How Much Mobile Data Do You Really Need in 2025

If you travel a lot, you definitely need a stable connection to keep in touch with others no matter where you are. As a rule, you have two options to choose from – use the roaming services of your mobile carrier or buy eSIM. Yet, roaming is always expensive and not always available in all countries. eSIM, on the contrary, lets you stay connected everywhere. If you choose a reliable provider, you will even save by selecting the best data plan.

However, to choose a plan, you need to answer the question, “How much data do I need for travel?” Some people overpay by choosing limitless connections. Others fail to count the required number of GB because of the wrongly selected data plan that does not meet streaming requirements. In this article, we will discuss exact digital nomad data needs in detail.

Average Mobile Data Usage by Activity

Before choosing the best data plan, you need to read a data usage guide. Due to that, you can plan the number of gigabytes you will need while traveling. Below, you can see a table with activities and an approximate amount of megabytes you will need per minute to cover them.

For example, based on this information, bloggers can calculate video streaming data per hour: 20x60=1200 Mb/hour.

So, if they plan to stream three times a week, they will require 3600 Mb. After, they can add approximate needs for calls and texting to decide what plan meets their needs.

Note: The table introduces the average internet data usage breakdown. If you want to find out the precise numbers, you should investigate statistics. For example, Facebook scrolling usually takes 1.5 Mb/minute.

Daily Scenarios: How Much Data Do You Need Per Day?

The amount of the required traffic depends on your needs. It is impossible to predict everything. However, you can do some simple calculations to see how much GB is needed for a week abroad or for a month of traveling. These are some possible scenarios.

Tourists Using Google Maps and WhatsApp

If you plan to use eSIM, you will have only the Internet for chatting. Typical calls will be impossible, so you should use apps like WhatsApp. Data usage WhatsApp calls depend on the quality of connection and type of call.

• Mb/hour: video calls (2,5 - 15 Mb) and voice calls (0,5-1 Mb)
• Amount/week: video calls (1,2GB) and voice calls (85 Mb)
• GB/month: video calls (5,4 GB) and voice calls (0,36 GB

Besides, you will need an app that will help you find interesting places to visit. So, you will need at least basic Google Maps for the needed navigation. GPS data usage travel usually takes up to 120 Mb per hour. The total amount will depend on where you plan to go. Some people like strolling most of the time, while others prefer to visit one location and investigate the surroundings.

So, if you rent a car and plan to drive a lot, you will need approximately 10 GB a week or 40 GB a month. Together with WhatsApp, your average mobile data usage will make 50 GB a month or 12 GB a week. If you don’t plan to use navigation a lot, even 1 GB might be enough.

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Data for Remote Work

Remote work data consumption is another significant factor to consider. Business people, travel bloggers, journalists, and other remote workers need to contact their bosses, colleagues, or clients. So, they should know how much data video calls use.

As a rule, Zoom meetings take 2 hours a day 3-4 times a week. Yet, traveling will be boring without music. Besides, some might need to stream a podcast or live singing. So, let’s calculate the traffic needs of nomads who use Zoom and Spotify.

Note: These are maximum traffic use. It does not mean that you will really chat in Zoom daily. So, your total use can be lower. If you plan to use Zoom even more than 2 hours a day, then an unlimited plan will be your best choice.

Active Social Media Users of TikTok and YouTube

Generally, social media users prefer YouTube and TikTok videos. According to statistics, they spend 96 minutes on TikTok and 58 minutes on YouTube daily. So, we can do the following calculations for YouTube and TikTok data usage.

• Mb/hour: YouTube (300-23K) and TikTok (500-1K)
• GB/week: YouTube (2,1-160) and TikTok (5,3-14)
• GB/month: YouTube (8,4-644) and TikTok (22-56)

The traffic depends on the video quality. The higher the quality is, the more traffic it will consume.

Data Usage for Gamers or Streamers

If you are a gamer or a steamer, your traffic will also be connected with the video quality, complexity, and duration. If we consider typical statistics, gamers play 3 hours a day, while streamers make videos, whose duration takes 1 hour. These are approximate calculations:

Factors Affecting Your Mobile Data Usage

So, to do correct calculations, you need to know what factors influence the amount of data usage per hour and even minute. These are several things to keep in mind.

• Video resolution. The better the quality of the video is, the more traffic it will use. If you are used to watching video content, you can select 360 p quality to reduce data use. If you are streaming, quality matters. But instead of using 4K, 720p might also be fine till you are abroad.
• Background App Activity. You may not currently use some apps, but they will consume traffic connected with syncing, updates, and sending notifications. For example, you can be taking photos at the moment your Facebook or WhatsApp is consuming megabytes when receiving messages or informing you about recent posts.
• Auto-Sync and Updates. If you activate automatic synchronization and app updates, your smartphone will consume traffic for that.
• Auto-Play in Social Media. When you scroll through Instagram or Facebook, the published videos will play automatically. Consequently, it will take megabytes even if you do not watch them.
• Audio Quality Settings. Spotify music also has different qualities. High-quality playlists will consume a lot of traffic.

