A Maldives trip is without doubt one of the most luxurious issues you’ll be able to consider. The traditional picture of the Maldives is a gaggle of gorgeous personal islands within the Indian Ocean with overwater bungalows, deluxe pace boat transfers, and scuba diving excursions. The Maldives is without doubt one of the most well-known honeymoon locations, and contemplating all of this, it’s no surprise why individuals surprise, ‘Is the Maldives costly for a vacation’. Estimated prices can rocket into tens of hundreds of {dollars}.
But, these are among the hottest islands visited on the earth – so how precisely do individuals price range for this journey of a lifetime? On this information, we’ll break down the common Maldives journey value and how one can tweak your trip to finest suit your price range.
Maldives Journey Price in 2023
Are you prepared for a full Maldives journey value breakdown? Let’s actually unpack how a lot it prices to make a journey to the Maldives. It’s simple to jot down off price range locations as simply extremely costly. Nonetheless, with a correct understanding of the price range breakdown, the Maldives is appropriate for all journey kinds.
Price of Maldives Airfare

There’s no means round it; aircraft tickets to the Maldives are often costly. In fact, the query of ‘how a lot does it value to fly to the Maldives’ does differ relying on just a few components. As an illustration, the place you’re flying from, if you end up flying, and if you happen to can snatch any reductions from frequent flyer applications. As an entire, although, these are probably the most aggressive flight costs it’s best to anticipate to fly to Malé Worldwide Airport from totally different locations around the globe:
- $1,000 spherical journey economic system flight tickets from the US
- $800 spherical journey economic system flight tickets from the UK
- $800 spherical journey economic system flight tickets from Australia
- $500 spherical journey economic system flight tickets from Dubai
The value of flight tickets to the Maldives can differ considerably relying on the place you fly from. You should utilize these tips to price range on your fundamental worldwide flights. If you need a less expensive expertise, chances are you’ll need to think about including a detour to the Maldives onto an present vacation to reap the benefits of cheaper flight routes.
Do not forget that you’ll seemingly want home flights or airport transfers on prime of your fundamental worldwide airfare. There are 4 to 5 main worldwide airports within the Maldives (with Malé Worldwide Airport being the most well-liked) and roughly eight home airports. Nonetheless, since there are round 1,200 islands within the Maldives, chances are you’ll end up on resort chartered seaplanes, too – particularly if you happen to ebook a luxurious trip. Seaplane transfers are the norm if you happen to select a luxurious Maldives resort. In any other case, there are nonetheless a number of airways for home flights, and journey insurance coverage ought to cowl you for any flight hiccups.
It’s best to price range an additional $300 for home flights within the Maldives and verify switch insurance policies on your resort beforehand.
Maldives Lodging Costs

The Maldives gives loads of luxurious resorts, and that’s no secret. It is named the vacation spot for these craving an all-inclusive bundle. Maldives resorts have a fame for being costly, which isn’t unjustified, particularly if you’d like a romantic getaway to an overwater bungalow with personal plunge swimming pools. There’s a purpose why it is without doubt one of the finest honeymoon locations. Assume all-inclusive meal plans, an infinity pool, full board, room service, and biking to your bungalow aesthetically on a good looking picket boardwalk – this model of the Maldives is a spot of desires. Many resorts provide this expertise, together with the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and The 4 Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru. Nonetheless, this doesn’t imply you gained’t discover a low cost journey bundle.
How a lot lodging within the Maldives will value relies on your journey fashion and while you go to. In any case, you could find the very best offers in low-season intervals. As an entire, although, these are the charges it’s best to price range for per lodging sort:
- Guesthouse: $80+ per night time
- Double Room: $120+ per night time
- Luxurious Double Room: $200 per night time
- Luxurious Seashore Villa: $1,000+ per night time
- Overwater Bungalow: $2,000+ per night time

