Costs & Budget
The Maldives have a reputation for being prohibitively expensive — and yes, a resort can blow the budget. But since the opening of local islands to tourists (2009), the Maldives are also affordable for average earners.
Daily budget per person
| Style | $/Day | €/Day | Accommodation | Food |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 60–100 | 55–90 | Guesthouse on a local island | Local restaurants |
| Mid-range | 100–200 | 90–180 | Boutique guesthouse / 3★ hotel | Mix of local & guesthouse |
| Comfort | 200–500 | 180–450 | 4★ resort / premium guesthouse | Half-board resort |
| Luxury | 500–1,500 | 450–1,350 | 5★ overwater villa | All-inclusive resort |
| Ultra-luxury | 1,500+ | 1,350+ | Private island villa | Private butler & chef |
What costs what? (Guidelines 2025/26)
| Item | Local Island | Resort |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch | 5–10 $ | 25–60 $ |
| Dinner | 8–15 $ | 40–120 $ |
| Water (1.5 l) | 1 $ | 5–8 $ |
| Beer | Not available | 8–15 $ |
| Cocktail | Not available | 15–25 $ |
| Snorkeling trip | 25–40 $ | 50–100 $ |
| Dolphin cruise | 25–35 $ | 60–100 $ |
| Whale shark tour | 60–80 $ | 100–150 $ |
| Dive (1 tank) | 50–70 $ | 80–120 $ |
| Speedboat transfer (airport) | 25–40 $/person | Included in price or 150–400 $ |
Hidden Costs
- Green Tax: 6 $ per person/night (in resorts and guesthouses, charged additionally)
- Service Charge: 10% on all resort bills, plus 16% GST (Goods & Services Tax)
- Seaplane Transfer: 300–600 $ per person (round trip) for remote resorts — often the largest single item!
- Excursions in the resort: Snorkeling, diving, sunset cruise — all extras that add up
💡 Tipp
All-inclusive packages in resorts sound expensive, but they almost always pay off. Those who eat and drink à la carte can quickly spend $200–300 per day just on food and drinks in a 5-star resort. All-inclusive eliminates surprises.
Sample Calculations: 10 Days Maldives
Three concrete budget examples for 10 days in the Maldives (per person, excluding flight):
Budget Option: Only Local Islands
| Item | Price | Total (10 Days) |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse (double room, shared) | 25–40 $/night | 250–400 $ |
| Food (3 meals) | 15–25 $/day | 150–250 $ |
| Transfers (speedboat) | 3–4 transfers | 80–120 $ |
| Excursions (5 pieces) | 25–80 $/excursion | 150–300 $ |
| Green Tax | 6 $/night | 60 $ |
| Miscellaneous (SIM, souvenirs) | — | 50–100 $ |
| TOTAL | 740–1,230 $ |
Combo Option: 6 Nights Local + 4 Nights Resort
| Item | Price | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse (6 nights) | 50 $/night | 300 $ |
| Resort 4★ (4 nights, HB) | 300 $/night | 1,200 $ |
| Food (6 days local + 4 days HB) | — | 200 $ |
| Transfers | — | 200–400 $ |
| Excursions (4 pieces) | — | 200 $ |
| Green Tax + Taxes | — | 120 $ |
| TOTAL | 2,220–2,420 $ |
Luxury Option: Only 5★ Resort (All-Inclusive)
| Item | Price | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 5★ Resort, Overwater Villa, AI | 800–1,500 $/night | 8,000–15,000 $ |
| Seaplane Transfer | 400–600 $/person R/T | 400–600 $ |
| Spa Treatments (3x) | 150–300 $/treatment | 450–900 $ |
| Excursions (3 pieces) | 100–200 $/excursion | 300–600 $ |
| Green Tax + Taxes | — | 250–400 $ |
| TOTAL | 9,400–17,500 $ |
The best savings tips
- Travel in the off-season (May–October): Resorts lower prices by 30–50%, flights are cheaper, and the manta season begins. The weather is not bad — just different.
- Use public ferries: Instead of speedboats (25–40 $), take the state ferry (2–4 $). Takes longer, but saves a lot. Schedule: mtcc.com.mv. Not on Fridays!
- Domestic flight instead of seaplane: For southern atolls, a domestic flight (150–200 $) is often cheaper than a seaplane (300–500 $) — and flies even after dark.
- Book guesthouse with half-board: Breakfast + dinner at the guesthouse is almost always cheaper than eating à la carte.
- Don't buy water in the resort: 1.5 liters of water cost 5–8 $ in the resort, 0.50 $ in the local shop. Fill your own bottle in resorts (many offer this).
- Book excursions through local providers: Resorts charge 50–100% more for identical excursions. Book directly on local islands, ask the concierge on resort islands.
- Early booking discounts: Resorts offer the best prices 6–12 months in advance, especially for the high season. Last-minute doesn't work well in the Maldives.
- Combine Maldives with Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is cheaper and culturally fascinating. 1 week Sri Lanka + 1 week Maldives is the perfect combo. Colombo → Malé: 1h flight, from 100 $.
