How much data do I need for travel?
Most travelers over-buy or under-buy data because they guess. This guide gives you a concrete answer: a per-activity table, an estimator you can use in ten seconds, and ready-made estimates for 3, 7, 14 and 30-day trips. All figures are approximate ranges, not guarantees — your real usage depends on video quality, cloud backups and how often you find Wi-Fi.
Quick answer
- Short city break (3 days), maps and messaging only: around 0.5–1 GB.
- One week of normal tourist use (maps, social media, photos, some video): around 3.5–7 GB.
- Two weeks with daily video, calls and some hotspot: around 20–35 GB, or an unlimited-style plan.
- If you are unsure, a 5 GB plan for a week is the safest common starting point.
What actually uses your data
A handful of activities account for almost all mobile data on a trip. Text messaging and navigation are cheap; anything that moves video is expensive. Background activity — photo backups, app updates, cloud sync — is what silently drains a small plan.
- Video: streaming, TikTok/Reels autoplay and video calls dominate consumption.
- Hotspot: a laptop behind your phone can use more data in one hour than your phone does in a day.
- Automatic photo and video backup to iCloud or Google Photos.
- App and system updates downloading over mobile data.
- High-resolution streaming: the same video can cost 3–4x more in HD than in SD.
Data use by activity (approximate)
Ranges below are typical published figures for mobile use. Resolution, codec, preloading, caching and offline downloads change them substantially, so treat them as orders of magnitude.
| Activity | Approximate use | Impact on your plan |
|---|---|---|
| Text messaging (WhatsApp, iMessage) | ~1–5 MB per day | Negligible |
| WhatsApp voice call | ~0.3–0.5 MB per minute (~20–30 MB/hour) | Low |
| Video call (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Meet) | ~200–400 MB per hour | High |
| Google Maps navigation | ~3–7 MB per hour (much less offline) | Low |
| Web browsing / email | ~30–70 MB per hour | Low |
| Instagram feed and stories | ~100–250 MB per hour | Medium |
| TikTok / short video | ~300–600 MB per hour | High |
| YouTube / video streaming | ~0.5–0.7 GB per hour SD, 1.5–3 GB per hour HD | Very high |
| Spotify / music streaming | ~40–150 MB per hour depending on quality | Medium |
| Hotspot for a laptop | ~0.5–2 GB per hour of active work | Very high |
Estimate your trip
Pick your trip length and how you expect to use your phone.
For this trip, plan for roughly 3.5–7 GB.
This is an orientation range, not an exact figure. Video, hotspot, cloud backups, app updates and streaming quality can push real usage well above it.
Look at mid-size plans for this range: Compare 5–10 GB plans
Estimates for 3, 7, 14 and 30 days
Approximate data ranges by trip length and usage profile.
| Usage | 3 days | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 0.5–1 GB | 1–2.5 GB | 2–5 GB | 4.5–11 GB |
| Medium | 1.5–3 GB | 3.5–7 GB | 7–14 GB | 15–30 GB |
| Heavy | 4.5–8 GB | 11–18 GB | 21–35 GB | 45–75 GB |
Light vs medium vs heavy
Light: Light usage means messaging, offline-first navigation and occasional browsing, with hotel or café Wi-Fi for everything large. Roughly 0.15–0.35 GB per day.
Medium: Medium usage is the typical tourist: navigation every day, social media in the evening, photos uploaded, a few short videos and voice calls. Roughly 0.5–1 GB per day.
Heavy: Heavy usage means video streaming, frequent video calls, hotspot for a laptop or working remotely. Roughly 1.5–2.5 GB per day, and often more if you tether daily.
What happens if you run out
- Data simply stops — the eSIM stays installed but you lose mobile internet until you top up.
- You keep your home number and Wi-Fi, so messaging still works when you find a network.
- Most providers let you buy a top-up from their app or website, but you need internet to do it — use Wi-Fi.
- Some plans expire by date as well as by GB; unused data does not usually carry over.
Top up later or buy a bigger plan now?
