Vi international roaming in Bali vs eSIM, which is cheaper? The eSIM, by a wide margin on data

For most Bali trips a YatraSim Indonesia eSIM is far cheaper than Vi roaming: 10 GB for 30 days costs US$7.99 (about ₹751), while Vi's cheapest prepaid packs valid in Indonesia give 1 to 5 GB for ₹755 to ₹2,998 and its unlimited packs start at ₹3,495 for 7 days. The eSIM runs on Telkomsel, XL and Indosat, the three networks travelers use in Bali, and you can keep your Vi SIM in the phone for OTPs.

Vi (Vodafone Idea) sells two kinds of prepaid roaming packs that work in Indonesia: "budget" packs with a small data bucket plus call minutes, and "value" packs with unlimited or large data. The prices below come from TelecomTalk's breakdown of Vi prepaid roaming packs, updated 21 May 2026, which lists Indonesia in both groups. Vi also added new 7, 14 and 21 day postpaid packs in May 2026. Vi's own blog pages we opened did not list Indonesia prices or name its partner network in Indonesia, so check the Vi app before you pay.

Vi roaming vs YatraSim for Bali, by trip length

Rupee values for YatraSim use 1 USD = ₹94.04 (x-rates, 12 Nov 2026). Vi prices are as listed by TelecomTalk.

Trip	Vi prepaid pack (Indonesia)	What you get on Vi	YatraSim Indonesia plan	What you get on YatraSim
1 day	₹695	1 GB, 120 min/day outgoing calls	US$1.99 (₹187)	1 GB per day, then 1 Mbps
5 days	₹755 budget, or ₹1,899 South Asia pack	1 GB total data only, or 1 GB/day + 250 min	US$2.49 (₹234)	2 GB for 15 days
7 days	₹3,495	Unlimited data and calls	US$5.49 (₹516) or US$10.49 (₹986)	5 GB for 30 days, or 1 GB per day for 7 days
10 days	₹995 budget, or ₹4,695	1.25 GB + 100 min, or unlimited	US$7.99 (₹751)	10 GB for 30 days
14-15 days	₹1,495 budget, or ₹5,195	2 GB + 200 min (15 days), or unlimited (14 days)	US$12.49 (₹1,175)	20 GB for 30 days
28-30 days	₹2,998 budget, or ₹6,995	5 GB + 200 min, or 15 GB + 120 min/day (28 days)	US$12.49 (₹1,175) or US$25.99 (₹2,444)	20 GB or 50 GB for 30 days

How to read it:

• Vi's "unlimited" value packs have a fair-use line. TelecomTalk notes Vi treats more than 2 GB of data a day as non-retail use.
• On budget packs, data after the quota costs ₹10 per MB, per TelecomTalk. That is about ₹10,000 per extra GB, so running out on a budget pack is expensive.
• Most Vi packs include outgoing calls (the ₹755 pack is data only). YatraSim is data only, with no Indonesian number. WhatsApp calls work over the eSIM data.
• Postpaid users: Vi's new packs are ₹2,649 for 7 days with 2 GB, ₹3,649 for 7 days unlimited, and ₹4,999 for 14 days with 21 GB (Republic World, 18 May 2026). The article does not say which country group Indonesia falls in for the unlimited version.

Where Vi roaming makes sense: if you need to make many normal phone calls to Indian numbers from Bali and do not want to use WhatsApp, a Vi pack with minutes is simpler. For data, the eSIM is cheaper on every trip length in the table.

What YatraSim uses here

YatraSim's Indonesia eSIM connects to Telkomsel (5G), XL (4G) and Indosat (5G). These are the same three networks that Bali guides compare. A 2026 Bali SIM guide from Bali Villa Realty says Telkomsel has the strongest coverage across south Bali, Ubud, the north coast and the Nusa islands, with XL and Indosat solid in towns but weaker in rural east Bali and the Nusa islands. Unusual Nomad's 2026 trip report found Canggu, Seminyak and Sanur easy, Ubud reliable in the center, and signal less consistent around Kintamani, Uluwatu cliff paths and Nusa Penida's cliffs. Neither source is an official coverage map.

YatraSim Indonesia plan	Price	About (INR)
1 GB / 7 days	US$1.99	₹187
5 GB / 30 days	US$5.49	₹516
10 GB / 30 days	US$7.99	₹751
20 GB / 30 days	US$12.49	₹1,175
1 GB per day, 7 days (then 1 Mbps)	US$10.49	₹986
2 GB per day, 7 days (then 1 Mbps)	US$19.49	₹1,833

Prices checked 12 November 2026. See all plans on the Indonesia eSIM page. To be fair, a local Telkomsel or XL tourist SIM bought in Bali can give more GB per rupee: Bali Villa Realty lists about IDR 100,000 to 300,000 for 10 to 30 GB, and notes airport shops charge more. You need your passport and a shop visit for that, and it replaces your Vi SIM in the slot unless your phone has two.

Keep Vi for OTPs: how to set it up

• Install the YatraSim eSIM in India while on Wi-Fi. Turn it on when you land in Denpasar.
• Keep your Vi SIM in the phone as the second line. Set mobile data to the eSIM and turn data roaming off on the Vi line, so Vi cannot bill you for data.
• Vi's April 2026 roaming guide says roaming keeps your number active for OTPs and bank alerts. We found no Vi page that states incoming SMS in Indonesia is free without a pack, so check with Vi before you fly if your bank OTPs matter.
• If your bank app needs the SIM to send an SMS for verification, do that in India before you leave.
• Download offline Google Maps for Bali and the Nusa islands. Signal drops on cliff paths at Uluwatu and Kelingking.
• Data-heavy days (video calls, uploads): the 1 GB or 2 GB per day plans avoid a sudden cut-off.

Sources: TelecomTalk, Vi prepaid international roaming plans (updated 21 May 2026), Republic World, Vi postpaid roaming packs (18 May 2026), Vi, international roaming guide (22 Apr 2026), Bali Villa Realty, Best Bali SIM card (2026), Unusual Nomad, Best eSIM for Bali (updated 21 Sep 2026), x-rates, USD to INR (12 Nov 2026). Checked 12 November 2026.