eSIM for Canadians visiting the USA (2026): Rogers, Bell and Telus US roaming compared, in CAD
What Rogers, Bell and Telus charge to roam in the US, compared with a US eSIM in Canadian dollars, plus cross-border road trips and snowbird stays of up to 180 days.
· 8 min read
For most Canadians visiting the US, a US data eSIM costs less than a Rogers, Bell or Telus roaming add-on, and the gap grows with the length of the stay. Ten GB for 30 days costs about C$17, compared with C$50 for a 7-day Rogers US pass. For snowbirds, 50 GB valid for 180 days is about C$99, while a winter of carrier passes runs to several hundred dollars. The carrier add-ons are still worth it for short trips where you need to call and text from your Canadian number, and when your plan's data is generous.
What the carriers charge for the US, as of September 2026
All prices are in Canadian dollars, before tax, from each carrier's own roaming page. All three let you use your Canadian plan's data in the US, with calls and texts included.
Rogers
- US daily roaming: $16 a day.
- US Travel Passes: 3 days for $25, 7 days for $50, 14 days for $60, 30 days for $80. Rogers says you can buy them up to 60 days ahead.
- Coverage: all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Bell
- Roam Better, US: $13 a day, using your rate plan's data, with unlimited talk and text to Canada and within the US.
- Data speed: after 5 GB in a day, speeds drop to up to 512 kbps. You can buy an extra 1 GB at full speed for $6 in the US. The day runs until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, wherever you are.
- Charges start when you make or answer a call, send a text, use Apple Live Voicemail, or send or receive any data, including background data and app refresh. Standard incoming texts are free.
- Bell also sells US 3-day, 14-day and 30-day packs. Check the current prices in MyBell, because we couldn't confirm them from Bell's public page.
Telus
- Easy Roam, US: $16 a day, using your plan's data, with unlimited talk and text in the US.
- USA Easy Roam passes: 3 days for $25, 7 days for $40, 14 days for $60. A pass activates when you arrive, and you must use it within 30 days of adding it.
- Charges start when you use data, send a text, make or answer a call, or check voicemail. The day lasts until 11:59 p.m. in the time zone you're in. Incoming texts don't activate Easy Roam.
A US eSIM, in Canadian dollars
Cabin Mode's US plans, checked 25 September 2026. The US dollar prices are what the catalog lists. The CAD figures are approximate, converted at the 24 September 2026 reference rate (1 USD = 1.4117 CAD), and Cabin Mode charges in the currency shown in the app. Prices can change.
| Data | Valid for | USD | About CAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $1.66 | C$2.34 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $4.40 | C$6.21 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $6.62 | C$9.35 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $12.08 | C$17.05 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $23.18 | C$32.72 |
| 20 GB | 90 days | $28.54 | C$40.29 |
| 50 GB | 30 days | $56.00 | C$79.06 |
| 50 GB | 180 days | $70.00 | C$98.82 |
The full list is on the United States page. Best eSIM for the USA covers coverage, national parks and how much data a US trip uses.
Cost by trip length
Assumption: about 1 GB a day, with hotel or condo Wi-Fi for anything heavy.
| Trip | Rogers | Bell (daily rate) | Telus | US eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend, 3 days | $25 pass | $39 | $25 pass | 3 GB, C$6.21 |
| 1 week | $50 pass | $91 | $40 pass | 10 GB, C$17.05 |
| 2 weeks | $60 pass | $182 | $60 pass | 20 GB, C$32.72 |
| 1 month | $80 pass | $390 | No 30-day US pass listed | 20 GB, C$32.72 |
Bell's packs will beat its daily rate on longer trips, so compare them in MyBell. For a couple, each person needs their own pass or eSIM, so double both columns.
What the carrier price buys you that the eSIM doesn't: calls and texts on your Canadian number, and your own plan's data allowance. Cabin Mode plans are data only, with no phone number and no SMS. For a weekend in Seattle with lots of calls home, a C$25 pass is a fair trade. For a week at Disney, C$17.05 of eSIM data plus FaceTime and WhatsApp is the cheaper route.
Cross-border road trips
Stop your Canadian line roaming by accident
Bell's own guidance is that near the border, your phone can connect to a US network automatically, as if you were roaming. If you have daily roaming set up, that can start a $13 to $16 day while you're still in Canada. The fix is on the iPhone: Settings › Cellular › Canadian line › Cellular Data Options › Data Roaming off. On some iOS versions the switch is directly on the line's page. In Canada, your Canadian line isn't roaming, so this doesn't affect home use.
