The Cheapest Flights to Mexico in 2025

If you’re craving an international vacation in 2025 but don’t want to spend a fortune, Mexico might be your best bet. From the white-sand beaches of Cancun to the cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta’s old town, Mexico offers a rich mix of culture, cuisine and coastline — all without breaking the bank.

Getting there is convenient too. Flights to Mexico are not only shorter than most overseas trips, but also more plentiful, due to new routes.

Still, some flights to Mexico are far cheaper than others. To find the Mexican cities with the cheapest flights, NerdWallet analyzed data provided by Dollar Flight Club, an airfare deals website.

Using airfare data from the 10 largest U.S. airports by passenger volume, analysts identified 21 routes with airfare deals under $400 round-trip.

These deals were identified in an analysis of more than 63,000 economy tickets collected in April 2025 for travel between April 2025 and February 2026. They covered a range of airlines such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Volaris and Southwest Airlines.

Here are those standout deals (sorted by lowest fare):

One major reason for the lower fares is increased competition, driven by airlines adding new routes. For example, Southwest Airlines in March 2025 added new nonstop Saturday flights between Nashville, Tennessee, and Cabo San Lucas, as well as between Sacramento, California, and Puerto Vallarta. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers International Airport will add nonstop flights to Cancun in November 2025, marking its first international route in more than 20 years.

Often it’s the big resort cities that offer both better airfare deals — and more lodging options to fit every budget. Some travelers might head to lesser-known spots like one of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos, but these off-the-beaten-path “magic towns” can be tough to get to, often requiring a flight to a small airport or a long drive once you land.

Here are the cities that consistently offer some of the lowest round-trip prices from major U.S. airports, while also offering tourist-friendly attractions and a range of hotels to accommodate most budgets.

Puerto Vallarta

Set along Mexico’s Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is known for its lively boardwalk (called the Malecon) that runs alongside the beach.

Many tourists stay in an area called Zona Hotelera, which has expansive hotels (many of which are all-inclusive), malls and American chain restaurants. But for a more authentic experience, stay in the area called Zona Romantica. The charming old town is filled with art galleries that line cobblestone streets. Boutique hotels abound, and it’s not difficult to find lodging under $100 per night in this area of the city.

Mexico City

Mexico City is home to the country’s largest airport, creating more route options — and more opportunities to find deals.

Mexico’s bustling capital offers a blend of history, culture and modern attractions. Explore centuries-old sites like the Zocalo and the Templo Mayor, and visit museums like the Museo Frida Kahlo.

One of the best hotels to redeem your points in Mexico City is the Andaz Mexico City Condesa. Andaz is a luxury Hyatt brand, but this outpost is a Category 4, which means it can be booked for as little as 12,000 points, or you could cash in a Hyatt free night award.

Hilton Honors members looking for someplace more off-the-beaten-path might head just outside Mexico City to Hacienda Pena Pobre, from Hilton's partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH). This luxury boutique property near Tlalpan Forest National Park starts at less than $150 per night.

Cancun

Famous for its turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, Cancun is a perennial favorite for American travelers. Many are drawn to its all-inclusive resorts — and many new ones opened in 2024 in or near Cancun, including Hyatt Vivid Grand Island and Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres.

In 2024, Marriott also opened its first-ever luxury all-inclusive resort in Mexico: Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres. This adults-only escape sits on Isla Mujeres, which is a short ferry ride from Cancun.

Beyond the beach resorts, Cancun is a paradise for outdoor adventurers. It serves as a gateway to parks, Mayan ruins and cenotes, which are natural sinkholes in limestone formations where snorkelers and scuba divers can explore.

Airfare to Mexico has edged up slightly — about 2% higher in 2025 compared to 2024. That’s according to Dollar Flight Club, which attributed the increase to factors including rising demand and reduced low-cost carrier capacity.

If you fly with one of those low-cost carriers (that includes budget Mexican carriers like Volaris), calculate the final cost before booking. It might not be as cheap as you think. The least expensive Volaris fares only allow a personal item; a carry-on bag costs extra.

Individual fares can also vary widely depending on when you're planning to travel. The more flexible you are about the day you fly, the more likely you are to find a deal. For the best prices on flights to Mexico, aim to travel during off-peak months.

For most of the country, off-peak months are in the summer, when it’s both hot and rainy. For Cancun, off-peak travel is usually in late fall. Just be aware that this time of year coincides with hurricane season, and storms could disrupt your travel plans — so consider travel insurance or check your credit card's travel protections before booking anything.

While flights to Mexico can be incredibly affordable, don’t overlook cruises as an alternative — and surprisingly cost-effective — way to get there. Sure, you typically won't get the full experience of getting to spend the night there (most cruises typically only arrive around 8 a.m. and require you to be back on the ship around 5 p.m.), it can work if you just want to see Mexico for some of the day.

And cruises to Mexico are become more abundant — and often more affordable than they ever were before. It's common to find cruises that stop in both Mexico and the Western Caribbean sailing out of Florida. Sometimes you can even catch a cruise out of New York (though that'll be a longer, pricier sailing with more days solely at sea). And over on the West Coast, cruises to Mexico are becoming more common, too.

For example, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas began sailing from Los Angeles in June 2025. This marks a major shift in West Coast cruising, as many of Royal Caribbean’s most exciting ships traditionally stick to the Caribbean. With a capacity of just over 4,100 passengers, Ovation is now the largest ship sailing from Los Angeles.

The real surprise is how affordable cruises can be, as you're getting not just travel but also food and board. With the Ovation of the Seas, you can often score a balcony cabin for less than $800 total for two adults on a three-night sailing to Ensenada, Mexico. That breaks down to under $150 per person, per day — and that fare includes your stateroom, unlimited meals (excluding specialty dining), and entertainment like live performances, rock climbing, bumper cars and more.

For Southern Californians especially, cruises from Los Angeles to Mexico may eliminate the need for airfare entirely. The same goes for Floridians traveling out of ports like Miami, Port Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale. And hey, even New Yorkers can get to Mexico without a flight by boarding a cruise.