Planning your trip to the USA in 2026 and wondering what is the best prepaid SIM card? Staying connected in the United States can be expensive compared to what you are used to when traveling in Europe or Asia.

I have traveled to the USA more times than I can count and so far visited more than 35 states. From road trips through the Midwest, California and Arizona, snowboarding in Colorado and Utah to exploring cities like New York, Miami and Chicago, I have tested pretty much every way of staying connected in the US.

Here is the truth: buying a prepaid SIM card in the USA is not as straightforward as you might think.

Traveling to New York and wondering if you can buy a prepaid SIM card at JFK Airport on arrival? The short answer is yes, you can buy a SIM card at New York JFK Airport, but only from SIM card vending machines and I do not recommend it.

The cheapest prepaid SIM card at JFK Airport costs $29 USD for just 1 GB data. That is extremely poor value, especially because there is no staff to help you with activation or registration. You buy the SIM card from a vending machine and then you have to set everything up yourself.

In this complete guide I will show you exactly where to buy a SIM card at New York JFK Airport, the latest JFK Airport SIM card prices for 2026, why the vending machine SIM cards are not worth it, and what better alternatives you have for staying connected in New York and the rest of the USA.