A travel eSIM usually costs about $3.70 for 1 GB, $9.50 for 5 GB, $12 for 10 GB and $17.65 for 20 GB. Those are the median prices of 944 fixed-data plans for more than 190 destinations in our catalogue on 9 October 2026. Per gigabyte, the price falls from $3.70 at 1 GB to $0.67 at 50 GB. A week of unlimited data costs $11 to $23 in our catalogue, and $21 to $27.50 from Airalo and Holafly. Where you go matters as much as how much you buy: 10 GB for a month costs $6 to $8 in much of Asia and Europe, but $15 to $18 in Canada, Brazil, Mexico and the UAE.
Most price lists show one brand at a time. We sell plans from several wholesale suppliers, so our catalogue is a wide sample of what travel data actually costs. Every number below comes from the 1,077 plans that were on sale on 9 October 2026, with duplicate listings removed. Prices change often, so treat them as a guide and check the plan page before you buy.
- Typical prices: 1 GB $3.70, 3 GB $7.00, 5 GB $9.50, 10 GB $12.07, 20 GB $17.65, 50 GB $33.32 (medians).
- Price per GB: $3.70 at 1 GB, $1.21 at 10 GB, $0.88 at 20 GB, $0.67 at 50 GB.
- Cheapest ways in: one-day passes from $1.99 in 17 destinations, and 10 GB from $6.20 in South Korea.
- Most expensive: global plans, at a median $33.12 for 10 GB for 30 days, about three times a single-country plan.
Price by data size
This table covers fixed-data plans only, meaning a set number of gigabytes at full speed. Unlimited plans and day passes are covered further down.
| Data | Plans | Median price | Cheapest | Median per GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 147 | $3.70 | $2.85 | $3.70 |
| 3 GB | 129 | $7.00 | $3.50 | $2.33 |
| 5 GB | 123 | $9.50 | $4.20 | $1.90 |
| 10 GB | 164 | $12.07 | $5.80 | $1.21 |
| 20 GB | 140 | $17.65 | $9.00 | $0.88 |
| 50 GB | 36 | $33.32 | $15.40 | $0.67 |
The pattern is steep at the small end. Going from 1 GB to 3 GB nearly doubles the price but triples the data, and going from 5 GB to 10 GB adds only about $2.50 at the median. If you are unsure between two sizes, the larger one is usually the better buy, as long as it lasts the length of your trip.
Price by destination
These are the cheapest 10 GB plans valid for 15 to 30 days for common destinations, from the same catalogue on 9 October 2026. Each country page lists every plan for that destination.
| Destination | Cheapest 10 GB | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $6.20 | 15 days |
| Turkey | $6.45 | 30 days |
| Vietnam | $6.50 | 15 days |
| Japan | $7.00 | 30 days |
| Thailand | $7.00 | 30 days |
| Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong | $7.00 | 30 days |
| Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Greece | $7.54 | 30 days |
| China | $8.00 | 30 days |
| Philippines | $9.00 | 30 days |
| USA | $9.80 | 30 days |
| India | $13.00 | 30 days |
| Canada | $15.39 | 30 days |
| Brazil | $16.00 | 30 days |
| Mexico | $18.00 | 15 days |
| United Arab Emirates | $18.30 | 30 days |
The same pattern shows up across suppliers: Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the Gulf cost two to three times as much as Japan or Thailand for the same 10 GB, so a regional plan that includes one of them is priced accordingly.
Find the price for your trip: the destinations page lists every country and region we cover. Every plan page shows the data, the validity, when the plan starts counting and any speed limit.
Country, regional or global plans
One plan that covers several countries costs more than a plan for one country, and the gap grows with coverage. For 10 GB lasting 16 to 30 days in our catalogue:
| Plan type | Plans | Median price | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single country | 117 | $11.40 | $6.45 to $46.92 |
| Regional (2 to 49 countries) | 36 | $13.60 | $7.00 to $85.03 |
| Global (50 or more countries) | 3 | $33.12 | $20.00 to $36.80 |
A regional plan is worth the small premium when you cross borders: one install, one balance, no switching at the border. A global plan rarely pays off unless your route covers several regions. Our global eSIM guide compares a worldwide plan with one plan per region for real routes, and does one eSIM work in multiple countries explains how coverage is decided.
Unlimited plans and day passes
Unlimited and day-pass plans are priced by days, not gigabytes, so they sit outside the table above.
- Unlimited, 7 days: $11.00 to $23.00 across the six seven-day unlimited plans in our catalogue, median $16.80. Most give 3 GB a day at full speed and then slow down; some give a total, such as 60 GB over 10 days, then 2 Mbps.
