The Cheapest Destinations to Visit From Every US State and Major Canadian City

Where you fly from can completely change where your travel budget will take you. The cheapest destination isn't necessarily the one with the cheapest flight.

A low airfare can look like a bargain, but once accommodation, food, local transport and sightseeing are added, the total cost of a week away can look very different.

To find out where travellers can get the most for their money, Nomad eSIM analysed the cost of travelling to 50 destinations from all 50 US states and seven major Canadian departure points. The research combines return economy airfare with seven nights of average travel costs at each destination, giving a more complete picture of what a one-week trip could cost.

The results reveal some clear regional winners, and some surprising differences depending on where the journey begins.

At a Glance

• Lisbon is the cheapest European destination from 29 US states
• San Juan is the cheapest Caribbean destination from all 50 US states
• Cairo is the cheapest African destination from 49 states
• Abu Dhabi is the cheapest Middle Eastern destination from all 50 states
• The cheapest trip in the US dataset is Chicago to Cairo, at approximately $993 per person
• In Canada, Lisbon, Bangkok, San Juan, Cairo and Auckland emerge as particularly consistent winners across the seven departure cities

The findings suggest that travellers who are flexible about where they go, rather than simply searching for the cheapest flight, may uncover significantly better-value trips they hadn't initially considered.

The Cheapest Destinations From Each US State

Europe: Lisbon Leads the Pack

Lisbon is the cheapest European destination from 29 of the 50 US states, making it the most consistent winner across the region. It comes out on top from states including California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey and Washington.

Barcelona is the main alternative, offering the lowest total trip cost from states including New York, Ohio, Michigan and Tennessee. Berlin also emerges as the best-value European option from a smaller group of states, including Maryland, Alabama, Oklahoma and Hawaii.

The results highlight how much the starting point can influence the cost of an international trip. Rather than deciding on a city first and then looking for the cheapest way to get there, travellers with more flexibility may find better value by comparing several destinations within the same region.

Asia: Bangkok and Bali Split the Map

Asia is largely a two-destination race, with Bangkok and Bali accounting for most of the state-level wins.

Bangkok is the cheapest Asian destination from states including California, Texas, New York and Illinois, while Bali offers the lowest overall trip cost from Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Washington and Oregon.

One of the standout combinations is Los Angeles to Bangkok, where return economy flights and seven nights of average travel costs come to approximately $1,442 per person. For long-haul travel, airfare is only part of the equation. A destination with a slightly higher flight price can still offer better overall value if accommodation, food, transport and activities cost less once you arrive.

Caribbean: San Juan Is the Clear Winner

The Caribbean produces one of the clearest findings in the research: San Juan is the cheapest destination from every US state analysed.

It comes ahead of alternatives including Aruba, Montego Bay and Puerto Plata across all 50 departure points. The lowest estimated one-week trip cost is from Atlanta, at approximately $1,645 per person, combining return airfare with seven nights of average travel costs.

San Juan's consistency makes it one of the strongest regional findings in the research although the most affordable destination still varies considerably depending on where travellers are starting from.

Latin America: Your Starting Point Matters More

Latin America has a more fragmented picture, with Tulum, Cancun and Buenos Aires emerging as the cheapest options depending on the departure state.

Tulum is the most frequent winner, while Cancun takes the top spot from several states. For others, travelling considerably farther south to Buenos Aires produces the lowest total trip cost.

One particularly affordable combination is Miami to Buenos Aires, at approximately $1,261 per person for return flights and seven nights of average travel costs.

The result is a reminder that geographic distance doesn't always tell the whole story. A longer flight can sometimes be offset by lower costs at the destination, making it worth comparing the total cost of the trip rather than airfare alone.

Africa: Cairo Dominates

Cairo is the cheapest African destination from 49 of the 50 US states, making it one of the most consistent findings in the entire dataset.

The only exception is Vermont, where Marrakech offers a lower total trip cost. Cairo also delivers the cheapest overall combination in the US dataset: travellers departing from Chicago could spend approximately $993 per person on return economy flights and seven nights of average travel costs.

That figure illustrates why looking at the complete cost of a trip can produce a very different picture from simply comparing airfares.