- Short trips: start small. Topping up once is cheaper than paying for GB you never touch.
- Long trips: a bigger plan is usually cheaper per GB than several small top-ups.
- If you rely on data for work, buy more up front — running out mid-trip costs more than the difference.
- Check the provider's top-up rules before buying: some require a top-up within the original validity window.
How to use less data while traveling
- Download offline maps for your city before you fly.
- Turn off autoplay video in Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook.
- Pause iCloud / Google Photos backup on mobile data.
- Set streaming apps to low or standard quality and download playlists on Wi-Fi.
- Disable automatic app updates over mobile data.
- Keep hotspot off unless you actively need it.
When an unlimited plan makes sense
Once your estimate goes above roughly 15–20 GB, or if you tether a laptop daily, an unlimited-style plan is often simpler and can work out cheaper. Read the fair-use terms first: many of these plans reduce speed after a daily threshold or restrict hotspot.
How data relates to price
eSIM price depends mainly on included GB, validity, destination and provider. Small plans are the cheapest; unlimited-style plans often include fair-use limits. Always confirm the final price on the provider's official page.
Approximate travel eSIM price ranges
These ranges are indicative and are not live prices. Final price depends on destination, provider, included GB, duration, promotions, taxes and conditions. Always check the official website before buying.
Basic local plan
Best for light use
approx. €0.99 – €5
Usually corresponds to small plans, for example 1 GB – 3 GB for a few days or one week, depending on destination and provider.
Useful for WhatsApp, maps and basic browsing.
Medium plan
Best for normal trips
approx. €6 – €20
Usually corresponds to higher-data plans, for example 10 GB – 20 GB or validity near 30 days, depending on destination.
Useful for one- to several-week trips with maps, social media, photos and internet calls.
Unlimited-style data
Best for heavy data
approx. €6 – €60
Unlimited-style data plans can vary widely by country and duration. Some short trips may start from a few euros, while 15–30 day plans usually cost more.
Useful if you don't want to track GB, but always review fair-usage policy and conditions.
Global or multi-country
Best for multi-country travel
approx. €50 – €75
Global or long-duration multi-country plans are usually more expensive because they cover several zones or destinations.
Useful for international trips with several stops — check included countries and validity.
These ranges are indicative and may change by destination, provider, promotions, taxes and date.
Indicative ranges, manually updateable. Last review: June 2026.
FAQ
How many GB do I need for a week?
For typical tourist use — daily maps, social media, photos and messaging — plan for about 3.5–7 GB for seven days. Light users can get by with 1–2.5 GB; heavy video or hotspot users should budget 10 GB or more.
Is 5 GB enough for a trip?
5 GB is comfortable for about a week of normal use, or two weeks of light use. It is not enough if you stream video daily or share your connection with a laptop.
How much data does Google Maps use?
Live navigation typically uses only a few MB per hour, roughly 3–7 MB. Downloading offline maps over Wi-Fi before your trip reduces this to almost nothing.
Does WhatsApp use a lot of data?
Text and voice notes are negligible — a few MB per day. Voice calls use roughly 0.3–0.5 MB per minute. Video calls are the expensive part, around 200–400 MB per hour.
How many GB do I need if I watch YouTube or TikTok?
Video is the main cost. Roughly 0.5–0.7 GB per hour in SD and 1.5–3 GB per hour in HD on YouTube; short-video feeds land around 300–600 MB per hour. One hour a day for a week can add 4–7 GB on its own.
What happens if my eSIM data runs out?
Mobile internet stops working while the eSIM stays installed. You can usually buy a top-up in the provider's app — over Wi-Fi — or install a second eSIM. Check whether your plan has also reached its validity date.
Is it better to buy more GB or an unlimited plan?
Below roughly 10–15 GB, a metered plan is normally cheaper. Above that, or if you tether daily, unlimited-style plans usually win on convenience and price — but check fair-use and hotspot rules before buying.
Related guides
All figures on this page are approximate ranges for orientation. Confirm plan details, validity and coverage on the provider's official website before buying.