When you plan your first trip outside the EU, the question “What does mobile cost?” is often on your mind. Three options to choose from: use home roaming, book a travel eSIM, or buy a local SIM on site. Here we calculate live what each variant costs — based on realistic averages from 2026.
What does what cost you?
Pick country, duration and data needs — comparison updates live.
Which option is best when?
| Trip type | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| EU trip (Spain, Italy, Portugal) | Home main card | EU roaming regulation — free, no setup needed |
| Weekend USA / Canada | Travel eSIM (5 GB) | Roaming ~€50, eSIM ~€12 — 4x cheaper |
| 2 weeks Thailand | Travel eSIM (5–10 GB) | Roaming ~€98, eSIM ~€10 — 10x cheaper |
| 1 month Bali | Travel eSIM OR local SIM | Both ~€15–25. eSIM more convenient, local SIM with phone number |
| 3 months Australia (working holiday) | Local prepaid SIM | For long stays often cheaper than travel eSIM, plus your own phone number |
| Spontaneous business trip with little prep | Travel eSIM (installable on phone before departure) | Setup in 2 min at home, no airport hunting |
| World trip with 10+ countries | Mix: regional eSIM + local SIMs | Airalo Asialink for Asia, Eurolink for Europe, local SIMs for long-stay stops |
Common questions about cost comparison
Aren't roaming values heavily dependent on the carrier?
Yes, very. We use representative averages for major German carriers (Telekom, Vodafone, o2) with active travel options (Telekom Travel Pass, Vodafone World options, o2 Travel & Connect). Without an active travel option, roaming outside the EU becomes extremely expensive (€0.50 per MB = €500 per GB). The values here show the realistic best case with options — the worst case without an option would be many times more expensive.
Do the eSIM prices really match reality?
We use the cheapest provider per country from our database. For smaller volumes (5–10 GB) the per-GB prices are realistic. For very small plans (1 GB) the effective price is often higher (€3–5/GB), for large ones (20+ GB) cheaper (€1–2/GB). The calculator averages this. Current live prices: country overview.
Why isn't a local SIM always the cheapest route?
At first glance local SIMs look cheap (e.g. 5 GB for €5 at the Thai airport). In practice, hidden costs are added: passport registration at the counter (15–30 min wait), often activation fees, possibly a language barrier, many plans have shorter validity than expected. Plus you need a second SIM in many countries when traveling to several. The real cost calculation is often eSIM < local SIM < roaming.
What if I'm in the EU?
Within the EU you don't need a travel eSIM. The EU roaming regulation (roam-like-at-home) has applied since 2017 in all 27 member states plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein. Your home plan works there as it does at home, no surcharge. The calculator accordingly shows €0 roaming costs for “EU country.” An eSIM only pays off if your home volume is tight (e.g. a 1 GB plan) or you need much more hotspot data than your home plan allows.
Can the prices change daily?
Roaming day prices are usually stable (adjusted yearly). eSIM prices change frequently — providers regularly run promos (up to −30 %). Local tourist SIM prices are usually stable but can vary between high and low season. Rule of thumb: before booking, spend 5 minutes in our country comparison checking current live prices — the calculator only gives you the order-of-magnitude comparison.