Middle East: Abu Dhabi Wins Across All 50 States

Abu Dhabi is the cheapest Middle Eastern destination from all 50 US states. The lowest estimated one-week total comes from New York JFK, at approximately $2,171 per person, including return flights and seven nights of average travel costs.

Its consistent performance across every departure state makes Abu Dhabi another example of a destination whose value extends beyond the initial airfare.

Oceania: A More Varied Picture

Oceania has some of the most varied results in the research. Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney each emerge as the cheapest option from different US states, while Perth takes the top spot only from Oregon.

The lowest overall combination is Los Angeles to Auckland, at approximately $2,121 per person for return flights and seven nights of average travel costs.

For a long-haul journey like this, comparing several destinations can reveal meaningful differences in the overall cost of a trip, particularly when accommodation and day-to-day spending are taken into account.

The Canadian results show a similar pattern to the US: some destinations offer consistent value across the country, while others become more attractive depending on where the journey begins.

What the Numbers Tell Us

The research reveals a few clear patterns. Some destinations offer remarkably consistent value. San Juan is the cheapest Caribbean destination from every US state and all seven Canadian departure points, while Cairo dominates the African results and Abu Dhabi leads the Middle East across the US.

Other regions are much more dependent on the departure point. In Europe, Asia, Latin America and Oceania, the cheapest option can change significantly depending on where the traveller starts.

Most importantly, the findings suggest that the cheapest flight isn't always the cheapest trip. Looking at airfare alongside accommodation, food, transport and sightseeing can change which destination offers the best overall value.

For travellers who aren't tied to a particular destination, that flexibility can also open the door to places they might not have considered initially.

How to Stretch Your Travel Budget Further

Finding a destination where your money goes further is only the first step. The choices you make before and during a trip can also have a meaningful impact on what you ultimately spend.

• Compare the whole trip, not just the flight. A low airfare doesn't automatically mean a cheaper holiday. Before booking, consider accommodation, food, local transport and activities alongside the cost of getting there. A slightly more expensive flight could still result in a cheaper trip overall.
• Stay flexible about where you go. If you're looking for a European city break or a trip to Asia but aren't tied to one particular destination, compare several options. As this research shows, changing the destination can make a significant difference depending on where you're flying from.
• Think local once you arrive. Public transport, local recommendations and exploring beyond the main tourist areas can help uncover more affordable places to eat, visit and experience. Having maps, transport information and booking tools available on the go can also make it easier to make those choices.
• Be mindful of currency costs. Check your bank's foreign transaction and ATM fees before travelling. When paying by card abroad, also check the exchange rate before accepting a terminal's offer to convert the payment into your home currency.
• Look beyond the tourist centre for accommodation. Staying slightly outside the most popular neighbourhoods can reduce accommodation costs, particularly when the area has good public transport links. Just compare the accommodation savings against any additional transport costs before booking.

Stay Connected for Less with Nomad eSIM

Connectivity can also play a role in getting more value from a trip. With a Nomad eSIM, travellers can arrange their data before travelling and stay connected to maps, translation, transport, bookings and local recommendations while they're away. That can make it easier to compare options on the go, find local alternatives and navigate beyond the most tourist-heavy areas, turning connectivity into a practical tool for making the most of a travel budget.

Ultimately, travelling for less isn't just about choosing the cheapest destination. It's about choosing somewhere your overall budget can stretch further, avoiding unnecessary costs and making smarter decisions throughout the journey.

Methodology

Nomad eSIM analysed travel from all 50 US states and seven major Canadian departure points to 50 destinations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Caribbean, Oceania, Latin America and Africa. The estimated total for each trip combines the lowest available economy return airfare with seven nights of average destination travel costs per person. Daily travel costs were sourced from Budget Your Trip and include categories such as accommodation, food, local transport and sightseeing.

Flights were researched through Google Travel Explore for travel departing 17 October 2026 and returning 24 October 2026, for one adult travelling economy with a maximum of two stops.

US prices are shown in USD and Canadian prices in CAD. Airfares fluctuate according to availability and demand, while actual spending will vary by traveller. Figures should therefore be treated as estimates based on the data available at the time of research.