Keeping a prepaid number in your home country active from abroad costs as little as 8¢ a day (Sri Lanka, Hutch) and up to 190¢ a day (United Arab Emirates), based on the cheapest plan lasting 28 days or more in each of 30 countries on 7 November 2026. Data-only add-ons are excluded because they do not extend a line's validity.
Travelling and need your own number kept alive? Small-recharge pages with each operator's validity rule: UAE · Philippines · Saudi Arabia · Qatar · Kenya · Nigeria.
Cost per day, cheapest plan of 28+ days
| Country | Operator | Plan | Lasts | Price | Per day | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Hutch | 10 GB for 45 days | 45 days | $3.50 | 8¢ | $28 |
| Pakistan | Ufone | Social WhatsApp | 30 days | $3.17 | 11¢ | $39 |
| Indonesia | Indosat | 1GB | 30 days | $3.57 | 12¢ | $43 |
| Philippines | Dito | DITO Level Up 99 | 30 days | $3.64 | 12¢ | $44 |
| Saudi Arabia | Stc-Sawa KSA Direct Recharge | SAR | 90 days | $11.14 | 12¢ | $45 |
| Uganda | Airtel Data | Monthly_2GB | 30 days | $4.09 | 14¢ | $50 |
| Egypt | Etisalat | Hekaya Mixat 69 | 28 days | $4.06 | 14¢ | $53 |
| Dominican Republic | Viva Bundles | WhatsApp 12 Months | 365 days | $53.18 | 15¢ | $53 |
| Ghana | Telecel Data | 2.4 GB | 30 days | $4.55 | 15¢ | $55 |
| India | BSNL | UL calls + UL data | 35 days | $5.31 | 15¢ | $55 |
| Nepal | Ncell | 10GB + UL calls | 28 days | $5.97 | 21¢ | $78 |
| Morocco | Maroc Telecom Bundles | 2GB Social Media | 30 days | $6.45 | 22¢ | $78 |
| Bangladesh | Teletalk | 30 GB | 30 days | $7.51 | 25¢ | $91 |
| Nigeria | Airtel Data | 10GB Monthly Plan | 30 days | $7.58 | 25¢ | $92 |
| Senegal | Orange Data | 350 min - 100 SMS - 2.5GB | 30 days | $9.00 | 30¢ | $110 |
| Ethiopia | Ethio Telecom Bundles | Monthly IAT Voice+Data+SMS | 30 days | $10.17 | 34¢ | $124 |
| DR Congo | Airtel Democratic Republic of the Congo | 3GB - 7J (7 Days) | 30 days | $10.41 | 35¢ | $127 |
| Colombia | Tigo Data | 7Gb + Unlimited minutes | 30 days | $12.28 | 41¢ | $149 |
| Cameroon | Orange | 3 GB | 30 days | $16.07 | 54¢ | $196 |
| Algeria | Djezzy | 15GB + 2000DZD Credit | 30 days | $16.19 | 54¢ | $197 |
| Ecuador | CNT | VOICE DATA 10 USD | 30 days | $19.24 | 64¢ | $234 |
| Ivory Coast | MTN Data | 500min + 500 SMS + 6.5Gb | 30 days | $20.35 | 68¢ | $248 |
| Jamaica | Flow Bundles | WorldPak 600 30 Days | 30 days | $21.04 | 70¢ | $256 |
| Mexico | Movistar Bundles | 4GB Data + UL mins | 30 days | $23.30 | 78¢ | $283 |
| Nicaragua | Claro SuperPack | Superpack $15 All included USA | 30 days | $27.68 | 92¢ | $337 |
| Guatemala | Claro SuperPack | Superpack $15 All included USA | 30 days | $30.06 | 100¢ | $366 |
| El Salvador | Claro SuperPack | Superpack $15 All included USA | 30 days | $30.06 | 100¢ | $366 |
| Honduras | Claro SuperPack | Superpack $15 All included USA | 30 days | $30.81 | 103¢ | $375 |
| Haiti | Natcom Bundles | PLUS: 30 days | 30 days | $34.79 | 116¢ | $423 |
| United Arab Emirates | Etisalat UAE | Monthly IDD Pack 99 | 28 days | $53.15 | 190¢ | $693 |
Slashtel prices including our service fee. Per year assumes repeating the same plan. Operators set their own inactivity rules; check the country page.
Questions, answered
What is the cheapest way to keep a home SIM active while living abroad?
Buy the lowest-cost plan that lasts 28 days or more on your operator. On 7 November 2026 the cheapest was Hutch in Sri Lanka at $3.50 for 45 days. Operators also have their own inactivity rules, listed on each Slashtel country page.
Why do people keep their home number active?
Banks, payment apps and government services in the home country often send one-time passwords by SMS to the registered number, so the SIM needs to stay active even when you live abroad.