Every trip abroad raises the same question: how will I get mobile data? There are three common answers — your home carrier's roaming, a physical local SIM bought in the destination, or a travel eSIM. Each one has a different cost, convenience level and set of trade-offs. Here is how to decide which saves you the most money.

Option 1: International roaming

Roaming means using your normal SIM abroad while your home carrier bills you for it.

Pros

Zero setup. Your number, apps and contacts all work as usual.

Good for very short trips or emergencies.

Cons

Usually the most expensive option per gigabyte.…