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 | 0,90 ₽–1 350,00 ₽ 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 | 900,00 ₽–1 800,00 ₽/day or 4 500,00 ₽–9 000,00 ₽/week | Often throttled to 256 kbps |
| EU roaming (within EU/EEA) | Free at home rates | Genuine exception — no extra charge |
At 900,00 ₽/MB, a 1 GB video stream costs 900 000,00 ₽ Even 'day pass' add-ons at 900,00 ₽/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) | 13 500,00 ₽–45 000,00 ₽ | Extreme bill shock risk |
| Carrier travel package (day pass) | 6 300,00 ₽–12 600,00 ₽ | 900,00 ₽/day × 7, often throttled |
| Local physical SIM in France | 1 350,00 ₽–2 250,00 ₽ | Covers France only, requires store visit |
| LTE.app Europe eSIM (30+ countries) | 1 080,00 ₽–1 800,00 ₽ | Full LTE speeds, instant activation |
14 days in Asia (10 GB data)
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier roaming | 27 000,00 ₽–90 000,00 ₽+ | Extreme risk |
| Carrier international package | 7 200,00 ₽–13 500,00 ₽ | Often insufficient data |
| Local SIM in Japan | 1 350,00 ₽–2 250,00 ₽ | Japan only, language barrier |
| LTE.app Asia regional eSIM | 1 350,00 ₽–3 150,00 ₽ | Covers Japan, Korea, Taiwan |
3 days in the US (2 GB data)
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier roaming day pass | 2 700,00 ₽–5 400,00 ₽ | 900,00 ₽–1 800,00 ₽/day |
| US prepaid local SIM (Mint, T-Mobile) | 1 350,00 ₽–1 800,00 ₽ | Physical store required |
| LTE.app US eSIM | 720,00 ₽–1 350,00 ₽ | 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 (899,10 ₽/mo) saves 7% on every eSIM plan. Premium (1 799,10 ₽/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) | 1 350,00 ₽ | 94,50 ₽ | 162,00 ₽ |
| 2 trips/month (3 plans) | 4 050,00 ₽ | 283,50 ₽ | 486,00 ₽ |
| 4 trips/month (6 plans) | 8 100,00 ₽ | 567,00 ₽ | 972,00 ₽ |
| Heavy traveler (10 plans) | 13 500,00 ₽ | 945,00 ₽ | 1 620,00 ₽ |
At 6+ plans per month, Pro pays for itself. At 10+ plans per month, Premium pays for itself.