How Much Does A Trip To The Maldives Cost?

If you are dreaming about having a memorable, relaxing vacation, surrounded by luxury, pristine white-sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters, the Maldives is one of your best destinations. 

Whether you are dreaming about a honeymoon in an all-inclusive Maldives resort or you are thinking about having a less expensive escape, this post will help you prepare to know what a trip to the Maldives is going to cost.  

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Is The Maldives Expensive?

The Maldives is generally considered an expensive destination, especially for tourists aiming for luxury resorts and overwater bungalows, which the country is famous for. Several factors contribute to the cost of a trip to the Maldives:

1. Accommodation: Luxury resorts, particularly those on private islands, tend to be pricey. However, there are budget options available on local islands, which have become more accessible to tourists in recent years.
2. Transport: Getting to and from the islands often involves seaplane transfers or speedboat rides, which can add a significant amount to your travel costs.
3. Food and Dining: If you’re staying at a resort, you’ll likely be dining there as well, where meal prices can be high, especially for international cuisine and alcoholic beverages. Options on local islands might be more affordable.
4. Activities and Excursions: Water sports, diving, snorkeling, and other excursions are popular in the Maldives. While these offer incredible experiences, they can also be expensive.

It’s worth noting that the cost can vary widely depending on the type of accommodation you choose, the time of year you visit (with peak season being more expensive), and how much you decide to do. Budget travel is possible by staying in guesthouses on local islands and eating at local cafes, but the quintessential Maldives luxury experience comes with a higher price tag.

How Much Do Resorts Cost In The Maldives?

With roughly 200 inhabited islands, 90 resort islands, and 900 uninhabited islands, the Maldives offers a great variety of accommodations and a huge variance of resort prices per night. And, no matter where you choose to stay, your vacation in the Maldives will bring you right to the middle of the islands’ beautiful nature. Incredible coral reefs, abundant aquatic life, and idyllic vegetation are some of the things waiting for you in the Maldives. 

High-End Resorts

If you want to stay in a high-end resort, Baros, a stunning, tranquil, hotel, located less than half an hour from Malé, is a fantastic choice. With luxurious rooms, private decks, open-air bathrooms, and outdoor rainfall showers, as well as an infinity pool, a spa, a beach, and many more surprises, Baros promises you natural heaven combined with all the luxury you need to feel like royalty. The high-end resort prices begin at around $ 1, 000 per night, but depend on your stay. 

Constance Moofushi Maldives is another fantastic choice for a similar price. For about $ 900 per night, you are promised a lavish holiday in an upscale all-inclusive resort in the Indian Ocean, on a gorgeous private island, with many luxurious inclusions, like boat excursions, yoga, gym, amazing restaurants, and many others. 

Another perfect choice for those of you who don’t have a limited budget is Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru. You may have to pay around € 1,903 to stay in this luxury resort, located on an island in the Baa Atoll. Whether you choose the gorgeous land villas or you want to enjoy the overwaters bungalows, your vacation is going to be full of relaxing and pampering. If you want to completely spoil yourself, check out the resort’s upgraded villas with a private beach. 

Mid-Cost Resorts

If you want to enjoy the spectacular beauty of Maldives in style, but you don’t want to spend too much of your savings in a few days, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is a fantastic choice. Located on a private island in Kaafu Atoll, a 25-minute speedboat ride from the island of Male, this gorgeous resort offers you the chance to spend romantic moments in its garden and beach villas, as well as in its sensational water bungalows, which have lagoon access and Jacuzzis. The prices for a night in this lovely resort start at $ 254, but like in all cases, it depends on your stay. 

Another budget luxury private resort, located in North Male Atoll is Paradise Island Resort & Spa. With rooms starting at $ 259 per night, this super-private retreat is a perfect place for solo travelers, honeymooners, or families on a budget. The gorgeous beachfront villas and overwater bungalows equipped with state-of-the-art modern amenities, welcoming restaurants, the outdoor pool, and the relaxing spa are only some of the amazing things waiting for you are Paradise Island Resort & Spa. 

If you are traveling with kids, maybe you will find Kurumba more suitable, thanks to its fantastic kid’s club. Also, the high-end seafront resort promises to pamper its guests with 11 different eateries/bars, two outdoor pools and a swanky spa, a gym, and stylish rooms for prices that start at around $ 327 per night. 

Budget Accommodation Ideas

If you want to have the amazing Maldives experience, but you prefer finding your local accommodation, instead of staying in a resort, you should start searching for your favorite one on Airbnb. There are plenty of beautiful apartments, villas, bungalows, and private rooms available and, depending on your dates and preferences, you can pay between $ 25 and $ 100+ per night. 

The apartments available on Airbnb are spread throughout the inhabited islands, so you can find something gorgeous no matter which Maldivian island you want to stay on. 

The Cost of Food, Local Transportation, and Guided Tours

If you are on a budget, you are probably worried about the prices of living in the Maldives. Everything depends on the type of spender you are. For instance, according to other travelers, you should spend around $ 60 daily in the Maldives. 

Though meal prices vary, it seems like you should spend around $ 15-$30 per day on food. Keep in mind that breakfast meals are a bit less expensive than lunches and dinners, and, as you can imagine, street food prices are lower than in sit-down restaurants. 

If you don’t plan to spend all your days relaxing on the beach and indulging in delicious foods, add local transport to the spending list, and expect to pay around $ 7 daily. 

There are plenty of things to do in the Maldives, like snorkeling, scuba diving, sunbathing, swimming, and other outdoor fun activities, but multi-day tours are also a great way to see the highlights of the islands. If you want to enjoy these tours, you have to get ready to spend somewhere between $ 100 and $ 150+ per day, but also to have some amazing fun and discover incredible parts of the Maldives. 

When is the Best Time to visit the Maldives?

No matter when you choose to travel to the Maldives, you are promised to find hot and sunny weather all year round, with average temperatures of 23ºC-31ºC. There is, however, the best time to visit the Maldives, between November and April, when you are welcomed by the dry season.

The high season is between December and March, and the best time to visit this charming place on a budget is between April and June. The weather might not be as amazing as during the dry season, and you will probably encounter rainfall, but the prices are much friendlier than during the peak season. 

How Do You Get Around In The Maldives?

Regarding the price of the plane tickets from the USA to the Maldives, it naturally depends on the dates and the airport you are flying from. You can use Skyscanner to find the best deals across all of the airlines. 

Once you land in Malé International Airport (MLE), you can use either a ferry, seaplane or speedboat to get to your accommodation. Since there are only a few causeways connecting the islands, road vehicles are not the best ways of transportation in the Maldives. 

Running a regular service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the ferries to Malé center leave every 10 minutes for most of the day. If you want something quicker than a ferry and you are going to a resort closer to Malé, opt for a speed boat. For the more far-flung islands, seaplanes are used. Prices depend on the type of transportation you choose and your destination but keep in mind that many hotels and resorts in the Maldives arrange your airport transfers.

More Useful Tips

To make everything easy during your vacation in the Maldives, make sure you have cash with you. There are, however, ATMs in Male and the bigger inhabited islands, and resorts and most guesthouses accept credit cards.  

Also, keep in mind that tipping is different in the Maldives than in the USA. Almost everything has a 10% to 12.5% service tax added, but it’s nice to leave a tip for your room staff, even if leaving a tip is not customary on local islands and at independent restaurants.