The Cheapest Place to Fly From Every Australian State

There is something undeniably thrilling about finding a cheap flight to an international destination. We’ve all spent nights in front of the laptop, scouring budget travel websites and trawling through different discount codes to unearth a bargain, but great deals are proving harder and harder to come by.

In recent years, surging flight prices and the rising cost of living have significantly reduced travel options, pushing traditional destinations in Europe and the United States firmly out of reach for everyday Aussies. Thankfully, you don’t have to reach for the Eurostar guide just yet—stellar deals on cheap flights haven’t completely disappeared; you just need to know where to find them.

The cheapest international flights from Australia in 2026 are typically from Perth and Darwin, with Bali, Southeast Asia and New Zealand offering the lowest fares.

To help you make sense of the current situation, we analysed data from international flight comparison tool Skyscanner to uncover the cheapest place to fly from each major city in Australia in March 2026. Using the largest airport in each location as a starting point, we identified the cheapest flights currently available, both domestic and international, while also outlining the airline responsible for the deal. Whether you are planning a trip to Sicily for Euro-summer, a stay in one of the world’s best hotels or just getting out of town for a while, we’ve got you covered.

Cheapest Domestic Flights Australia – State-by-State

The cheapest domestic flights in Australia are most often operated by Jetstar, with one-way fares regularly under $60 between major and regional cities.

While that might not come as a surprise, what you might not have predicted is just where those flights travel to. In Western Australia, for example, the cheapest domestic flight from Perth is often Kalgoorlie; not exactly a tourism hotspot, but a major regional centre for the state’s booming mining sector. However, in this list, which is focused on travel dates in March 2026, Adelaide was the cheapest flight from the Western Australian capital city,

Importantly, all of the flights listed in our guide are one-way direct, meaning there are no connections between cities. All of them represent the cheapest option for travellers looking to secure a bargain domestic flight deal.

Below, you’ll find a list of the cheapest domestic flights from each major Australian city. Note: All prices listed were correct at the time of publication. Exact prices are subject to change. The table below shows the cheapest one-way domestic flights from each Australian capital city in March 2026. Flight data sourced from Skyscanner and analysed in March 2026.

Cheapest International Flights – State-by-State

International travel may be getting more expensive overall, but savy traveller scan still find a bargain if they look hard enough. After analysing the current airfare data, we’ve uncovered the cheapest international destinations available from each Australian capital city, revealing where the real value lies for travellers willing to be flexible.

From ultra-affordable Bali flights out of Perth and Darwin to unexpected deals across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the list below shows exactly which destinations offer the lowest international fares right now, along with the airlines operating them and the prices travellers can expect to pay. Also note that some of these flights may include connections, whereas others will be direct.

Below, you’ll find a list of the cheapest international flights from each major Australian city. Note: All prices listed were correct at the time of publication. Exact prices are subject to change. The table below shows the cheapest one-way international flights from each Australian capital city in March 2026. Flight data sourced from Skyscanner and analysed in March 2026.

Why Travel is Getting More Expensive

When it comes to cheap international flights, finding a great deal can be difficult. The recent weakening Aussie dollar has caused endless headaches for prospective travellers looking to satisfy their sense of wanderlust. Fewer Aussies are making their way to the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and many traditional tourism hubs, and it could be getting worse.

Data from earlier this year revealed that Australian visitor numbers to the United States have fallen by 7 per cent compared with the same period last year; the sharpest fall since the COVID pandemic. According to Anita Manfreda and Madalyn Scerri, both senior lecturers in tourism at Torrens University Australia, tighter border scrutiny, aggressive immigration enforcement, and a sharp shift in political tone have made travellers wary.

“Tourism relies on global supply chains, from food to hotel amenities to rental car fleets,“ Manfreda and Scerri said. “Trade war tariffs have raised input costs across the board. Hotels, restaurants, airlines and attractions are passing those higher costs onto customers.“

In October, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the consumer price index (CPI), a report that looks at household spending, the impact of inflation and other economic signposts. While housing remained the major issue, travel costs added further pressure. The report revealed that domestic holiday travel and accommodation rose 3.2 per cent in September, pushed up by strong school holiday demand, while international travel increased 2.7 per cent amid continued appetite for overseas trips, particularly to Europe.

These economic challenges are likely to continue well into the future and with Australia’s limited competition in the airline industry, prices could continue to climb. While train travel remains one alternative, few can fork out the prices for luxury offerings such as The Ghan. The 2024 failure of budget airline Bonza, which had targeted a goal of disrupting the antiquated airline industry, highlighted the difficulties of the current system, but it does appear that change is happening.

The Silver Lining

Earlier this year, Treasurer Jim Chalmers officially gave the green light for Qatar Airways to buy a 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia as part of a strategic alliance. The announcement came after a detailed assessment by the Foreign Investment Review Board, and a draft determination by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) authorised the deal.

Under the agreement, Qatar Airways purchased a 25 per cent stake from US private equity firm Bain Capital, allowing Virgin to operate regular services from some of Australia’s major capital cities to Doha. According to Chrystal Zhang, associate professor of aerospace engineering and aviation at RMIT University, the deal could see more cheap international flights finally hit the market.

“This deal is expected to create 28 new weekly return services to Doha, from Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane,“ Professor Zhang said. “Having additional flights to this hub by Virgin will give travellers many more options for getting around the world.“

Right now, securing a cheap flight to Europe from Sydney or Melbourne, still feels like a challenge, but with greater access to global transport hubs expected to come in the future, things are looking up. So, next time you find yourself wondering what the cheapest flights to Bali are, or what the cheapest airline for international flights is, you might find yourself staring at a mixed Qatar/Virgin website.

Currently, the cheapest flights from Australia are typically short-haul routes across Asia and the Pacific, with Jetstar and AirAsia offering the lowest fares from Perth, Darwin and Melbourne.

Cheapest Flights From Australia FAQ