How Long Does 5GB of Data Last? A Comprehensive Guide for Traveling Internationally

Preparing for your next trip and leaving your country of residence? As you pack, it’s essential to consider your travel needs while away: layers, toiletries, electronics and, of course, a way to stay connected. 

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While switching to an international roaming plan with your home carrier is an option, it can be expensive and the service unreliable. And even if Wi-Fi is more prevalent than ever, it can’t move with you as you navigate your surroundings. This is where eSIM cards are essential. They provide you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy your trip to the fullest, without the exorbitant fees associated with roaming. 

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But how much data does one need on a trip? 

For many, 5GB is a popular amount of data to purchase in a virtual SIM card. Before you purchase, however, understanding how long 5GB of data lasts across various activities can be essential for managing your mobile data plan effectively. 

Data Usage Explained

Data usage refers to the amount of digital information transferred between your device and the Internet or between devices within a network over a set period. This encompasses activities like downloading and streaming music or videos, browsing websites, sending emails and using apps that require Internet access. 

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Each of these activities consumes a certain amount of data, measured in bytes – the basic unit of measurement for data. Typically, bytes are measured in multiples, using prefixes to denote the scale:

• kilobytes (KB), thousands of bytes
• megabytes (MB), millions of bytes
• gigabytes (GB), billions of bytes
• terabytes (TB), trillions of bytes. 

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These measurements help quantify the amount of data storage or data transfer, making it easier to understand and manage digital information. When you buy eSIM plans, most of the time you will see the quantity of data available in gigabytes. 

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Understanding data usage is essential for managing your mobile data plan effectively, preventing overages, and ensuring you don't exhaust your allotted data.

Activities that Use Data

Below are a list of activities that use data – all of which should be familiar to a cellular device owner. The numbers below will vary based on your mobile settings and the quality of streaming. Keep this in mind as you estimate the size of the data plan you’ll need for your next trip when purchasing an eSIM. 

Listening to Spotify or Other Music Streaming Services

“Kbps” stands for kilobits per second, a unit of measurement for data transfer speed. It's important to note that a “bit” is not the same as a “byte,” (see above) which is the basic unit of measurement for data size. There are 8 bits in a byte. 

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Therefore, data transfer rates measured in Kbps describe how many thousands of bits are transferred per second, not bytes. This measurement is commonly used to quantify the quality and speed of an Internet connection, especially in the context of streaming audio or video content, and downloading or uploading files. Higher Kbps rates indicate faster data transfer speeds, leading to more efficient and smoother online experiences.

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Music streaming platforms like Spotify offer various quality settings that impact data usage. Listening at the following rates will consume 5GB in the following time approximations: 

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• Low quality (24Kbps): ~ 475 hours
• Medium quality (96Kbps): ~ 120 hours
• High quality (160Kbps): ~ 70 hours
• Very high quality (320Kbps, premium only): ~ 35 hours

Watching Netflix

Digital streaming is the process of delivering content — such as audio, video, and multimedia — over the Internet in real-time, without needing to download files to a device. Streaming works by transmitting data in a continuous flow, allowing immediate playback and interaction. 

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It relies on a robust Internet connection and efficient data compression techniques to deliver high-quality experiences with minimal buffering. With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube, digital streaming has revolutionized how people consume media, offering unparalleled convenience and access to entertainment and information.

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Streaming video content on Netflix consumes data more quickly than audio streaming. Watching Netflix in the following settings will consume 5GB in the following time approximations:

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• Data saving mode: ~ 30 hours
• Automatic mode: ~ 20 hours
• HD quality: ~ 1 hour 40 minutes

Watching YouTube Videos

YouTube offers various video quality settings, listed below from the lowest to the highest resolution. Watching YouTube in the following settings will consume 5GB in the following time approximations:

• 144p: ~ 65 hours
• 240p: ~ 25 hours
• 360p: ~ 17.5 hours
• 480p: ~ 10 hours
• 720p: ~ 3 hours and 20 minutes
• 1080p: ~ 1 hour and 40 minutes

Browsing Social Media

Interacting on social media platforms consumes an average of 156MB per hour, allowing 5GB to last around 32 hours. This does not include streaming videos (like Reels or TikToks) so be mindful of your activity while scrolling your favorite apps. 

Using Skype/WhatsApp/FaceTime

Video calling services like Skype, WhatsApp, or FaceTime consume about 270MB per hour, meaning 5GB will last approximately 18 hours. If you want to make a call through one of these apps, consider doing it over Wi-Fi to preserve your data for those moments when you truly need it. 

Using Maps (Apple Maps, Waze, or Google Maps)

Navigation apps consume data at a lower rate, with 5GB lasting around 70 hours. Some apps will allow you to download maps or your route in advance, allowing you to go “offline” as you make your way to your destination. However, keep in mind that doing this means you may not receive the latest updates about the best routes, traffic or accidents along your route. 

Checking Email

On average, checking and interacting with emails consumes 5GB of data over about 60 hours. This includes opening and sending emails – but not downloading attachments within emails. Clicking links that lead to external sources usually requires the use of the Internet, which means you’ll switch to the aforementioned rate of usage while you browse. 

Tips to Maximize Data Usage

To make the most of your travel eSIM plan, consider the following tips:

1. Turn off cellular data when not in use.
2. Avoid data-intensive activities like video streaming; use Wi-Fi instead.
3. Close apps running in the background.
4. Limit the use of push notifications and content updates.
5. Minimize the use of voice assistants like Siri.
6. Set your email to view-only mode to avoid downloading large attachments.
7. Disable cloud-syncing apps and automatic app updates.

Check out this page to learn more about optimizing data on various devices. 

Conclusion

Data consumption varies based on your device settings and the quality of the content you stream. As you prepare for your trip, consider what you plan to do on while away. If you’re out and about exploring a city, snap photos and live in the moment; then catch up with social media at the end of the day. If you’re lounging by the pool at your resort, consider using the hotel’s Wi-Fi for scrolling and streaming. And if you’re out in nature, soak in the beauty around you and leave the scrolling for another time. 

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By understanding how long 5GB of data lasts across various activities, you can better manage your eSIM app usage and enjoy your online experiences without exceeding your plan's limits.