Not sure how much data to buy? Use our data calculator to estimate your usage based on your travel activities.
How Much Data Do I Need for Travel?
Picking the right data plan for your trip can be tricky — buy too little and you\'ll run out mid-journey; buy too much and you\'re wasting money. The amount you need depends entirely on what you plan to do while travelling.
Quick estimates by travel style
Light user (1–3 GB/week) — messaging, maps, light browsing, checking emails. You mostly use Wi-Fi at your hotel or cafes.
Moderate user (5–10 GB/week) — social media throughout the day, sharing photos, streaming music on walks, occasional video calls home.
Heavy user (15+ GB/week) — remote work (video calls, file uploads), streaming HD video, mobile hotspot for laptop, constant social media stories and uploads.
Data usage by activity (per hour)
Activity | Data per hour |
|---|---|
Social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) | 150 MB |
Streaming music (Spotify, Apple Music) | 100 MB |
HD video calls (Zoom, FaceTime) | 1 GB |
Streaming HD video (YouTube, Netflix) | 1–3 GB |
Web browsing | 50 MB |
Google Maps / navigation | 10 MB |
Email and messaging | 5 MB |
Use our Data Usage Calculator
Rather than guessing, use our Data Usage Calculator to get a personalized estimate. Just tell us:
How long your trip is
How many hours per day you\'ll spend on each activity (social media, video calls, streaming, etc.)
The calculator will add it all up and recommend the perfect plan size for your trip — no guesswork needed.
Tips to reduce data usage
Download offline maps — Google Maps lets you download map areas before your trip. Navigation still works without using data.
Download content before you leave — Spotify, Netflix, and YouTube all let you download songs, shows, and videos on Wi-Fi.
Disable auto-play — turn off auto-play for videos on social media apps (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) to avoid burning through data on content you weren\'t planning to watch.
Use Wi-Fi when available — hotels, cafes, and airports almost always have Wi-Fi. Save your mobile data for when you\'re out exploring.
Disable background app refresh — go to your phone settings and turn off background refresh for apps you don\'t need updating constantly.
Still not sure?
Check our Understanding Your Plan guide or use the Data Calculator for a tailored estimate.
