How Hungry Is Your Phone?
Data Calculator
Most travelers overestimate. Pick the row that sounds like you — that's usually enough.
By traveler type
- LightMaps, messaging, occasional email. Wi-Fi at hotel.100–300 MB / day1–3 GB / week
- ModerateSocial media, Google Maps, sending photos, some music streaming.500 MB – 1 GB / day5–10 GB / week
- HeavyVideo calls, video streaming, hotspot for laptop, working remotely.2 GB+ / day20 GB+ / week
| Type | Daily | Weekly |
|---|---|---|
Light Maps, messaging, occasional email. Wi-Fi at hotel. | 100–300 MB / day | 1–3 GB / week |
Moderate Social media, Google Maps, sending photos, some music streaming. | 500 MB – 1 GB / day | 5–10 GB / week |
Heavy Video calls, video streaming, hotspot for laptop, working remotely. | 2 GB+ / day | 20 GB+ / week |
By activity (rough estimates)
- 1 hour Google Maps navigation≈ 30 MB
- 1 hour scrolling Instagram≈ 700 MB
- 1 hour video call (FaceTime/Zoom)≈ 500 MB – 1.5 GB
- 1 hour HD streaming (YouTube)≈ 1.5 GB
- 1 hour music streaming (Spotify)≈ 100 MB
- Sending 100 photos to friends≈ 200–400 MB
A few rules of thumb
- Hotel Wi-Fi covers most evenings. Estimate data for the hours you're actually out.
- Download offline maps and a Spotify playlist before you go — saves you 1–2 GB per week.
- Hotspot is more data-hungry than your phone. If you'll tether a laptop, upgrade by one tier.