- Airalo and Holafly: on their own pages on 9 October 2026, Airalo’s unlimited week cost $21.00 to $27.00 in Japan, Europe, the USA and Thailand, and Holafly’s cost $27.50. Our Airalo vs Holafly comparison covers their speed rules.
- Day passes: 1 GB a day at full speed for a set number of days, then a slower speed. A single day costs $1.99 in 17 destinations; seven days cost $5.09 to $11.99, median $6.59.
Unlimited only saves money if you would otherwise run out. At about 500 MB a day for maps, messaging and browsing, a week uses about 3.5 GB, which a $7 to $10 fixed plan covers. Our data usage guide has app-by-app estimates.
What makes an eSIM cost more
| Factor | Example from 9 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Destination | 10 GB: $7.00 in Japan, $18.30 in the UAE |
| Coverage | 10 GB for 30 days: $11.40 median for one country, $33.12 for global |
| Unlimited data | A week in Japan: $7.00 for 10 GB lasting 30 days, $19.00 for capped unlimited |
| Minutes and texts | The UK’s cheapest 10 GB plan includes 200 minutes and costs $13.80 |
| Long validity | A global 10 GB plan valid for 180 days costs $41.06 |
| Brand | 10 GB for 30 days in Japan: $18.00 from Airalo, $7.00 in our catalogue |
How to avoid overpaying
- Estimate your data first. Multiply your daily use by your days, add 20 percent, and buy that size rather than “unlimited”.
- Compare the price per GB, not the headline. A $4 plan with 1 GB costs more per gigabyte than a $12 plan with 10 GB.
- Check when the plan starts counting. Plans that start on first use can be installed weeks early; see when an eSIM starts counting.
- Buy one country unless you cross borders. A regional plan is only worth the premium if you use the extra countries.
- Read the speed rule on unlimited plans. The slowdown after the daily allowance ranges from 256 kbps to 2 Mbps, and that decides whether video still works.
When the cheapest plan is the wrong buy
The lowest price is not always the best value. Pay more if you need a phone number for calls and texts, if you will run a laptop on hotspot for weeks, or if you want a large brand with an app and many reviews. We are a smaller store with fewer independent reviews than the biggest brands, and our cheapest plans in some countries, such as Thailand, route your data through another country. Every plan page states where its data exits, so check it if you need a local IP address.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an eSIM cost for international travel?
In our catalogue of 944 fixed-data plans on 9 October 2026, the median price was $3.70 for 1 GB, $9.50 for 5 GB, $12.07 for 10 GB and $17.65 for 20 GB. Unlimited weeks cost $11 to $23, and one-day passes start at $1.99 in 17 destinations.
What is the cheapest travel eSIM?
The cheapest way in is a one-day pass at $1.99, or a 1 GB plan from $2.85. For a week or longer, 10 GB plans from $6.20 in South Korea and $7.00 in Japan and Thailand cost less per gigabyte than any small plan.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming?
Usually, yes. Carrier day passes charge for every day you use your phone abroad, while an eSIM charges once for a set amount of data. Our comparison of travel eSIMs and US carrier roaming works through four real trips.
Why are eSIMs more expensive in some countries?
Suppliers buy data from local networks, and those rates differ by country. In our catalogue, 10 GB for a month cost $6 to $8 in much of Asia and Europe, but $15 to $18 in Canada, Brazil, Mexico and the UAE. Regional plans that include these countries tend to cost more too.
Is an unlimited eSIM worth the extra cost?
Only if you would use more than about 2 GB a day. A week of capped unlimited cost $11 to $23 in our catalogue, while 10 GB for 30 days cost $7 to $10 in many destinations, which covers about 500 MB a day for a fortnight.
Do eSIM prices include a phone number?
Most travel eSIMs are data-only. Plans with minutes and texts cost more: the UK’s cheapest 10 GB plan with 200 minutes was $13.80. Your home number keeps working on the phone’s other line for texts and verification codes.
Travel data is cheaper than it used to be, and most of the saving comes from one habit: buying the gigabytes you will use, for the country you are in.
Last reviewed 9 October 2026. Figures are calculated from the 1,077 plans on sale in our catalogue on that date, with duplicate listings of the same plan removed; fixed-data figures use the 944 plans with a set data amount. Airalo and Holafly prices are from their own destination pages on the same date. Prices change often; product pages are authoritative. Airalo and Holafly are trademarks of their owners.