So, if you want to save some megabytes, you will need to set up your smartphone and apps accordingly. Choose low-quality videos and music files, and cancel automatic updates. Keep in mind mobile data usage by app to know what apps you should use not that often, especially the ones with autoplay functions.

How to Track and Control Your Data Usage

Sometimes, it is hard to handle travel internet data planning, using only statistics from various review sites. As a rule, those who write reviews write about the internet data usage according to their gadgets. So, you should do the same to provide proper calculations. For example, how to find out how much data Facetime uses? For that, you should research your settings.

• If you use Android, you need to go to Settings and choose the Network and Internet section. On some smartphones like Xiaomi, this section is called Connection & Sharing. After that, click Data Usage to see data consumption streaming traffic or the amount your smartphone uses for background activity.
• If you use iOS devices, you also go to Settings and click Cellular or Cellular Data. Below, you will find details on each app and the current total amount.

To control the situation, you can install apps from the App Store or Play Market. These can be My Data Manager or Data Usage Monitor applications. With their help, you will see:

• How much traffic requires each app
• What apps are traffic-hungry
• What settings can be provided to reduce the waste of megabytes

Data Saving Tips from Yesim

Experts and pro travelers usually use the following tips to cut down traffic use:

• Switch off apps that “work” when you don’t use them and which are not your priority like tools for calls and messaging. For that, disable background mode.
• Set the traffic limit per day. If you exceed the set limit, your gadget will inform you about that by sending a warning.
• The next thing is to switch off all updates before you leave the country. If you require updates, you can set “Update only via Wi-Fi” and use public Wi-Fi when you can. However, do not forget to use VPN to secure your sensitive data.
• Activate “traffic saving” mode for all or some apps.

Finally, you need to look for the best data plan from your carrier. Today, they all are rivals, so each provider tries to create custom-oriented services, including Roaming, which contains more megabytes for less payment. Besides, you can use offline apps to listen to music, edit content, and do other things.

eSIM & Travel Data: Plan Smart, Not Big

If you plan to visit a new country, it will not be comfortable to search for SIM cards to stay connected 24/7. Besides, it takes some time to find a store and learn the available data plan. Things become more complicated when you do not speak the language of the visited country. In this case, you need something affordable, connectable, and easy to control.

eSIM is one of the best solutions created for those who want to go abroad on business, studies, or rest. You need a smartphone that allows eSIM integration and choose a carrier like Yesim. After that, you should install an app and prepay services or choose a plan that lets you pay on the go.

Some people are in a hurry and overpay, choosing unlimited data plans. Let’s see how much you can save when choosing the data plan safely on the Yesim services example. Imagine you decide to visit China. You plan to stay there for a week. What plan will be the best for you?

• 3GB will cost you 14 EUR. It will be enough if you plan to use public and hotel Wi-Fi in most cases and devote your eSIM gigabytes to light messaging and navigation.
• 5 GB will cost you 18 EUR and will be active for 15 days. It is a good choice of mobile Internet for freelancers who plan to stream by chance, chat in messengers, type texts in Google Documents, or use navigation from time to time.
• Unlimited plans will be the best for heavy traffic use like 4K streaming in the streets and having regular Zoom conferences. Yet, the price will be 7 EUR a day or 38 EUR a week.

If you still worry that 5GB might not be enough or you can stay in China longer, it will be smart to prepay a monthly data plan. It includes 20 GB and will cost 46 EUR. The unlimited version for 15 days will cost you 57 EUR, which is 11 EUR more. Daily purchases of unlimited options will cost even more.

So, if you do not plan to overuse social media, stream using Wi-Fi, and apply traffic-saving modes, a 5GB can save you 20 EUR and meet your basic needs. To be 100% sure, you can also use an eSIM data calculator that will show the best data plan for your needs. For that, check out Settings and Data Use on your smartphone to see how much traffic you use now.

Before your trip, you can even test things by switching on navigation, scrolling social media platforms, and using other apps that you will require abroad. After that, analyze the amount you have spent per hour and the total per day. If you have spent less than 700 Mb, an unlimited plan would not be justified. Also, consider days when you may need more Internet than usual and vice versa.

Conclusion

If you learn how to calculate your daily traffic use, you will save on eSIM services when travelling abroad. For that, investigate your digital habits, use traffic data monitoring apps, and choose the plan that will meet your needs. As a rule, most nomads select 1-3GB plans for their 1 week trips.

An unlimited data plan is a necessity for people who always use video calls, navigation, platforms for high-quality streaming, and other high-consuming apps. So, manage your data smartly to save cash on entertainment or a cup of coffee and a croissant.

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