One gigabyte is enough for two weeks of light use or two days of heavy use. The honest answer depends on what you're doing.
What fits in 1 GB
- WhatsApp / iMessage text chats: 10,000+ messages
- Google / Apple Maps navigation: 25–30 hours
- Instagram scrolling: about 2 hours
- YouTube at 480p: about 2 hours
- Spotify streaming at normal quality: 8–10 hours
- Uber / Bolt rides with maps: 12–15 rides
What burns through 1 GB
- FaceTime / Zoom video calls: 50 minutes
- Netflix HD streaming: 30 minutes
- Photo backups to iCloud: 50–100 photos
Quick math
Most travellers underestimate how much they use Google Maps and Instagram. Plan for 0.5 GB per day if you're sightseeing actively; 1 GB per day if you're posting stories or doing video calls.