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The cheapest countries to fly to on low-cost airlines: where the flight and the holiday both cost less

North Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Morocco, Georgia and more: 10 countries where low-cost airlines have bases and plenty of routes, and where eating and sleeping cost far less than the European average, based on Eurostat and Post Office data.

Updated on 18 September 2026

A backpack, a camera and a notebook on an open map — Photo: Annie Spratt · Unsplash

At a glance

A map of Europe with a pencil and a pair of compasses — Photo: Karina Syrotiuk · Unsplash

A trip is cheap when two things line up: a cheap flight, because several low-cost airlines compete on the same destination, and low prices once you land, for sleeping, eating and getting around.
According to Eurostat, in 2025 Europe's lowest prices for household consumption were in North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Romania; for restaurants and accommodation, Albania and Portugal also stand out.
Beyond Europe, Morocco and Georgia combine major low-cost bases with a low cost of living.
You won't find fares in this guide: flight prices change every day. What you will find is why certain destinations tend to be cheap, when to go and one practical tip for each.

How we chose the countries

For prices on the ground we started from Eurostat's price level indices, which compare the same goods and services across 36 European countries, with the EU average set at 100. We looked at two numbers: household consumption overall, and restaurants and accommodation, which is what weighs most when you travel. We cross-checked them with the rankings from Post Office Travel Money, which every year measures the real cost of a city break or a beach holiday. For Morocco and Georgia, which Eurostat doesn't cover, we used Numbeo, a site based on prices reported by users: less precise, but it gives you an idea.

For flights we looked at where Ryanair and Wizz Air have bases with aircraft stationed and are adding routes: a base means more connections, more competition and more chances of finding low fares. The Eurostat indices are rounded.

The Balkans

North Macedonia

It's the cheapest of the 36 countries measured by Eurostat: in 2025 consumer prices were about 55% of the EU average, and restaurants and accommodation about 48%, the lowest of all. Skopje is small and walkable; Lake Ohrid is the country's most beautiful destination.

Why the flight can be cheap: Wizz Air has a base in Skopje with seven aircraft and also flies to Ohrid.

When to go: May to September, with Ohrid at its best in early and late summer. Tip: if your airport has no flights to Skopje, check Ohrid before giving up.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Eurostat ranks it second in Europe for low prices, around 59% of the EU average both for consumption and for restaurants and accommodation. According to the Post Office, Sarajevo is Europe's cheapest city break in 2026: its basket of 12 items, including hotel nights, meals, transport and museums, costs £248.

Why the flight can be cheap: in 2026 Wizz Air became the country's largest airline and reopened its Tuzla base; it also flies to Sarajevo and Banja Luka. Ryanair, on the other hand, is suspending its Sarajevo flights for the winter, so routes there are few.

When to go: spring and early autumn, when the city is pleasant to walk around. Tip: Tuzla airport is not close to Sarajevo: before booking, check buses and journey times into the city.

Albania

Overall Albania is less cheap than you might think (about 73% of the EU average), but restaurants and accommodation are among the best value in Europe, around 53%. Watch out for alcoholic drinks, though, which Eurostat measures above the EU average. For the Post Office, Tirana is the third-cheapest city break of 2026.

Why the flight can be cheap: the two big low-cost airlines go head to head in Tirana. Ryanair opened a base in 2026 with four aircraft and more than 40 routes; Wizz Air planned 15 aircraft for summer 2026.

When to go: June and September for the Albanian Riviera, with fewer crowds than in August. Tip: eat local and drink local; imported beer and wine push the bill up.

Eastern Europe

Bulgaria

It's the cheapest country in the European Union: in 2025 prices were 37% below the EU average, and Eurostat also found the EU's cheapest restaurants and accommodation there. In the Post Office's 2026 family holiday report, Sunny Beach is the second-best-value destination, after the Algarve.

Why the flight can be cheap: Wizz Air is the country's largest airline, with eight aircraft in Sofia and a base in Varna too; Ryanair has a base in Sofia.

When to go: Sofia all year round, the Black Sea in June and September. Tip: in summer compare flights to Varna and Burgas, which take you straight to the coast.

