Getting a SIM Card and Mobile Plan in Australia: A New Zealander's Guide

26 August 2026

Good news for Kiwis: Australian mobile pricing is broadly comparable to what you're used to at home, sometimes cheaper for data-heavy plans. Getting connected on arrival is one of the more painless parts of this move.

The three main networks

Australia has three network operators, and most budget providers (MVNOs) run on one of them - coverage from a smaller brand depends entirely on which underlying network it uses.

Telstra

The largest network, covering roughly 99% of the population and the widest geographic area, including remote and regional Australia. It's the most expensive of the three, but if you're heading anywhere outside a capital city, the coverage difference is real - genuinely more comparable to how thin coverage can get outside NZ's main centres, only over much greater distances.

Optus

Strong metropolitan and regional-centre coverage, typically cheaper than Telstra. A good choice if you're settling in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or another major city.

TPG / Vodafone

The third network, now under TPG Telecom. Solid in cities, weaker regionally, often competitive on price.

Boost Mobile (Telstra network)

AUD $25-45

15GB-60GB per 28 days, widest coverage of the MVNOs

Amaysim (Optus network)

AUD $25-40

15GB-40GB, strong metro value

ALDI Mobile (Telstra network)

AUD $25-40

10GB-50GB, best cost-per-GB on Telstra Wholesale

Average prepaid plan

~AUD $39/month

cheaper options around AUD $25 for roughly 25GB are widely available

Cross-checked against multiple current Australian mobile plan comparison sources (Finder, ShopBack, SimFinder), as at 26 Aug 2026.

Prepaid vs postpaid

Prepaid is the obvious choice for newcomers: no contract, no Australian credit history required, and you can cancel or pause any time. Postpaid plans, often bundled with a handset over 12-24 months, usually require a credit check - something you may not pass immediately as a new arrival, even with a clean NZ credit history, since Australian and NZ credit bureaus don't share data automatically.

Where to buy on arrival

SIMs are available at airport kiosks (convenient but usually the most expensive), supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths both sell prepaid SIMs near the checkout, good value for a starter), telco retail stores in any shopping centre, and online through the MVNOs listed above, with delivery in a day or two.

Staying in touch with New Zealand

Most Australian prepaid plans include calls to New Zealand in their standard inclusions, given how many customers are making exactly this move - check before you sign up. WhatsApp, FaceTime and Google Meet over Wi-Fi cover everything else for free. Keep your NZ number alive on a cheap plan for the first month or so if you use it for two-factor authentication on NZ bank accounts or government services.

Moving from New Zealand to Australia?

Our free relocation checklist covers your SIM, TFN, Medicare and everything else to sort in your first two weeks.

Get the free checklist

The bottom line

Grab a prepaid SIM at the airport or a supermarket on arrival, then switch to a better-value MVNO once you've had a look around. Telstra if you need genuine regional coverage, Optus or an MVNO on either network if you're staying in a capital city. Prices are close enough to New Zealand's that this shouldn't be a source of bill shock either way.