As you’ll be able to see, the kind of lodging you select on your journey to the Maldives can massively influence your total Maldives journey value. This may very well be your most vital expense, so if you’d like a budget-friendly journey, go for a guesthouse or double room keep in a lowkey resort. These lodging varieties often provide an inexpensive journey bundle, a half-board meal plan, and a non-public pool. Equally, think about lesser-known resorts if you’d like a luxurious seaside villa or overwater bungalow. These common costs can rise to $2000 an evening at the most well-liked resorts.
Maldives Transportation Prices
As talked about earlier, it’s clever to ask ‘how a lot does it value’ when contemplating airport transfers. The Maldives has greater than 1,200 islands, and whether or not you need airport transfers or day journeys, you’ll need to think about transportation sooner or later when calculating your Maldives journey value. The excellent news is that native transportation doesn’t need to be the costliest a part of your journey to the Maldives. Let’s break issues down.

Not factoring in your spherical journey airfare and preliminary airport transfers – be that home flights or shuttle providers on pace boats – it’s best to enable round $100 for transport. That is so low as a result of if you happen to ebook a day tour, transportation will seemingly be included. Moreover, most resorts provide a complimentary shuttle service to close by cities and busier islands, particularly if they’re set in a distant location.
When you rigorously select your resort and ebook primarily guided excursions and day excursions, the one time you will want to think about native transportation is if you happen to resolve to go out independently. Or if you happen to select to go to a number of islands within the Maldives, you’ll be able to keep just a few nights on every.
For these cases, you’ll be able to catch the general public ferry to chop prices, as native ferries are way more budget-friendly than personal transport choices. Or you’ll be able to splurge on a extra environment friendly quick boat journey by pace boat. The pace boats run extra reliably in off-season, whereas native ferries are an amazing thought in peak season when the climate is nice. The typical value for these transport choices is $5 for the native ferry and $35+ for the pace boat switch. So, you’ll be able to clearly see why you gained’t want an unlimited public transportation price range. On particular person islands, you will get round at no cost or extraordinarily cheaply on foot or by bike.
Maldives Meals Price

Nothing screams ‘enjoyable trip’ like having an all-inclusive foods and drinks plan. Most resorts embody a full board for individuals who select to splurge on a luxurious resort or resort, which means you’ll pay nothing for meals or drink when you arrive. That is a method of wiping out one of many vital journey prices. Many individuals discover it less expensive to ebook all-inclusive, particularly in the event that they aren’t planning lengthy day journeys requiring them to eat out and about.
Nonetheless, for individuals who haven’t booked full or half board, how a lot does it value to eat and drink within the Maldives? Meals payments can shortly add up, significantly in case you are taking a household journey with many mouths to feed.
Let’s break issues down by journey fashion. A price range journey fashion includes groceries, road meals distributors, and lowkey cafes and eateries. A mid-range journey fashion includes all of the above, plus one or two fancy meals at luxurious eating places. And at last, a luxurious journey fashion includes predominantly fancy meals at luxurious eating places. That is what it’s best to price range per day, relying in your fashion:
- Finances: $25
- Mid-range: $50
- Luxurious: $100
As a tough information, an area restaurant meal ought to value round $10, a luxurious meal out can value from $20 to $100, and road meals prices round $5 per meal.
Price of Excursions and Actions within the Maldives

There are such a lot of issues to do within the Maldives, and why go to a rustic if you happen to miss out on experiencing its finest qualities and sights? It’s best to price range round $500 on excursions and actions within the Maldives as an absolute minimal. The typical snorkeling tour prices round $40, whereas island hopping and sundown cruises value greater than $100. You need to expertise superb issues like scuba diving and island hopping round native islands in your Maldives trip. Undoubtedly, think about as massive a price range as you’ll be able to for actions and excursions into your total Maldives value; issues like diving excursions and immersions in native tradition give you a very totally different expertise of this tropical paradise.
To chop prices, you’ll be able to at all times carry your personal snorkeling gear. It’s also value noting that issues like sundown fishing experiences can value extra upfront however work out cheaper when touring to the Maldives in a gaggle. Many excursions function on availability and group dimension foundation, which means it isn’t essentially probably the most budget-friendly vacation spot for the solo traveler, who will seemingly face further single complement charges. Bear in mind this when planning your journey and price range further on your total Maldives value.
General Maldives Journey Price

