Destinations
A week in New York: how many gigabytes you actually need
Subway, maps, museums and a lot of photos. The day-by-day sum for a week in New York and what the city's wi-fi can solve.
Claudia Ferrán 6 min Photo by Jermaine Ee on Unsplash New York is an easy destination for a phone: there is coverage everywhere, free wi-fi in the subway and in many public spaces, and almost everything you do there is organised from the handset. The sum comes out fairly modest.
Where the day goes
| Activity | Per day |
|---|---|
| Maps and subway | 40 to 80 MB |
| Looking up places, times and tickets | 60 to 120 MB |
| Messaging home | 20 to 50 MB |
| Social media | 300 to 700 MB |
| Uploading photos and videos | 100 to 300 MB |
Adding up, a normal week of sightseeing runs between 3 and 7 GB. Without social media, 2 GB is plenty.
Subway wi-fi, which helps more than it seems
The subway stations have free wi-fi, and since you spend a fair while waiting down there, that is where you want the day's photos to upload. There is no signal inside the tunnels, so the ride is a good moment not to spend anything.
There is also wi-fi in libraries, many parks and most museums.
What does use data in New York
- Walking with the map open all day, which is what you do the first time.
- Watching the live cameras at attractions before setting off, to see how long the queue is.
- Sharing videos, which this city produces a lot of.
- Ride-hailing apps, especially if you avoid the subway at night.
Before you fly
- Download the map of Manhattan and of the neighbourhoods you will set foot in.
- Save your tickets and attraction passes in the phone's wallet.
- Set photo backup to wi-fi only and let it upload at the hotel.
- Turn off data roaming on your home line: the United States is an international zone.
The sum for a longer trip or one by road is in how many gigabytes for fifteen days across the United States.
Frequently asked questions
How many gigabytes do I need for a week in New York?
Between 3 and 7 GB with normal social media use, and around 2 GB if you travel practically and make use of the wi-fi.
Is there free wi-fi in the New York subway?
Yes, in the stations. There is no signal inside the tunnels, so the ride is a good moment for the phone to rest.
Do I need a data plan if there is so much wi-fi?
Yes for the street: maps, transport and looking things up as you go, which is where the wi-fi does not reach.
What do I download before going?
The map of Manhattan and of the neighbourhoods you will visit, plus your tickets and passes in the phone's wallet.
Is roaming included in the United States?
No, it is an international zone on European plans. It is worth turning off data roaming before boarding.
