages within Canada. If you will need a local number for work or housing, plan around a local SIM. Let's also decide before you leave whether to keep your home number.
On the day you arrive, though, you need data right away for getting from the airport and contacting your housing. If you set up an eSIM before departure, you can use maps and messages as soon as you land. You could then choose a local SIM that suits your usage once things have settled down.
Rough monthly prices of the 7 local SIM carriers we list
The BLOOM ABROAD Canada SIM comparison lists 17 plans from 7 local carriers. All are listed as eSIM-compatible. Example plans are in the table below.
Let's check taxes, fees and sign-up conditions on each carrier's official page. When you compare, look not only at the monthly price but also line up the data amount and plan period (monthly or every 30 days).
The comparison page shows the date each plan’s price was checked. Prices can change, so check each carrier's official page before you sign up.
Lucky Mobile
Data: 10GB
Price: CAD 30/month
PhoneBox
Data: 45GB
Price: CAD 30 for 30 days
Fido
Data: 75GB
Price: CAD 35/month
Virgin Plus
Data: On the comparison page
Price: On the comparison page with the date checked
Rogers
Data: 100GB
Price: CAD 40/month
Bell
Data: 100GB
Price: CAD 35/month
Freedom Mobile
Data: 60GB
Price: CAD 54/month
Example plans from the BLOOM ABROAD Canada SIM comparison (checked on November 1, 2026).
An eSIM you can set up before departure
Some eSIMs let you finish your connection setup before departure. Apple Support explains setting up an eSIM on iPhone while connected to Wi-Fi or a hotspot. If you get stuck with setup, contact the carrier you bought the eSIM from.
One option is Bloomy eSIM. Bloomy eSIM is run by the same company as BLOOM ABROAD, and it is data-only, so it comes with no phone number. The service is summarised in About Bloomy eSIM, and the Canada plans at the Bloomy eSIM Canada page.
How to combine a local SIM and an eSIM
The choice depends on whether you need a number and how long you will stay. A data-only eSIM has no number, so if you need a Canadian number, use a local SIM. Here is one way to combine them.
- First few weeks after arrival: use the eSIM you set up before departure for maps and messages
- Once housing or work is settled: compare monthly prices and sign up for a local SIM in Canada
- Short study period: if you do not need a number, check whether an eSIM's data and days are enough
When you compare a local SIM paid monthly with an eSIM paid by days, line them up on the same number of days and the same data amount, and compare the cost.
What to check before you go
If you are taking the phone you already use, first check that it can use both a local SIM and an eSIM. Telstra notes that devices purchased overseas may not be eSIM compatible. Per Telstra's guidance, if it shows "No SIM restrictions", the phone is unlocked. Before you leave, let's check these 3 things.
- SIM lock: under Settings > General > About, does the "Carrier Lock" row show "No SIM restrictions"?
- eSIM support: dial *#06# and see whether a 32-digit EID appears
- Number: have you decided whether you need a Canadian number and whether to keep your home number?
Compare plans on ABROAD
Let's line up monthly prices and data amounts in the Canada SIM comparison. For getting online on the day you arrive, see How to get online on arrival day for study abroad and working holidays.
