Most travellers need 0.5–1 GB of mobile data per day in Europe. That covers maps, messaging, browsing and social media. Two weeks therefore usually means 7–14 GB. Heavy social media, video calls or streaming on mobile data can push it to 2–3 GB a day. Use the calculator below for your own estimate.
Data calculator
The calculator adds a 20% buffer for app updates, background sync and photos you upload.
How much data apps use
| Activity | Data per hour | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps navigation | about 5 MB | StarHub |
| Instagram photo feed | about 120 MB | StarHub |
| Instagram Stories and Reels | about 600 MB | StarHub |
| TikTok, standard quality | about 840 MB | StarHub |
| Spotify, 320 kbps | about 150 MB | StarHub |
| WhatsApp voice call | about 40 MB | StarHub |
| WhatsApp video call, one-to-one | about 250 MB | StarHub |
| Netflix, medium quality | 0.7 GB | Netflix |
| Netflix, HD | up to 3 GB | Netflix |
Short videos are the big data user. Half an hour of Reels or TikTok uses more data than a whole day of navigation and messaging.
Typical needs by traveller type
| Traveller | Daily use | 1 week | 2 weeks | 3 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light: maps and messages, Wi-Fi at the hotel | 0.3–0.5 GB | 3 GB | 5 GB | 10 GB |
| Average: plus social media and music | 0.7–1 GB | 5–7 GB | 10–15 GB | 20 GB |
| Heavy: Reels, video calls, some streaming | 2–3 GB | 15–20 GB | 30 GB+ | Unlimited |
How to use less data
- Download offline maps in Google Maps or Maps.me before you leave.
- Turn off auto-play for videos in Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, or use their data-saver modes.
- Set photo backups to Wi-Fi only.
- Download playlists and shows over Wi-Fi.
- Update apps before the trip, not on mobile data.
Which plan size to buy
- Up to 5 GB: small plans from Yesim or Saily are the cheapest.
- 10–25 GB: Ubigi had the lowest price per GB in our comparison.
- More than 3 GB a day: consider an unlimited plan, but check its daily fair-use cap.
Compare every plan in our Europe eSIM price comparison or see our picks in the best eSIM for Europe.
Frequently asked questions
How much data do I need for 2 weeks in Europe?
Most travellers who use maps, messaging and social media and rely on hotel Wi-Fi for video need about 5–10 GB for two weeks. If you post a lot of Stories or Reels or make video calls on mobile data, plan for 15–20 GB.
How much data does Google Maps use?
Navigation uses only around 5 MB per hour. Satellite view and Street View use much more. You can also download offline maps over Wi-Fi before your trip to use almost no data.
How much data does a WhatsApp video call use?
A one-to-one WhatsApp video call uses roughly 250 MB per hour, about 4 MB a minute. A voice call uses about 40 MB per hour.
Is 1 GB a day enough in Europe?
Yes, for most people. 1 GB a day covers several hours of maps, messaging, browsing and social media. It is not enough for regular HD video streaming, which uses about 3 GB per hour on Netflix.
Sources
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