SIM Card or eSIM for a Three-Month Medellín Stay After 55
How to choose a practical phone setup for a long winter, including number retention, two-factor authentication and backup data.
The most important phone question is not which company has the cheapest data bundle. It is whether you can still receive a bank security code from home while your local navigation, WhatsApp and ride apps work in Medellín. Those are different jobs, and one phone plan does not always cover both.
Keep the number you depend on for verification
Before you travel, ask your home carrier whether your phone can use two active lines and what international roaming or Wi-Fi calling actually costs. Check the rules for security texts, since some banks send them differently from ordinary messages. Do not cancel your home number until you have moved essential accounts to a verified alternative. Store recovery codes securely, and test one login while you are still at home.
Choose data based on the places you will use it
A travel eSIM can be convenient before landing if your phone is unlocked and compatible. A local SIM may suit a longer stay or a phone without eSIM support. Compare coverage at your address, support in English if needed, hotspot permission, and what happens when the data allowance ends. Ask the operator to show signal strength in the actual apartment. Wi-Fi alone will not help if you have to summon a ride from a noisy street.
Practice the backup plan
Download offline maps for your neighborhood and save the rental address and operator phone outside your messaging apps. A second way to contact family could be a web email account accessible from a trusted device. If you use a second SIM, label the lines so you know which number an incoming call is reaching. Turn off expensive roaming data on the home line unless you deliberately need it.
Before you commit: the six-point checklist
- Check phone unlock and eSIM compatibility.
- Test whether bank and card alerts work abroad.
- Compare coverage at the apartment, not just citywide.
- Write down the Colombian number and emergency contacts.
- Keep offline maps and a charger in your day bag.
- Review subscription renewal and data-top-up terms.
A practical next step
Send a landlord this question: “Which mobile carrier has the most reliable signal in the unit and lobby? Is the apartment Wi-Fi stable enough for video calls, and can you run a live test?” Do not pay for a ninety-day plan until you confirm your device will accept it.