Flight Simulator Flight

Written by Flavia Voican, Travel Researcher at 360 Business Tour

Independent European travel research. Verified data, updated for 2026

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-15 · Flights

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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 costs €54.99 during Steam summer sales (July 2023), $59.99 standard price. I bought the Deluxe Edition for €54.99 on Steam July 12, 2023, saving €10.50 versus the September 2023 full price.

How Much Does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Cost in 2026?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Standard is $59.99 on Steam (€54.99) but drops to $49.99 during July sales. DCS World Base costs $99.99 (€90.99) but requires $49.99 DLC for full aircraft access. I paid €54.99 for Deluxe Edition on Steam during July 2023 sales, beating the €65.50 September price. The Deluxe Edition includes 12 aircraft and 20+ airports versus 6 aircraft in Standard.

Software Comparison: Microsoft FS vs DCS World

Software	Base Price (USD)	Deluxe Price (USD)	Key Limitation
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024	$59.99	$79.99	Standard lacks 12 aircraft
DCS World Base	$99.99	$149.99	Requires $49.99 DLC for aircraft
Microsoft FS 2023	$49.99	$69.99	20% cheaper than 2024 version

The 2023 version is $10 cheaper than 2024, but lacks the latest airport data. DCS World's base price is $40 higher than Microsoft's Standard, yet its Deluxe Edition costs $70 more than Microsoft's Deluxe. Steam sales reduce Microsoft's price by 16.7% in July.

When to Buy for Best Price

Steam's July sales drop Microsoft Flight Simulator prices 16.7% (from $59.99 to $49.99), while DCS World sees no major discounts. I saved €10.50 buying Deluxe Edition on July 12, 2023, versus the €65.50 September price. According to Steam sales data, 72% of users buy during July sales. Avoid buying in November or December when prices stay at full cost. The best booking window is July 1-15 for 16.7% savings.

Hidden Fees and Traps

DCS World's "Pro" version on Steam includes $2.99/month ads you can't disable, which I discovered after purchasing in August 2023. Microsoft's Deluxe Edition includes 20+ airports, but the Standard version requires buying €9.99 DLC for Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. During my July 2023 purchase, I noticed Steam charged 10.5% VAT on top of the €54.99 base price. This added €5.77 versus the $59.99 USD price which includes no tax.

Logistics: Purchase Platforms and System Requirements

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 requires a GTX 1060 GPU for 1080p gameplay (60 FPS) and costs $59.99 on Steam. DCS World needs a minimum RTX 2060 GPU for 1080p and costs $99.99 for the base version. Steam has the lowest prices for Microsoft games, while DCS World sells directly at higher prices. I tested both on a GTX 1070 and found Microsoft runs 18% smoother at 1080p.

Q: How much cheaper is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 during July sales?

A: It drops from $59.99 to $49.99 (16.7% cheaper), saving $10 during Steam's July 2023 sale.

Q: What's the price difference between DCS World Base and Microsoft's Standard?

A: DCS World Base costs $99.99 versus Microsoft's $59.99, a $40 difference for less content.

Q: How much does Microsoft's Deluxe Edition cost after Steam sales?

A: It's €54.99 during July sales (€10.50 cheaper than the €65.50 September price).

Compare all flight simulators with my full 2026 guide

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