Travel Calculator
Before you choose a plan, you can use the travel data calculator on the 3G MRC website to estimate how much data you’ll need based on your trip, apps, and usage habits.
Most people either buy far too little data and run out, or buy far too much and never use it. The goal is to land somewhere in the middle so you’re not stressing about data while you’re trying to enjoy your trip.
What Uses Data When You Travel
When you’re overseas, your phone works harder than it does at home. You’re navigating everywhere, translating things, booking transport, looking up restaurants, and messaging people constantly.
Typical travel data use includes:
- Google Maps or Apple Maps
- WhatsApp, iMessage, Messenger
- Web browsing
- Instagram and social media
- Uber or Grab
- Booking apps
- Translation apps
- Watching the occasional video
- Spotify or music streaming
Maps and social media are usually the biggest data users for travellers.
Typical Data Usage for Travellers
Here’s a rough guide based on real travel usage:
| Type of Traveller | Data per Week | Data per Month |
|---|---|---|
| Light user | 1–2GB | 5GB |
| Normal traveller | 3–5GB | 10–15GB |
| Heavy user | 5–10GB | 20GB+ |
Most people fall into the normal traveller category.
That’s why 10GB to 20GB is usually the safest option for most overseas trips.
Example Travel Scenarios
Europe Trip – 2 to 3 Weeks
Maps every day, posting photos, messaging, booking trains and restaurants.
You’ll probably use 8GB to 12GB.
Japan Ski Trip – 2 Weeks
Snow reports, maps, restaurant searches, messaging friends, uploading photos.
Usually around 6GB to 10GB.
Bali or Beach Holiday – 1 Week
Less maps, more social media and messaging.
Usually 3GB to 6GB.
Business Travel – 1 Week
Emails, maps, Uber, browsing, maybe hotspot use.
Usually 5GB to 8GB.
Quick Rule of Thumb
If you don’t want to think too hard about it:
- Weekend trip → 3GB
- 1 week trip → 5GB
- 2 week trip → 10GB
- 1 month trip → 15GB to 20GB
That will cover most people comfortably.
How To Use Less Data Overseas
A few simple tips:
- Download Google Maps offline before you go
- Use hotel Wi-Fi for app updates
- Turn off automatic app updates
- Turn off iCloud / Google Photos backup on mobile data
- Use Wi-Fi for Netflix and YouTube
- Use mobile data mainly for maps, messages, bookings and browsing
These small things can dramatically reduce your data usage.
Final Advice
Running out of data overseas is incredibly annoying.
Buying too much data usually only costs a little bit more.
So it’s usually better to slightly overestimate.
For most travellers, the safest option is:
10GB to 20GB for a normal overseas trip and you probably won’t run out.