Anglenos gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may be surprised to learn that their hometown ranks among the tournament’s most affordable host cities.
While many travelers assume L.A. will be one of the tournament’s most expensive destinations, new travel data suggests the City of Angels is actually among the more affordable host cities for fans planning a World Cup getaway.
According to a new analysis from Skyscanner, Los Angeles ranks as the sixth most affordable host city for the 2026 World Cup, with the average three-night trip costing approximately $1,272 per person.
That places L.A. ahead of several other major U.S. host cities, including Dallas, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.
The 10 most affordable World Cup host cities
For travelers looking to compare destinations, here are the host cities ranked from least to most expensive based on average travel costs during the tournament:
- Guadalajara, Mexico — $856 per person
- Monterrey, Mexico — $926 per person
- San Francisco Bay Area, California — $1,045 per person
- Houston, Texas — $1,056 per person
- Mexico City, Mexico — $1,189 per person
- Los Angeles, California — $1,272 per person
- Dallas, Texas — $1,290 per person
- Kansas City, Missouri — $1,396 per person
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — $1,460 per person
- Atlanta, Georgia — $1,554 per person
Among U.S. destinations, Los Angeles ranks fourth overall, making it a more budget-friendly option than many fans may expect.
Why Los Angeles made the list
Although Los Angeles is known for luxury hotels and sky-high real estate prices, airfare remains relatively competitive compared to many other World Cup destinations.
Researchers found that while hotel rates increase during the tournament period, average flight prices help keep overall travel costs lower than cities such as Philadelphia and Atlanta.
The city’s size also works in visitors’ favor. With accommodations spread across dozens of neighborhoods, travelers have more opportunities to find deals than they might in smaller host cities with limited hotel inventory.
Here’s how they found the information
To compile the rankings, Skyscanner analyzed average one-way flight prices and nightly hotel rates across every 2026 World Cup host city.
Researchers examined travel data from May through August 2026 and calculated the cost of a typical three-night trip by combining three hotel nights and a round-trip flight based on two one-way fares. The final rankings were based on average prices during June and July, when the tournament will be taking place.
Los Angeles may not be the cheapest city hosting the 2026 World Cup, but it offers a compelling combination of affordability, soccer culture, and iconic world-famous attractions.
