International roaming costs for Australians
Prices checked 14 Nov 2026 by Steve
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all sell international roaming add-ons that let you use your Australian plan overseas. They're simple: you keep your number, there's nothing to install, and they usually charge by the day. The catch is that daily charges add up on longer trips, and they're easy to forget about until the bill arrives.
A travel eSIM is a data-only plan you install on your phone before you fly. You keep your Australian SIM on for calls and SMS codes, and use the eSIM for maps, messaging and browsing. On many trips it costs less than roaming, but not on every one: short trips, and a few destinations, can favour roaming.
This page puts the cheapest add-on from each telco side by side, then compares the cheapest roaming option with the cheapest travel eSIM for a 14-day trip in each destination we cover. Every price is checked and dated, and anything older than 30 days is hidden until we check it again. Bars Abroad is independent and not affiliated with Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.
Cheapest roaming add-on by telco
Roaming vs eSIM by destination
14-day trip, medium use (1 GB a day).
- Japan
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- A$33.47
eSIM saves A$36.53
- Bali
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- ≈ A$41.25
eSIM saves ≈ A$28.75
- Europe
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- ≈ A$41.25
eSIM saves ≈ A$28.75
- China
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- A$32.01
eSIM saves A$37.99
- Fiji
- Cheapest roaming (Telstra)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- ≈ A$41.25
eSIM saves ≈ A$28.75
- New Zealand
- Cheapest roaming (Telstra)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- A$40.74
eSIM saves A$29.26
- Philippines
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- A$39.28
eSIM saves A$30.72
- Singapore
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- A$30.55
eSIM saves A$39.45
- South Korea
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- A$35.55
eSIM saves A$34.45
- Thailand
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- A$25.05
eSIM saves A$44.95
- Vietnam
- Cheapest roaming (Optus)
- A$70.00
- Cheapest eSIM
- A$31.55
eSIM saves A$38.45
Frequently asked questions
How much does international roaming cost from Australia?
The cheapest add-ons we found are: Telstra from A$5.00 a day (2 GB/day); Optus from A$5.00 a day (5 GB/day); Vodafone from A$5.00 a day (See terms). Each is checked and dated on this page.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming?
On longer trips it often is, but not always. The grid above compares the cheapest roaming option with the cheapest travel eSIM for a 14-day trip in each destination, using dated prices.
Can I keep my Australian number with an eSIM?
Yes, if your phone supports dual SIM. Keep your Australian SIM on for calls and SMS codes, use the eSIM for data, and turn data roaming off on your Australian line.
Are you affiliated with Telstra, Optus or Vodafone?
No. Bars Abroad is independent and not affiliated with any phone company. Roaming prices come from each telco's public website.