Last updated: July 20, 2026
From the moment you land, mobile data becomes essential — pulling up directions, messaging the people waiting for you, checking the address of tonight's dinner. The hard part is guessing how big a plan you actually need. The short answer: for most travellers, about 3–5GB covers one week, 5–10GB covers two weeks, and 10–20GB covers a month. Your own usage may land above or below that.
- One week: roughly 3–5GB
- Two weeks: 5–10GB · One month: 10–20GB
- Video and tethering push you toward a larger plan
- When in doubt, size up one step
- How to pair a data eSIM with keeping your own number
Your data use depends on how you spend your days
Two people on the same two-week trip can need wildly different amounts of data. It comes down to two things: how much Wi-Fi you'll realistically have, and what you do while you're out.
If your hotel or the place you're staying has Wi-Fi, and you're mostly using maps, messaging, and the occasional search while out, your mobile data use stays modest. If you're moving around a lot, watching video on the go, or tethering a laptop, consumption climbs fast. Picture your typical day first, then check it against the table below.
Data estimates by length of stay
Here are typical ranges for three usage styles. Treat these as general guidance — real consumption varies with how you use your phone, which apps you run, and your video quality settings.
| Length of stay | Light (messaging & maps) | Standard (plus social & browsing) | Heavy (plus video & tethering) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week | 1–3GB | 3–5GB | 5–10GB+ |
| 2 weeks | 3–5GB | 5–10GB | 10–20GB+ |
| 1 month | 5–10GB | 10–20GB | 20GB+ or an unlimited-style plan |
When you're torn between two sizes, take the larger one. Plans tend to fill up faster than expected: you say yes to one more day trip, you meet up with someone you didn't plan to see, and suddenly you're out of the house far more than you imagined.
How much data each activity uses
Knowing the rough cost of each activity makes it much easier to place yourself in one of the three columns above.
| Activity | Approximate data use |
|---|---|
| Sending and receiving text messages in a chat app | Tiny per message (a few KB and up) |
| Voice calls over apps like WhatsApp | About 20–40MB per hour |
| Video calls | About 300–500MB per hour |
| Maps: navigation and searching | About 10–50MB per hour |
| Scrolling social feeds (images and short video) | About 100–300MB per hour |
| Streaming video (standard definition) | About 500MB–1GB per hour |
Laid out like this, the pattern is clear: messaging and maps barely register, while video — including the short clips in social feeds — accounts for most of what people actually use. If watching video away from Wi-Fi is part of your routine, budget one or two steps above the standard column and you'll spend far less time watching your data meter.
Choosing a size: who needs less, who needs more
A smaller plan is usually enough if you
- Are staying somewhere with reliable Wi-Fi
- Mostly use maps, messaging, and quick searches during the day
- Save video and music for when you're back on Wi-Fi
Go large or unlimited-style if you
- Are out and about a lot and use your phone constantly
- Take video calls or watch video while away from Wi-Fi
- Tether a laptop to get work done
- Find it stressful to keep an eye on how much is left
If you'll be working remotely during your stay, video meetings and tethering make your usage especially hard to predict, so it's worth looking at high-capacity or unlimited-style plans. Note that unlimited-style plans generally come with a fair usage policy and may include speed-related conditions, so read the plan details before you buy.
Keeping your own number: your home line plus a data eSIM
One question comes up again and again: what happens to the phone number you already use every day? It's closely tied to the data question, so it's worth a short detour.
The usual approach is to leave your existing line active so you keep your home-country number, and add a data eSIM for the country you're visiting, using each for what it does best. On an eSIM-capable phone you can add that second line without swapping out your physical SIM, so there's no risk of losing the small card you need back home. We cover the details and the things to watch for in Keeping your home-country number while travelling: why a data eSIM is a practical option — worth a read alongside this one.
These eSIMs are data-only: they don't come with a phone number, and they don't support voice calls or SMS. App-based calling over data — WhatsApp, Messenger, FaceTime and similar — works as usual. If you need a real phone number or SMS verification codes while you're away, plan for a separate service that provides one. Speeds and coverage depend on the local network, your device, and where you are at the time.
Simple ways to make your data last
Even on a smaller plan, a few habits stretch your allowance a long way.
- Lean on Wi-Fi where you're staying: batch your streaming, app updates, and photo backups for when you're connected
- Set app updates to Wi-Fi only: this alone prevents the biggest silent data drains
- Lower the video quality in your streaming apps: dropping to standard definition makes a dramatic difference
- Download map areas in advance: save the neighbourhoods you'll spend time in while on Wi-Fi, and navigation costs almost nothing
Checking your phone's data usage screen every few days is a small habit that keeps the back half of your trip stress-free.
Choosing a Bloomy eSIM for your trip
With Bloomy eSIM you pick a plan by combining the data allowance and the number of days you need. Plans and pricing (shown in USD) can change, so check the current details on the eSIM comparison page before you buy. Match your length of stay against the estimates above and the right size should be easy to spot.
Setup is straightforward: after purchase you receive a setup link, tap it once, and follow the on-screen prompts to add the line. The setup guide walks through it step by step, and you can confirm your phone supports eSIM on the compatible devices page. Anything else on your mind is probably covered in the FAQ.
In short: length of stay × how you travel
As a rule of thumb, plan on 3–5GB for a week, 5–10GB for two weeks, and 10–20GB for a month. Think through how much Wi-Fi you'll have and what you'll be doing away from it, size up when you're unsure, and you can stop thinking about your data meter and enjoy the trip. Sorting this out — along with how you'll keep your own number reachable — takes a few minutes before you leave and saves a lot of second-guessing after you land.
Information current as of July 2026. Data consumption figures are general estimates; actual usage varies by device, apps, and settings. Network speed and coverage vary by local network, device, and location, and unlimited-style plans are subject to a fair usage policy. Plan contents and conditions may change, so please check the current details before purchase.