Romania

Prices around 65% of the EU average, with restaurants and accommodation around 59%. For the Post Office, Bucharest is Europe's second-cheapest city break in 2026; the other classic destination is Transylvania, with Brașov and Sibiu.

Why the flight can be cheap: Romania is Wizz Air's home market: it has about half of the country's seats and its largest base in Bucharest, and in December 2026 it opens its tenth Romanian base in Brașov. Ryanair also has a base in Bucharest.

When to go: May to June and September. Tip: don't only look at Bucharest: Cluj, Sibiu, Iași, Timișoara and soon Brașov have direct low-cost flights.

Poland

Consumer prices around 73% of the EU average, restaurants and accommodation around 81%: more than the Balkans, but much less than Italy, France or Germany. Transport services cost about 69% of the EU average.

Why the flight can be cheap: Ryanair and Wizz Air have bases in almost every major city. Across Warsaw's two airports alone, Ryanair offers 46 routes for winter 2026, with eight aircraft at Modlin.

When to go: May to September, or December for the Christmas markets. Tip: don't stop at Warsaw: Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Katowice have plenty of low-cost routes.

Hungary

Consumer prices around 78% of the EU average and restaurants and accommodation around 82%: Budapest costs more than the Balkans, but transport services remain among the cheapest in the EU, about 61% of the average.

Why the flight can be cheap: Budapest is Wizz Air's home base, with 19 aircraft, and also a Ryanair base with 11 aircraft and 67 routes in summer 2026. Two big low-cost airlines in the same city means competition.

When to go: spring and autumn; in winter the thermal baths are the perfect excuse. Tip: at lunchtime look for the “napi menü”, the restaurants' set menu of the day.

Western Europe and beyond

Portugal

It's the exception in Western Europe: consumer prices are around 87% of the EU average, but restaurants and accommodation drop to 74%, less than Spain, Italy and France. For the Post Office, the Algarve is the best-value family holiday destination of 2026.

Why the flight can be cheap: Ryanair has bases in Lisbon, Porto and Faro and 160 routes in summer 2026; easyJet has bases in Lisbon and Porto and a seasonal one in Faro.

When to go: spring and autumn, when the sea is still pleasant and there are fewer crowds. Tip: Ryanair isn't growing in Lisbon because of airport costs, while it's adding routes to Porto and Faro: check those first.

Morocco

Eurostat doesn't measure it, but on Numbeo Morocco has one of the lowest cost-of-living indices among destinations close to Europe, less than half that of Germany. Staying in a riad and eating in neighbourhood places costs little.

Why the flight can be cheap: Ryanair has five bases in the country (Agadir, Marrakech, Fes, Tangier and Rabat) and announces 156 routes for winter 2026/27; easyJet, Transavia and Vueling also fly to Morocco.

When to go: autumn to spring; in summer Marrakech and the interior are very hot. Tip: Rabat is Ryanair's newest base and has brand-new routes; also check the entry requirements for your passport.

Georgia

No Eurostat data here either, but Numbeo places Georgia among the countries with the lowest cost of living, and prices in Kutaisi come out lower than in Tbilisi. Mountains, wine and generous cooking.

Why the flight can be cheap: Wizz Air has a base in Kutaisi, with flights to around twenty European cities, from Budapest to Barcelona and from Katowice to Milan.

When to go: May, June, September and October. Tip: Kutaisi is not Tbilisi: sort out your transfer to the capital in advance, or use Kutaisi as a starting point for western Georgia and the Caucasus; check the entry requirements.

How to spend less

Start from the routes, not the destination: on FlyDown's Cheap flights from… pages you can see the direct destinations from your city and which airlines fly them.
Look at secondary airports: Ohrid, Tuzla, Varna, Cluj, Katowice, Faro or Kutaisi often have routes the capital doesn't.
Avoid peak season: in cheap countries accommodation prices rise sharply in August and over the holidays; June and September are almost always worth it.
Travel with just the small bag: that way the flight stays at the base fare, and you can buy whatever you're missing cheaply at your destination.
Set a budget and let the penguin do the searching: a FlyDown watch alerts you when a flight to these destinations drops below the amount you've chosen.