How Much Data Do You Really Need for a Holiday?
Quick reference table
Here is a rough guide to how much data common travel activities use per hour:
- Google Maps navigation: ~5–10 MB/hour (less with offline maps)
- WhatsApp messages: Negligible (~1 KB per message)
- WhatsApp voice call: ~1 MB/minute
- WhatsApp video call: ~5–8 MB/minute
- Instagram browsing: ~40–100 MB/hour
- TikTok / YouTube (SD): ~300 MB/hour
- YouTube (HD): ~700 MB–1 GB/hour
- Spotify music streaming: ~40–150 MB/hour depending on quality
- Email (no attachments): ~1 MB/hour
How much data for a weekend trip?
For a 2–3 day city break with light browsing, maps and messaging: 1–2 GB is usually plenty. Pick a 1GB plan if you plan to use hotel Wi-Fi for anything data-heavy.
How much data for a week?
A one-week holiday with regular social media, maps and occasional video calls typically needs 3–5 GB. If you want to share videos to Instagram Stories or stream music all day, go for 5–10 GB.
How much data for a month or longer?
Digital nomads and long-stay travellers who work remotely should budget 20–50 GB per month, or consider an unlimited plan. Video conferencing alone can consume 3–5 GB per day of calls.
Our recommendation
Always buy slightly more than you think you need — unused data is far less painful than running out mid-trip. Vsimer offers flexible plans from 1 GB to unlimited, so you can match the plan to your trip length and usage style.