Life in Australia isn’t getting any cheaper. After paying all your bills – rent, food, petrol, you name it – there’s barely anything left for your piggy bank to gobble up for fun things like future travel. But don’t fear if you’re in dire need of an international holiday this year. There are plenty of epic, underrated spots where you can get more bang for your buck than ever before.
Global travel platform Skyscanner has crunched the numbers to reveal the ten cheapest international destinations to fly to from Australia in 2025. The rankings are based on the places that recorded the biggest airfare price drops in 2024, with the top ten featuring a mix of Aussie favourites and underrated gems.
Australians have long been obsessed with Thailand, famous for its tropical beaches, ancient ruins, pristine beaches, crazy nightlife and, of course, delicious pad thai. While most Aussies head to hotspots like Bangkok, Phuket and Ko Samui, it’s worth setting your sights on the province of Krabi instead. This coastal gem earned the title of the most budget-friendly place to fly from Australia right now. Airfares have dropped by a mega 34 per cent in the past year, with the cheapest return flights currently going for less than $450 on Skyscanner. Once on land, you can spend your hard-earned dollars exploring the region’s breathtaking coral reefs, mystical underwater caves, lush mangrove forests and impressive limestone cliffs.
Belfast in Northern Ireland ranked as the second best value holiday destination to fly to from Australia in 2025. Renowned for its Titanic museum, this bustling city is in prime position to explore the surrounding countryside – we’re talking the Giant’s Causeway and even a Game of Thrones tour, just a short drive away. Airfares to Belfast plunged by 26 per cent, a price dip shared with Madrid and Budapest, which took out third and fourth place, respectively.
Given Australia’s enduring love affair with Japan, we’re happy to see one of its lesser-known islands take fifth place. You can snag Okinawa return flights for around $800 off-peak and spend your leftover budget eating as much ramen, sushi and okonomiyaki as your belly allows. Can’t afford a trip right now? How about hitting up one of the best Japanese restaurants in Australia instead?
The 10 cheapest places to fly from Australia in 2025:
- Krabi, Thailand – 34 per cent drop
- Belfast, Northern Ireland – 26 per cent drop
- Madrid, Spain – 26 per cent drop
- Budapest, Hungary – 26 per cent drop
- Okinawa, Japan – 25 per cent drop
- Lyon, France – 25 per cent drop
- Chicago, USA – 25 per cent drop
- Vientiane, Laos – 23 per cent drop
- Bogotá, Colombia – 21 per cent drop
- Reykjavik, Iceland – 19 per cent drop