Which Paris airport is actually cheapest?
Ticket prices can be misleading. A €60 fare that becomes €120 after baggage, seat selection, and a €15 airport transfer isn't cheaper than an €80 all-in fare. Here's how CDG and Orly compare on real trip cost — the number that actually matters.
Which airport is best?
CDG often wins on total cost. Transfer is cheaper (€12 RER B vs €15 Orlyval+RER). More airline competition means lower base fares. And with direct RER access, you save time as well as money. The combination of lower transfer cost and competitive airfares makes CDG the value champion for most Paris destinations.
Transfer €12, direct RER B, more airline competition
Orly's airfares can sometimes be lower — especially on European budget airlines. But the Orlyval premium (€9.30 of the €15 transfer) erodes that advantage. And once you add baggage fees (which budget airlines charge), the apparent savings often disappear. For Montparnasse, Orly wins — but for most other destinations, CDG is cheaper.
Transfer €15, Orlyval premium €9.30, budget airlines may charge for bags
Transfer comparison
CDG is usually the cheaper total journey despite sometimes having higher ticket prices. The €12 direct transfer beats Orly's €15 shuttle-dependent connection. But for Montparnasse — where Orlybus costs only €11 — Orly can win. Use the Decision Engine to see the real numbers for your specific trip.
Compare real cost CDG vs ORY → →How we determine this
This guide is generated from the Travelvus Decision Engine using verified airport datasets, destination transfer profiles, and door-to-door comparison methodology. Recommendations are data-driven — not editorial opinion. Transfer costs are illustrative EUR values. Airfares are illustrative planning estimates.
Last reviewed: July 2026