Buying the right amount of data is mostly about knowing what each habit costs. Here is what common travel activities typically use — rough numbers, but close enough to plan with.
What common travel habits typically use
- Maps & navigation~8MB
about 5–10 MB per hour of active use
- Messaging (text + photos)~35MB
about 20–50 MB for a whole day
- Social media scrolling~150MB
100–200 MB per hour, more with video
- Video calls~550MB
roughly 300–800 MB per hour
- HD video streaming~1000MB
1 GB or more per hour
Typical ranges, not guarantees — apps and video quality settings change the numbers.
Do the sum in 30 seconds
Pick your user type from the strip above, multiply by the number of days, then round up to the next plan size. Hotel Wi-Fi lowers what you need, but do not count on it for everything — or for anything that matters.
Five habits that quietly burn data
Automatic app updates, cloud photo backup, autoplaying video in social apps, music streaming in high quality, and a laptop on your hotspot. Turn the first four off on mobile data and your gigabytes stretch a long way.
Quick answers
Is 1GB enough for a week?
Only for very light use — maps and text messages. Most travellers need 3GB or more for a week.
What happens if I run out of data?
The data stops until you buy another plan. Buying slightly more than you think you need is usually cheaper than topping up.
New to eSIM? Read the installation guide and check your phone on the compatibility page.