Revealed: The 5 cheapest places to fly in 2026 — and the best dates to get bang for your buck

In a world where costs are sky-high, finding a cheap airline ticket feels impossible.

However, Dollar Flight Club’s 2026 Cheap Flight Forecast has revealed the cheapest destinations to fly to — both domestically and internationally — meaning travel is still possible in the year ahead.

Dollar Flight Club compiled a data-driven list of the least expensive places to jet to in 2026 by analyzing tens of thousands of data points, such as last year’s airfare trends, historical pricing, and today’s live deals.

The list includes 15 international and 15 domestic destinations, the best time to go, and strategies to get the best prices.

In each category, the top five locations indicate the strongest and most repeatable value at the moment.

The cheapest place to fly domestically in 2026 is Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with an average price of just $95. The best fares can be had if you travel in January and September.

Nearby Orlando, Florida, took second place with an average price of $105. If you travel in early May and mid-September, you may be able to snag flights for even less.

Chicago, Illinois, followed — whether flying into Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) or Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The best time to visit is April through May or September through October, and tickets cost an average price of $94.

Rounding out the domestic top five destinations is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Dallas, Texas.

Meanwhile, international travel can also be surprisingly affordable if you’re looking at the right destinations.

The cheapest overseas locale to fly to in 2026 is San Salvador, El Salvador, during December through March, which is their dry season. The average price of flights is about $198.

Going to Madrid, Spain, either from April through June or September through October will cost on average $438, putting it in second place.

Meanwhile, flights to Vancouver, Canada, cost an average $248 for dates in May through June or the shoulder season in September.

In fourth place is Lisbon, Portugal, with an average price of $491 when traveling from April through June or September through October.

Meddlín, Colombia, rounds out the international top five, suggesting that the best time to visit is when it’s drier from December through March for an average cost of $254.

Top 15 least expensive places to fly domestically in 2026

1. Fort Lauderdale (FLL) — Average round-trip price of $95
2. Orlando (MCO) — $105
3. Chicago (ORD/MDW) — $94
4. Pittsburgh (PIT) — $108
5. Dallas (DFW/DAL) — $129
6. Charlotte (CLT) — $92
7. Detroit (DTW) — $119
8. Knoxville (TYS) — $104
9. Pensacola (PNS) — $108
10. Des Moines (DSM) — $110
11. Miami (MIA) — $115
12. Orlando Sanford (SFB) — $95
13. Phoenix (PHX) — $115
14. Denver (DEN) — $110
15. Cleveland (CLE) — $110

Top 15 least expensive places to fly internationally in 2026

1. San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) — Average round-trip price of $198
2. Madrid, Spain (MAD) — $438
3. Vancouver (YVR) — $248
4. Lisbon (LIS) — $491
5. Medellín (MDE) — $254
6. Guatemala City (GUA) — $221
7. Mérida (MID) — $218
8. Monterrey (MTY) — $221
9. Oaxaca (OAX) — $255
10. León/Guanajuato (BJX) — $241
11. San José, Costa Rica (SJO) — $239
12. Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) — $239
13. Santo Domingo (SDQ) — $261
14. Calgary (YYC) — $252
15. Edmonton (YEG) — $239