eSIM vs Roaming Plans — Real Cost Comparison
International roaming can cost {price.5}–{price.15} per megabyte with some carriers. A single hour of video streaming could cost {price.500} or more in roaming fees. Here is an honest, numbers-first comparison of eSIM plans vs every roaming alternative.
The true cost of carrier roaming
Home carrier international data charges vary widely:
| Carrier type | Pay-as-you-go rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US carrier (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon) roaming | Rp 156–Rp 234.000 per MB | Varies by destination country |
| UK carrier (EE, Vodafone, O2) zone 1 | £0.002–£10 per MB | 'Zone 1' countries cheapest |
| Carrier international add-on package | Rp 156.000–Rp 312.000/day or Rp 780.000–Rp 1.560.000/week | Often throttled to 256 kbps |
| EU roaming (within EU/EEA) | Free at home rates | Genuine exception — no extra charge |
At Rp 156.000/MB, a 1 GB video stream costs Rp 156.000.000 Even 'day pass' add-ons at Rp 156.000/day throttle to 256 kbps — barely enough for maps.
Real cost comparison by trip type
7 days in Europe (5 GB data)
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier roaming (pay-as-you-go) | Rp 2.340.000–Rp 7.800.000 | Extreme bill shock risk |
| Carrier travel package (day pass) | Rp 1.092.000–Rp 2.184.000 | Rp 156.000/day × 7, often throttled |
| Local physical SIM in France | Rp 234.000–Rp 390.000 | Covers France only, requires store visit |
| LTE.app Europe eSIM (30+ countries) | Rp 187.200–Rp 312.000 | Full LTE speeds, instant activation |
14 days in Asia (10 GB data)
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier roaming | Rp 4.680.000–Rp 15.600.000+ | Extreme risk |
| Carrier international package | Rp 1.248.000–Rp 2.340.000 | Often insufficient data |
| Local SIM in Japan | Rp 234.000–Rp 390.000 | Japan only, language barrier |
| LTE.app Asia regional eSIM | Rp 234.000–Rp 546.000 | Covers Japan, Korea, Taiwan |
3 days in the US (2 GB data)
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier roaming day pass | Rp 468.000–Rp 936.000 | Rp 156.000–Rp 312.000/day |
| US prepaid local SIM (Mint, T-Mobile) | Rp 234.000–Rp 312.000 | Physical store required |
| LTE.app US eSIM | Rp 124.800–Rp 234.000 | Instant QR, full LTE |
Hidden roaming charges that multiply the cost
When roaming actually makes sense
LTE.app membership makes eSIM even cheaper
LTE.app Pro membership (Rp 155.844/mo) saves 7% on every eSIM plan. Premium (Rp 311.844/mo) saves 12%. For frequent travelers purchasing 3–4 plans per month, the membership pays for itself:
| Travel pattern | Monthly plan spend | Pro saves | Premium saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 trip/month (1 plan) | Rp 234.000 | Rp 16.380 | Rp 28.080 |
| 2 trips/month (3 plans) | Rp 702.000 | Rp 49.140 | Rp 84.240 |
| 4 trips/month (6 plans) | Rp 1.404.000 | Rp 98.280 | Rp 168.480 |
| Heavy traveler (10 plans) | Rp 2.340.000 | Rp 163.800 | Rp 280.800 |
At 6+ plans per month, Pro pays for itself. At 10+ plans per month, Premium pays for itself.