Phew. Now we have lined lots of floor. General, the principle prices to contemplate on your journey to the Maldives are airfare, lodging, and excursions and actions. You too can take a look at our Maldives journey ideas for extra inspiration.
To present you a last abstract and whole, let’s take a fast take a look at the common Maldives journey value.
Airfare: $1,300 spherical journey economic system flights from the US, together with home flight transfers
Airfare is one in all your vital bills when visiting the Maldives. The price of spherical journey flights is round $1,000 from the US, plus roughly $300 in crucial home flights or related airport transfers to your resort or resort’s island.
Lodging: $80 per night time on a price range, $200 per night time mid-range, and $1500 per night time for luxurious
These are the common charges per night time. Count on $80 per night time for a guesthouse or primary resort room choice, $200 per night time for an upscale double room – doubtlessly with ocean views – and over $1,500 for a luxurious ocean villa or overwater bungalow. Luxurious resort costs can rise as excessive as or generally greater than $20,000 per night time.
Transport: $100, not together with airport transfers and any home flights
If you’re staying at a resort that provides shuttle providers or are reserving guided day excursions, likelihood is you gained’t have to spend on public transportation. Hold $100 apart simply in case, although, which ought to cowl a roundtrip pace boat switch and round 4 public ferry providers.
Meals: $25 per day in case you are on a price range, half-board, or full-board
If you’re on a price range and self-catered, sticking to $25 per day is straightforward. The typical road meals meal within the Maldives is simply $5, and native eating places have tons of choices below $10.
On half board, you’ll be able to simply price range a lunch at $25, even if you happen to select an upscale restaurant. And in case you are on full board, you’ll barely have to eat out, so $25 per day gained’t be a difficulty.
Excursions and Actions: $500 minimal
It’s best to price range $500 at least for excursions and actions within the Maldives. This price range ought to enable for 3-4 days of actions, with an additional price range required for extra luxurious experiences like helicopter rides and fishing excursions.
Cash Saving Ideas

