The price of a gigabyte of mobile data varies up to 60 times between the cheapest and most expensive countries in the world. This massive gap is exactly why international travelers save so much money using a travel eSIM instead of roaming with their local carrier. This statistical guide compiles prices per GB in over 50 countries for 2026.
Global ranking of mobile data prices per GB (2026)
The price of a gigabyte of mobile data has nothing to do with the country's income level. Israel, with one of the most advanced economies in the world, offers the cheapest GB in the world (0.07 USD), while Canada, also a wealthy country, charges up to 4.20 USD per GB. The key lies in regulation, competition among operators, and the type of network deployed.
| Country | Price/GB (USD) | Typical Plan | Network | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 0.07 | 100 GB / 7 USD | 4G/5G | High (5 operators) |
| 🇮🇳 India | 0.09 | 2 GB/day / 6 USD | 4G | Very High |
| 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 0.19 | 50 GB / 9 USD | 4G | Medium |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 0.21 | 20 GB / 4 USD | 4G | Medium-High |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 0.67 | 15 GB / 10 USD | 4G/5G | Medium |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 0.98 | 10 GB / 10 USD | 4G/5G | Medium |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 1.45 | 20 GB / 29 USD | 4G/5G | High |
| 🇺🇸 USA | 3.50 | 15 GB / 52 USD | 4G/5G | Low (3 major) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 4.20 | 10 GB / 42 USD | 4G/5G | Very Low (oligopoly) |
The 10 cheapest and 10 most expensive countries in the world
The 10 cheapest (less than 0.30 USD/GB): Israel, India, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Kosovo, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh. The pattern is clear: high competition among operators and/or consumer-friendly regulation.
The 10 most expensive (more than 3.00 USD/GB): Falkland Islands, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Greenland, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Nauru, San Marino, Canada, USA. Many are small or island territories with little competition, or countries with established duopolies/oligopolies.
Price per GB with travel eSIM vs. local roaming
The most relevant comparison for a traveler is not the local price, but what they will pay with their home plan vs. a local travel eSIM. The results are striking:
| Destination | Spanish operator roaming | PuraSIM eSIM | Savings with eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 5-12 EUR/GB | 1.20 EUR/GB | 75-90% |
| Mexico | 4-8 EUR/GB | 0.95 EUR/GB | 76-88% |
| Thailand | 5-10 EUR/GB | 0.85 EUR/GB | 83-91% |
| United Arab Emirates | 6-12 EUR/GB | 1.50 EUR/GB | 75-87% |
| USA | 3-8 EUR/GB | 1.20 EUR/GB | 60-85% |
Why does the price vary so much between countries?
The price difference between Israel and Canada (60x) is due to several structural factors:
- Number of operators: Israel has 5 operators competing aggressively. Canada has 3 major players controlling 90% of the market.
- Regulation: In India, TRAI imposed maximum tariffs and enforced competition. In North America, regulation is more lax with established oligopolies.
- Infrastructure density: In small, densely populated countries (Israel, Netherlands), the cost of deploying the network is amortized much faster.
- Shared networks: In LatAm, many operators share infrastructure (RAN sharing), which reduces costs and prices.
- Economies of scale: India with 1.4 billion inhabitants amortizes its network very differently from the Falkland Islands with 3,000 inhabitants.
Historical evolution: how global prices have fallen
The average global price per GB has fallen by more than 95% in the last 10 years, from about 75 USD per GB in 2012 to less than 3 USD in 2026. The drop has been particularly pronounced in Asia, LatAm, and Eastern Europe, where the arrival of new operators (like Jio in India in 2016, which revolutionized the market) caused industry-wide price collapse.
How much can you save with a travel eSIM?
A typical Spanish traveler visiting Japan for 2 weeks will use about 8-12 GB of data (maps, Airbnb, Instagram, messaging). With their operator's roaming at 8 EUR/GB, that's 64-96 EUR just for data. With a PuraSIM eSIM at 1.20 EUR/GB, the cost is reduced to 10-14 EUR. Savings on a single trip: 50-80 EUR.
Frequently asked questions about mobile data prices
Which country has the cheapest mobile data in the world in 2026?
Israel leads the global ranking with an average price of 0.07 USD per GB in 2026, followed by India (0.09 USD/GB) and Kyrgyzstan (0.19 USD/GB). The key factor in Israel is the intense competition among operators after the 2012 regulatory reform that facilitated the entry of new players.
Why is roaming so expensive if local data is cheap?
The cost of roaming does not reflect the actual cost of local data, but rather the interconnection agreements between international operators plus the traveler's operator's margin. Until the European regulation of 2017 (free roaming in the EU), roaming rates could be 100x the local price. Outside the EU, this problem persists, making travel eSIMs the most rational alternative.
Are travel eSIMs reliable? Do they offer good speed?
Quality travel eSIMs (like those from PuraSIM) use the main local networks of the destination country through roaming agreements with local operators. The actual speed is that of the local network, not a degraded network. In most destinations, you will get 20-100 Mbps download speeds on 4G/LTE, sufficient for HD streaming, video calls, and smooth browsing.
Does the price per GB of the eSIM include any speed limitations?
It depends on the plan. PuraSIM plans are mostly high-speed with no speed limitation during the validity period. Some plans with a large volume of data (30 GB+) may include fair use beyond a certain threshold. This is always indicated in the plan description before purchase.
How many GB do I need for a two-week trip?
The average tourist traveler uses 5-8 GB per week, meaning 10-16 GB for two weeks. If you use a lot of video streaming or work remotely, consumption can go up to 20-30 GB. We recommend choosing a plan with at least 2 GB more than you think you will need, as running out of data halfway through your trip is more inconvenient than having data to spare.
Conclusion
The price differences between countries are enormous, but the conclusion for the traveler is always the same: a travel eSIM is 5 to 10 times cheaper than roaming with your local operator. The savings on a single trip to Asia, America, or the Middle East can exceed 60-80 EUR. Compare plans and activate your eSIM before you leave at PuraSIM.
