International Roaming Costs Australia 2026: Telstra, Optus, Vodafone Compared
Prices shown are current as of April 2026. Carrier pricing changes frequently. Check your carrier's website for the latest rates.
Australian carriers charge between $5 and $20 per day for international roaming. On a two week holiday, that's $70 to $280 just to use your phone abroad. Most travellers don't realise how quickly this adds up until they see the bill.
This guide breaks down what Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone charge for roaming in 2026, and compares it against the cost of a travel eSIM.
Telstra international roaming rates
Telstra offers the International Day Pass. It gives you access to your existing plan's data, calls, and texts for a flat daily fee.
| Zone | Daily cost | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | $10/day | USA, UK, Canada, NZ, Japan, South Korea, most of Europe, Singapore, Thailand |
| Zone 2 | $20/day | China, India, Indonesia (Bali), Vietnam, South America, Africa, Middle East |
A two week trip to Japan on Telstra: $140 AUD. A two week trip to Bali: $280 AUD.
The Day Pass activates automatically when you use data overseas, unless you turn data roaming off. If you forget to manage it, you'll get charged for every day you have data roaming on, even if you barely use your phone.
For a complete breakdown including the full Zone 1 and Zone 2 country lists, see our Telstra International Roaming 2026 guide.
Optus international roaming rates
Optus offers Travel Plus as their main roaming add on. It includes 1 GB of data plus unlimited calls and texts to Australian numbers.
| Plan | Daily cost | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Plus | $10/day | 1 GB data + calls/texts to AU numbers |
| No add on | Variable | Charged per MB/min/SMS. Can exceed $50/day easily. |
Optus Travel Plus covers fewer countries than Telstra's Day Pass. If your destination is not covered, you're on per use rates which can be brutal.
Optus Travel Plus country list
Travel Plus covers most popular destinations but not all countries. Here are the key regions:
| Region | Countries covered |
|---|---|
| Asia Pacific | New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia |
| Europe | UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, Turkey |
| Americas | USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina |
| Middle East / Africa | UAE, South Africa, Egypt |
If your destination is not on this list, Optus charges per use rates: up to $3 per MB for data, $5 per minute for calls, and $1 per SMS. Check the full Optus roaming breakdown for details.
For a complete breakdown of Optus roaming including the full country list and how to avoid charges, see our Optus International Roaming 2026 guide.
A two week trip on Optus Travel Plus: $140 AUD. And you only get 1 GB per day, which is tight if you're using Google Maps, uploading photos, or video calling.
Vodafone international roaming rates
Vodafone offers roaming add ons that vary by plan type. Their pricing is the most complex of the three carriers.
| Plan type | Daily cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| $5 Roaming | $5/day | Limited countries. Uses your plan data. |
| Standard roaming | $10/day | Broader country coverage. |
| No add on | Variable | Per use rates. Very expensive. |
Vodafone's $5/day option is the cheapest carrier roaming available in Australia, but it only works in a handful of countries. For most popular destinations, you're paying $10/day.
For the full breakdown including the 90 day cap and country list, see our Vodafone International Roaming 2026 guide.
Travel eSIM costs: the comparison
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM you install on your phone before travelling. It connects to local networks at local rates. No daily fees, no surprise bills. You pay once for a set amount of data.
| Destination | eSIM (10 GB / 30 days) | Telstra (14 days) | Optus (14 days) | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | $15.50 | $140 | $140 | $124.50 |
| Europe (multi country) | $18.00 | $140 | $140 | $122.00 |
| Bali / Indonesia | $15.50 | $280 | $140 | $124.50 to $264.50 |
| Thailand | $12.00 | $140 | $140 | $128.00 |
| China | $26.50 | $280 | $140 | $113.50 to $253.50 |
| Singapore | $12.00 | $140 | $140 | $128.00 |
| South Korea | $15.50 | $140 | $140 | $124.50 |
The savings range from $113 to $264 AUD per trip depending on destination and carrier. For a couple travelling together, double those carrier costs.
A family of four going to Bali for two weeks on Telstra roaming: $280 x 4 = $1,120 AUD. The same family using travel eSIMs: $15.50 x 4 = $62 AUD. That's a saving of over $1,000.
How to avoid roaming charges completely
You don't have to choose between roaming and no phone. Here's how to travel with full connectivity and pay nothing to your carrier:
- Before you fly: Buy a travel eSIM for your destination. You'll receive a QR code by email.
- At the airport: Open your phone settings, scan the QR code, and install the eSIM. Don't activate it yet.
- Turn off data roaming for your Australian SIM. This prevents your carrier from charging you for data abroad.
- When you land: Activate the eSIM in your phone settings. Your phone now uses the eSIM for data and your Australian SIM stays active for receiving calls and SMS (including bank verification codes).
This dual SIM setup is the same approach most frequent travellers and digital nomads use. You get local data speeds, no roaming charges, and your home number stays reachable.
When carrier roaming makes sense
To be fair, there are situations where carrier roaming is the better choice:
- Short trips (1 to 2 days): If you're only abroad for a day or two, $10 to $20 total is simple and not worth optimising.
- You need voice calls: Travel eSIMs are data only. If you need to make regular voice calls (not WhatsApp or FaceTime calls), carrier roaming includes voice.
- Your phone doesn't support eSIM: Older phones and some budget models don't have eSIM capability. Check our device compatibility checker to find out.
For trips of 3 days or longer, the maths almost always favours a travel eSIM.
The bottom line
Australian carriers charge $5 to $20 per day for international roaming. That's $70 to $280 for a two week trip per person. A travel eSIM covers the same trip for $12 to $27 AUD total.
The setup takes 2 minutes. The savings are over $100 per trip. For most Australian travellers, it's the obvious choice.
Get a travel eSIM from $4 AUD
200+ countries covered. Instant QR code delivery. No roaming bills.
View plans by destinationFrequently asked questions
Will I still receive calls on my Australian number?
Yes. Your Australian SIM stays active for incoming calls and SMS. You only use the eSIM for data. Your home number works as normal.
Do I need to tell my carrier I'm travelling?
No. If you turn off data roaming, your carrier won't charge you anything. You don't need to activate or deactivate any travel packs.
What happens if I run out of eSIM data?
You can top up by purchasing another eSIM plan. Or connect to Wi-Fi. Your Australian SIM's data roaming is still off, so you won't accidentally get charged.
Can I use an eSIM and keep my physical SIM at the same time?
Yes. Most phones made after 2019 support dual SIM (one physical + one eSIM). Your phone uses the eSIM for data and the physical SIM for calls and texts. You choose which line does what in your phone settings.