Switch the data line at the border
The US eSIM works in the US, and your Canadian line works at home. On a trip that crosses the border more than once, like Vancouver to Seattle and back, or New Brunswick into Maine:
- Heading into the US: Settings › Cellular › Cellular Data › US eSIM. Make sure Data Roaming is on for the eSIM line.
- Back in Canada: Settings › Cellular › Cellular Data › Canadian line.
Turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching in the same menu, so the iPhone never picks a line for you. Dual SIM on iPhone for travel explains the rest of the two-line setup.
Most Cabin Mode plans start on the first connection to a network in a covered country, so validity doesn't start until you cross. A few start at install, and the plan listing shows which. For a road trip into Mexico too, the North America plan covers three countries. 10 GB for 30 days costs $30.40 (about C$42.92).
Remote stretches
Coverage and speed depend on the US partner networks. They're strong in cities and along interstates, and patchy in mountains, deserts and parks. Download offline maps before a long drive, whichever option you use.
Snowbirds: 30 to 180 days
This is where the difference is largest.
| Winter in Florida or Arizona | Rogers | Telus | US eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $80 (30-day pass) | $16 a day | 20 GB for 30 days, C$32.72 |
| 3 months | $240 (three 30-day passes) | $16 a day | 20 GB for 90 days, C$40.29 |
| 6 months | $480 (six 30-day passes) | $16 a day | 50 GB for 180 days, C$98.82 |
At $16 a day, six months of daily roaming would be C$2,880. That figure is why passes and eSIMs exist.
A few things to think through for a long stay:
- Is 50 GB enough for six months? It works out to about 8 GB a month. That's comfortable if the condo or RV park has Wi-Fi and you use mobile data for maps, messages and browsing. It's tight if you stream on mobile data. Many plans can be topped up in the app without reinstalling, and eSIMs that support top-ups have an optional monthly plan.
- Keep your Canadian number reachable. Leave the Canadian line switched on with data roaming off. Bank codes and texts from home keep arriving. Bell and Telus both say incoming texts don't trigger their daily charge.
- Do you need a US phone number? Pharmacies, doctors, park offices and deliveries often want one. A data-only eSIM can't provide it. If you need a US number all winter, a US prepaid line is the right tool, and you can still use a data eSIM alongside it on a dual-SIM iPhone.
- Check your carrier's long-stay terms. Roaming add-ons are designed for travel, so read the terms before relying on one for a whole season.
eSIM for digital nomads and long stays covers month-by-month planning in more detail.
When a Canadian carrier add-on is the better choice
- A day trip across the border, or a weekend where you'll call and text a lot.
- Your Canadian plan has plenty of data and you're taking a short trip where a C$25 pass is simpler than installing anything.
- Your plan already includes the US. Some Canadian plans include US roaming, so check yours first.
- Your phone is locked, or it isn't an iPhone. Cabin Mode needs an unlocked iPhone XR or later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way for Canadians to use data in the US?
For anything longer than a couple of days, a US data eSIM usually is. As of September 2026, 10 GB for 30 days costs about C$17. The cheapest carrier option is a US pass from Rogers or Telus at C$25 for 3 days. Check first whether your plan already includes the US.
How much is Rogers Roam Like Home in the US?
As of September 2026, Rogers lists US daily roaming at $16 a day. US Travel Passes cost $25 for 3 days, $50 for 7 days, $60 for 14 days and $80 for 30 days, before tax.
How much is Bell Roam Better in the US?
As of September 2026, $13 a day in the US, using your plan's data, with speeds slowing after 5 GB in a day. Bell also sells multi-day US packs, and MyBell shows their current prices.
How much is Telus Easy Roam in the US?
As of September 2026, $16 a day, or a USA Easy Roam pass at $25 for 3 days, $40 for 7 days or $60 for 14 days. Incoming texts don't activate Easy Roam.
What eSIM should a snowbird use in the US?
A long-validity US plan. As of September 2026, 50 GB for 180 days costs $70 US, about C$99. If you'll use more data, pick a plan that can be topped up, and keep your Canadian line on for texts.
Will my Canadian number still work in the US with an eSIM?
Yes. The Canadian line stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM handles data. Keep data roaming off on the Canadian line, so it doesn't start a daily roaming charge.
Why did I get roaming charges without leaving Canada?
Near the border, your phone can connect to a US network automatically. If data roaming is on for your Canadian line, that can start a US roaming day. Turn Data Roaming off for that line in Settings › Cellular.