How much data do I need for a week abroad?
For typical tourist use (maps, messaging, browsing, social media, photos to the cloud) plan on 300 to 500 MB per day, so 3 to 5 GB covers a week comfortably. Streaming video, video calls, and hotspotting change the math fast: an hour of HD video burns 1 to 3 GB on its own. When in doubt, buy 5 GB; it is rarely much pricier than 3 GB.
The everyday tourist pattern is lighter than people fear. Google Maps navigation uses roughly 5 to 10 MB per hour (and you can download offline maps in advance). WhatsApp text is negligible, voice messages and photos add a little, an hour of Instagram or TikTok scrolling costs 100 to 300 MB, and general browsing maybe 50 MB per hour. Add automatic photo backup over cellular and a normal sightseeing day lands between 300 and 500 MB; careful users manage on half that by saving uploads for hotel Wi-Fi.
The budget-killers are video and sharing. One hour of YouTube or Netflix in HD costs 1 to 3 GB, a video call 500 MB to 1 GB per hour, and hotspotting a laptop multiplies everything because desktop sites and background sync assume unmetered connections. A remote worker on video calls easily burns 2 to 5 GB a day, which is exactly the user unlimited plans from Holafly or Maya Mobile exist for.
Practical sizing: a light user books 3 GB for a week, a normal user 5 GB, a heavy user 10 GB or an unlimited plan. Two tips that beat any calculation: download maps and playlists at home before you leave, and check your last month’s daily average in your phone’s data settings, then add a third for vacation behavior.