Travel feels harder right now: airfares are climbing, options are tightening, and consumer sentiment on the economy is near record lows (based on the April University of Michigan Index). But for travelers looking to plan a trip in the back half of 2026 without breaking the bank, Going‘s data offers a practical place to start: the destinations where affordable flights have been most consistent, even as the broader market tightens.
Going has released its annual Cheapest Cities report, ranking the most deal-rich destinations domestically and internationally based on proprietary flight deal data from the past 12 months. Rankings take into account deal price, frequency of deals, and percentage discount off the normal economy fare. The findings reveal not just where airfare can still be affordable, but how dramatic the gap has become between what the average traveler pays and what a Going member pays.
Barcelona, No. 1 on Going’s European list, averaged $468 roundtrip for Going members. The normal economy fare for the same routes? $913. That’s nearly 50 percent savings on a single ticket.
Going Cheapest European cities to fly to
What’s Rising, What’s Falling
“We tend to forget that pre-fuel spikes, airfare looked pretty normal when it came to affordability,” said Going flight expert Katy Nastro. “Since March, however, we have been amid turbulent times. Getting a cheap flight feels harder than sticking to a strict budget at a specialty food store. If you’re still looking to travel this year, even amid higher prices, there are still savings to be had if you know where to look.”
Orlando holds the No. 1 U.S. spot with low-cost carrier deals as low as $38 roundtrip in the past year against a normal fare of $395, part of a broader cascade effect driven by Southwest‘s more aggressive fare sales pressuring competitors across its focus cities.
Going Cheapest US cities to fly to
In Europe, Barcelona claimed the No. 1 spot this year, with Milan rising to No. 2 and Dublin coming in at No. 3. The continued rise of Italian cities reflects a structural shift: competition among European carriers from hubs like London, Paris, and Amsterdam, amplified by new U.S. nonstops to Naples, Palermo, Catania, Bari, Venice, and Olbia, has cascaded into more affordable fares across the board. Amsterdam, London, and Reykjavik tell the opposite story: these cities dropped out of the top 10 entirely, casualties of struggling lower-cost carriers and consistently high business travel demand.
Internationally, San José, Costa Rica, claims No. 1, followed by Guatemala City at No. 2. The list reflects a wider shift toward Caribbean and Central American destinations as airlines fight for leisure travelers on shorthaul routes. For travelers with a specific region in mind: Tokyo for Asia, Auckland for Oceania, and Bogotá for South America.
International
- San José, Costa Rica – avg Going deal $331, 55% off
- Guatemala City, Guatemala – avg $273, 59% off
- Calgary, Canada – avg $241, 56% off
- Montego Bay, Jamaica – avg $344, 54% off
- Liberia, Costa Rica – avg $343, 52% off
- Vancouver, Canada – avg $255, 54% off
- Bogotá, Colombia – avg $302, 54% off
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – avg $336, 52% off
- Auckland, New Zealand – avg $793, 48% off
- Tokyo, Japan – avg $732, 43% off
Full Rankings:
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