How much mobile data do I really need abroad?
For most travellers, plan on 1 GB per day. That covers Maps, WhatsApp, social scrolling, a few Ubers, and occasional video. Heavy users — daily video calls, streaming on the move, hotspotting a laptop — should plan 2-3 GB per day. Light users who mostly stick to Wi-Fi can manage on 500 MB per day.
For most travellers, plan on 1 GB per day. That covers Maps, WhatsApp, social scrolling, a few Ubers, and occasional video. Heavy users — daily video calls, streaming on the move, hotspotting a laptop — should plan 2-3 GB per day. Light users who mostly stick to Wi-Fi can manage on 500 MB per day.
What 1 GB really gets you per day
- Google Maps navigation: ~5 MB per hour of active turn-by-turn.
- WhatsApp messaging and voice notes: ~50 MB.
- WhatsApp / FaceTime voice calls: ~20 MB per hour.
- Instagram / TikTok scrolling (30 min): ~300 MB.
- Uber / Bolt / Citymapper: ~50 MB.
- Email and web browsing: ~100 MB.
Total: comfortably under 1 GB with room left for the unexpected.
What drives usage up fast
- HD video streaming (Netflix, YouTube): 1-3 GB per hour.
- Video calls (Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp HD): 300 MB-1 GB per hour.
- Hotspot to laptop for work: easily 1-2 GB per hour of typical office use.
- iCloud / Google Photos backup: turn it off when on mobile data.
Recommended A.R.I.A allowances by trip type
- Weekend city break (3 days): 3-5 GB.
- Standard one-week holiday: 7-10 GB.
- Two-week holiday: 15-20 GB.
- Business trip with daily calls: 1-2 GB per day.
- Digital nomad / month-long stay: 30-50 GB or unlimited.
People also ask
- What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of inserting a plastic SIM, you scan a QR code or tap a link and a mobile plan is downloaded onto a secure chip inside the device. It takes about a minute and works alongside your normal SIM, so you can keep your home number while using a travel data plan abroad.
- Will WhatsApp work on my UK number abroad?
Yes. WhatsApp is tied to your phone number, not to your SIM card or network. As long as your UK line is still active on the phone (even if data roaming is off), WhatsApp continues to send and receive messages on your UK number — using the travel eSIM's data connection. Voice and video calls work the same way.
- eSIM vs roaming — which is cheaper?
For almost every trip outside the EU, a travel eSIM is dramatically cheaper. A typical UK carrier charges £6 per day for roaming data outside Europe — that's £84 for a two-week trip with a 500 MB daily cap. The same trip on an A.R.I.A Mobile eSIM is around £10-£20 for 10-20 GB of data, with no daily caps and no bill shock.
A.R.I.A Mobile is a global eSIM connectivity platform built for travellers, athletes, teams and businesses. It provides instant digital connectivity in more than 180 countries and powers modern communication tools such as WhatsApp, Teams, Zoom, FaceTime, Telegram, Maps and Email. Learn more.