If it were 1986, the cheapest Air Jordan would be a deadstock pair of the Jordan 1 at a local mom-and-pop shop.

Today, however, acquiring unworn, high-quality Jordans for under $65 USD is improbable, if at all possible. Yet, participating in the most successful athlete-specific line of all-time can be done at a (relatively) affordable level.

Adult sizes of the most-coveted retros are typically priced at $190 USD, although the ever-popular Jordan 1 High sells at retail for $170 USD.

Kids’ iterations of the Jordan 3 and Jordan 4, for example, range between $60 USD (Toddler) and $140 USD (Grade School). Special Edition, or SE, pairs of these same silhouettes are sometimes priced $10 USD or $20 USD higher.

‘Cheap’ and ‘Jordans’ may seem oxymoronic, but [they’re out there].

You just have to know where to look. Luck also helps.

Air Jordan 1 Low

The Jordan 1 Low is the least expensive (read: cheapest) sneaker within the Air Jordan catalog.

General releases of the lifestyle-oriented sneaker retail for $90 USD. With news of the silhouette returning to its original, 1985-form throughout Spring 2021, pricing may see an increase, but should still fall well-below the Jordan 11 ($200 USD), which is currently the most-expensive model in the 34-sneaker line.

In case you got unlucky on the Nike SNKRS app and weren’t able to secure a given pair at launch, your best bet would be to redeem yourself on the after-market. A brief look on Stadium Goods or similar platforms, however, may discourage you given how resale prices frequently seek double and more a sneaker’s retail value.

Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Quai54’

As Business Insider has reported, Cowen & Co has estimated that the sneaker resale market is worth $2 billion, and on-track to increase to $6 billion by 2025.

So are you out-of-luck?

Yes – if you’re looking for highly-coveted, limited Jordans in brand-new condition for or around retail. But if you don’t mind owning pre-worn and/or less-popular pairs, the secondhand market is laden with gems and “steals”.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG

Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Low Cq4277 001

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG

As with any investment, it’s smart to know what you’re getting into. Fake Jordans are still rampant on the after-market, having gotten so close in quality to genuine pairs that some have been approved by sneaker authenticators. While there’s no sure-way of confirming whether or not a pair is “real” other than buying it from the brand itself, the Internet is full of resources to assist you in your after-market endeavors.

“Cheap” and “Jordans” may seem oxymoronic, but buying during sales, leveraging current pairs in a trade, and scouring well-established or local after-market communities may prove “cheap Jordans’” validity. Sometimes, all it takes is simply getting lucky.

Collaborative and special releases, however, may be off-limits due to their scarcity and hype.

Feeling lucky? Check out all the upcoming Jordan release dates.

Written by

Jovani Hernandez, Editor

Jovani Hernandez joined Sneaker News in December 2019. He’s covered breaking news about adidas Yeezy and interviewed Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky amongst his 5,800 posts. A sub-5-hour-marathoner, he now enjoys running sneakers the most, but fondly reminisces about Nike Basketball and Sportswear from 2007 to 2014.