Travel Internet
How much mobile data do I need for 7 days?
A simple way to estimate travel data for a one-week trip — with rough usage per activity.
eSIMforInternet TeamUpdated 1 min read
Published
Quick answer
For most travelers, 3–5 GB is enough for a week of maps, messaging and browsing. Heavy social media or video calls usually need 10 GB or more. If you stream or work online, choose unlimited.
Rough data use by activity
| Activity | Rough data use |
|---|---|
| Maps and navigation | Low — well under 100 MB per hour |
| Messaging (text) | A few MB per day |
| Web browsing | Around 50–150 MB per hour |
| Social media with video | Several hundred MB to 1 GB+ per hour |
| Video calls | Several hundred MB to 1 GB+ per hour |
| Streaming video (SD / HD) | Around 1 GB / 3 GB per hour |
Pick your week
- Light (1–3 GB): maps, messages, the odd search.
- Everyday (5–10 GB): plus social media, photos and a few video calls.
- Heavy (15 GB+ or unlimited): streaming, remote work, hotspot for a laptop.
Ways to use less
- Download offline maps before you go.
- Turn off automatic video play in social apps.
- Set photo backups to Wi-Fi only.
- Download shows and playlists at the hotel.
Tip
Running out mid-trip is annoying. If you're between two sizes, choose the bigger one.