How Much Data Do I Need When Travelling?
This is the most common question people ask before buying a travel eSIM. The answer depends on how you use your phone, how long your trip is, and how much Wi-Fi you'll have access to.
Here's a practical breakdown to help you figure it out.
Data usage by activity
| Activity | Data per hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Social media (scrolling) | 150 MB | Instagram and TikTok use more than Twitter/X |
| Web browsing | 60 MB | Reading articles, shopping, searching |
| Email and messaging | 20 MB | Text-based messages; add more for photo sharing |
| Maps and navigation | 50 MB | Google Maps, Uber, taxi apps |
| Music streaming | 75 MB | Spotify, Apple Music at normal quality |
| Video streaming (SD) | 700 MB | YouTube, Netflix at standard definition |
| Video streaming (HD) | 3,000 MB | YouTube, Netflix at high definition |
| Video calls | 1,500 MB | Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet |
| Photo uploads | 500 MB | Backing up photos to cloud storage |
Typical traveller profiles
The light user (1–3 GB per week)
You use your phone for maps, messaging friends, checking restaurants, and posting the occasional photo. You connect to hotel Wi-Fi in the evenings.
Daily usage: ~200–400 MB Recommended plan: 1–3 GB for a 7-day trip
The moderate user (3–7 GB per week)
You scroll social media regularly, use maps throughout the day, share photos and stories, and stream some music. You use Wi-Fi when available but don't go out of your way to find it.
Daily usage: ~500 MB – 1 GB Recommended plan: 5–10 GB for a 7-day trip
The heavy user (7–15 GB per week)
You work remotely some of the time, join video calls, stream videos, and use your phone as a hotspot for your laptop. Wi-Fi is a bonus but you don't depend on it.
Daily usage: 1–2 GB Recommended plan: 10–20 GB for a 7-day trip
The power user (15+ GB per week)
You work remotely full-time from your phone's hotspot, stream HD video, and have heavy cloud sync enabled. You need reliable data all day.
Daily usage: 2–5 GB Recommended plan: 20 GB+ or unlimited for a 7-day trip
Quick estimation formula
A simple way to estimate:
- Estimate your daily usage from the table above
- Multiply by trip length in days
- Reduce by 30–50% if you'll have regular Wi-Fi access (hotel, café, co-working)
- Add a 20% buffer for unexpected usage
Example: Moderate user, 10-day trip, regular Wi-Fi access
- Daily: 750 MB
- 10 days: 7.5 GB
- With Wi-Fi reduction (40%): 4.5 GB
- With buffer: ~5.5 GB
- Recommended plan: 5–7 GB
Use our calculator
Don't want to do the maths? Use our travel data calculator — select your activities, set your trip duration, and get an instant recommendation.
Tips to use less data
- Download maps offline before your trip in Google Maps
- Set streaming to SD quality — it uses 4x less data than HD
- Disable auto-uploads for photos and videos on mobile data
- Turn off app auto-updates — update on Wi-Fi only
- Use WhatsApp or iMessage instead of video calls when possible
- Preload content — download Spotify playlists and Netflix shows on Wi-Fi
What happens if you run out?
With most eSIM providers, including CocoRoam, your data simply stops when the allowance is used. You can usually top up by purchasing another plan. There are no overage charges or surprise bills.
Bottom line
Most travellers need less data than they think, especially with regular Wi-Fi access. A 3–5 GB plan covers a week for the average user. If you're working remotely or streaming regularly, step up to 10–20 GB.
Browse eSIM plans by destination or try our data calculator for a personalised estimate.