With all that in thoughts, you could possibly lower your expenses and knock off a few of that estimated Maldives journey value. If that’s the case, this part is the place you’ll discover all the highest methods and secrets and techniques to cut back the price of your journey to the Maldives. Why must you pay greater than you must? Journey is for everyone. So, if you wish to make your Maldives journey value only a bit extra financially accessible, these are the ten issues to avoid wasting when visiting the Maldives.
1. Go to within the Low Season
Visiting within the off-season is an unbelievable hack for the hardy, non-fair-weather vacationers. The off-season has low cost resort charges and even free upgrades and switch offers as motels attempt to entice vacationers to fill their empty rooms. The one catch? The off-season is the wettest interval to go to the Maldives. Whereas it’s nonetheless heat, you’ll be able to anticipate an hour or two of rain most days. It’s nonetheless value visiting the Maldives within the off-season, particularly if you happen to can keep longer or work remotely. In actual fact, the moist climate could make it an much more romantic vacation spot.
The off-season runs from Could to November within the Maldives, with the official monsoon season from Could to August. Could till August is the rainiest time to go to the Maldives, with August to November nonetheless getting common showers. August to November is your most secure wager, and you continue to get cheaper charges than excessive season.
2. Select Between Half Board and Full Board Rigorously
The age-old query of how costly the Maldives is massively stems from individuals shopping by the luxurious resorts with all-inclusive packages. And on the subject of taking a look at packages, it’s best to take note of half board vs. full board. Half board usually consists of breakfast and dinner, whereas full board consists of three meals every day.
Contemplate your consuming fashion and the actions you can be collaborating in. Will you be going out on a lot of day journeys? Do you need to pattern a lot of native delicacies? When you answered sure to these questions, selecting a half-board choice is probably going extra economical – particularly as you’ll be lacking lunch on the resort anyway.
3. Skip the Well-liked Islands – at Least for an Lodging Base
It’s best to actually skip the well-known islands in case you are budget-conscious. The native islands are a lot lighter in your pocket and have extra various lodging, not simply luxurious resort and resort choices. Plus, you’ll spend extra sustainably and contribute extra to economies off the overwhelmed vacationer monitor. On the well-known islands, most of your spending will get taken straight again into the revenue of company offshore corporations and worldwide chains.
4. Don’t Neglect Transfers
On the identical time, keep in mind switch prices. Discovering barely cheaper lodging on a distant island is all effectively and good. Nonetheless, it’s best to do not forget that you might want to fund getting there. The preferred transfers within the Maldives are through seaplane, speedboats, public ferries, and personal planes. Contemplate your choices, and at all times reference and examine the ‘easy methods to get right here’ sections when researching motels.
5. Keep away from Change Prices
When you journey repeatedly, it’s best to have already got an excellent journey credit score or debit card. Among the best issues you could find on a credit score or debit card is a no trade price cost. Many playing cards provide low expenses while you use your card abroad, however having no cost or trade payment is the easiest way ahead. Try card corporations akin to Monzo, and if you happen to nonetheless want to search out your excellent card match, don’t delay your search. Hit the bottom working within the Maldives and set your self up for saving success by not taking over any pointless charges.
6. Verify Out Free Actions
Subsequent, it’s best to at all times (at all times, at all times) analysis free actions while you need to minimize prices on a visit. And if you wish to minimize your Maldives journey value, this is without doubt one of the finest options that requires minimal sacrifices in the best way of leisure. You might window store at markets, carry your personal snorkeling gear to get pleasure from cost-free snorkeling, or plan a sundown picnic expertise on the seaside. If you’re staying at a resort, see what actions they provide at no cost. Who says you’ll be able to’t have a enjoyable itinerary on a price range?
7. Join Rewards
Whether or not you bag rewards for a resort chain or frequent flyer factors, it’s best to at all times use reward techniques. Reward applications are slightly like penny falls video games in an arcade; they construct up all of the sudden, and also you all of the sudden get a payout. However if you happen to journey repeatedly, it’s effectively value maintaining in thoughts. As an illustration, Reserving.com has a tiered loyalty program system that may bag reductions and upgrades at collaborating properties.
8. Take the Public Ferry
One good means to save cash within the Maldives is to take a public ferry slightly than a non-public or speedboat switch. Sure, it’s going to seemingly take longer, and also you gained’t be assured as snug a crossing. However it may well efficiently allow you to minimize prices. If you wish to keep away from spending extortionate personal switch charges, it is without doubt one of the finest Maldives journey hacks. Public ferries run steadily between most locations, with personal islands being the slight exception to this rule.
9. Don’t Store for Souvenirs on Male
Avoiding memento purchasing in Male would possibly sound overly cautious. Nonetheless, this island is without doubt one of the Maldives’ most touristy, and it has the best memento costs. To chop prices, attempt to purchase souvenirs from extra native islands. You may take a day journey to extra distant islands or select an lodging choice in one of many much less touristy areas within the Maldives. Both means, these quieter islands are the place it’s best to prioritize shopping for souvenirs. The revenue goes to totally different communities, offering extra sustainable tourism, and also you lower your expenses on memento costs.
10. Guesthouses Slightly than Luxurious Resorts
Guesthouses are sometimes extra enjoyable and genuine locations to remain within the Maldives. When you aren’t determined for the overwater bungalow expertise, think about staying in a guesthouse to cut back your Maldives journey value. Guesthouses often provide half board and generally even cooking services. They are typically genuine lodging selections run and owned by island residents, and for solo vacationers particularly, it may be the proper thought for a sociable place to stick with a supportive ambiance. And even if you happen to simply need a quick overwater bungalow expertise, you could possibly at all times spend one night time in a luxurious resort earlier than heading off to a guesthouse on a distinct island.
To Conclude

The Maldives is definitely appropriate for a reasonably spectacular vary of price range varieties. It isn’t only a high-budget vacation spot for luxury-seeking vacationers. Nonetheless, you’ll have a improbable time if that’s what you need. Have a good looking vacation within the Maldives, and put money into some day journeys and cultural actions – regardless of how aesthetic and cozy your resort is.