How Much Data Do I Need for Travel?

One of the biggest questions travellers face is: how much mobile data will I really need abroad? Picking the right plan can feel tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. At Sim Local, we promise to always help our customers find the perfect eSIM data plan for their travel needs whether that’s a light plan for a week at a beach resort or an unlimited plan for heavy usage on the go.

This guide breaks down what affects your data needs, outlines different travel scenarios, and shows you how to choose the right Sim Local eSIM plan with confidence.

Your data needs depend on your travel style. Here’s what to consider:

• Wi-Fi access - Resorts, hotels, and cafes with Wi-Fi reduce your mobile data usage.
• Streaming & social media - Uploading TikToks, watching Netflix, or sharing live stories quickly consumes gigabytes.
• Navigation & travel apps - Google Maps, Uber, and local taxi apps rely on mobile data.
  Work & study needs - Students and business travellers often require bigger plans with calls and texts.
• Background apps & updates - Apps running in the background or automatic software updates can quietly eat up data. Check your phone settings to turn off background refresh and automatic updates while travelling.
• Trip length - The longer you’re away, the more data you’ll use overall.

Here’s a simple breakdown to help you estimate the right data plan you will need depending on your trip type:

• Trip length: 1–2 weeks
• Usage: Mostly Wi-Fi, light messaging, occasional maps
• Estimated need: Between 3GB-5GB a week
• Best plan: A small eSIM package

• Trip length: 3–14 days
• Usage: Maps, ride-hailing apps, social posts, light streaming
• Estimated need: 5-10 GB per week
• Best plan: A mid-sized eSIM data plan such as a 10GB or 20GB depending on your length of stay

• Trip length: Weeks to months
• Usage: Video calls, email, navigation, social media & hotspotting.
• Estimated need: 15-30Gb per week depending on whether you use hotspot frequently or not.
• Best plan: A local eSIM plan with high data, calls, texts, and a local phone number
• Why having a local phone number matters: It's essential for taxis, deliveries, and authentication apps.

• Trip length: Any
• Usage: Uploading stories, streaming HD video, mobile gaming, tethering with hotspot
• Estimated need: 15-50 GB per week or more depending on your usage. Gamers and streamers will use more data than social users. If you are a gamer or streamer, we would recommend an unlimited plan.
• Best plan: An unlimited eSIM plan and unlike many eSIM providers, Sim Local gives you up to 10GB per day in our unlimited eSIM plans at full speed before throttling, ensuring a smoother experience daily or heavy data users. Most other eSIM providers will begin to throttle your speeds at around 3GB.
  

At Sim Local, our goal is simple: to match you with the perfect travel data plan for your trip. Whether you’re on a short holiday, exploring a new city, working remotely, or gaming abroad, we’ve got flexible options to keep you connected. Use our find my plan feature to get started on finding a suitable eSIM plan for you or calculate it yourself with our quick data usage guide below.

Before you travel, it’s a good idea to calculate your expected data needs. Simply think about how many hours you’ll spend on the activities below and add them up. This will give you a realistic estimate of how much data you’ll need for your trip.

• 1 hr web browsing → ~60 MB
• 1 hr SD video streaming (Netflix/YouTube) → ~1 GB
• 1 hr HD video streaming → ~3 GB
• 1 hr music streaming (Spotify/Apple Music) → ~150 MB
• 1 social media post (photo) → ~2 MB
• 1 hr social media scrolling (Instagram/TikTok) → ~700 MB–1 GB
• 1 hr mobile gaming (online) → ~50–150 MB
• 1 mobile game update/download → 5–10 GB
• 1 hr Zoom/Teams video call → ~500 MB–1 GB (higher in HD)
• 1 hr hotspotting for document downloads & browsing → ~200–300 MB
• 1 hr hotspotting for gaming consoles (e.g. Xbox, PlayStation, Switch online play) → ~200–400 MB (but game downloads/updates can be 10–50 GB each)

• Plan ahead - Know your usage habits and pick the right plan before you travel.
• Use Wi-Fi where possible - Save data for when you’re on the go.
• Turn off data switching - Avoid accidental roaming charges.
• Check your usage - Track data in your phone settings occasionally.
• Streaming, gaming, video calls, hotspot? - Choose unlimited for peace of mind.
  

✈️ With Sim Local, you’ll never have to worry about running out of data or overspending abroad. We’ll always help you choose the right eSIM plan whether you need a small data plan or an unlimited eSIM plan, so you can focus on making the most of your trip. If you still need help figuring out which eSIM plan is perfect for you, visit us in store or contact us directly and our experts will be happy to help you.