Budget · Maldives
Maldives on a budget
What a trip to Maldives really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alexey Potov - Noblige, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Maldives is very expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $70–$130 per person per day on a tight budget, $250–$500 mid-range and $800–$3,000 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $70–$130 a day
- Mid-range
- $250–$500 a day
- Luxury
- $800–$3,000 a day
- Local currency
- MVR
- Free sights
- 3
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $70–$130 | $210–$390 | $350–$650 | $490–$910 |
| Mid-range | $250–$500 | $750–$1,500 | $1,250–$2,500 | $1,750–$3,500 |
| Luxury | $800–$3,000 | $2,400–$9,000 | $4,000–$15,000 | $5,600–$21,000 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Maldives, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Tea and short eats in a Malé café | about MVR 25–60 |
| Public ferry between local islands | about US$2–5 |
| Shared speedboat Malé–Maafushi | about US$20–35 each way |
| Guesthouse double room on a local island | about US$50–120 a night |
| Main course at a resort restaurant | about US$40–80 |
| Return seaplane transfer per person | about US$500–1,200 |
Money-saving tips
- Pick a resort in North or South Malé Atoll reachable by speedboat to avoid the cost of seaplane transfers.
- Compare meal plans before booking: half-board or all-inclusive is usually cheaper than paying per meal at a resort.
- Stay on a local island and visit a resort on a day pass to get a taste of both for less.
- Travel in May, June, September or October for the lowest resort rates.
- US dollars are accepted at resorts and most guesthouses; bring small notes for tips.
- Join shared excursions from local islands rather than booking private boats.
Free things to do
- Old Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy) — Built in 1658, this mosque is made from blocks of coral stone carved with intricate Arabic calligraphy and patterns, a rare surviving example of Maldivian coral architecture.
- Malé fish market — On Boduthakurufaanu Magu facing the harbour, fishermen unload skipjack and yellowfin tuna from their dhonis and cut them on tiled counters in the afternoon.
- Artificial Beach, Malé — Malé's man-made swimming beach on the east side of the island is where locals swim, play football and gather in the evenings.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for budget and culture
Malé
Dense, compact capital of mosques, markets and motorbikes
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and families
Hulhumalé
Reclaimed island next to the airport with a long public beach and transit hotels
$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
Maafushi
The original local-island guesthouse hub in South Malé Atoll
Eating well for less
- Mas huni — Local cafés in Malé and on inhabited islands; many resorts serve it at breakfast if you ask.
- Roshi — Served at almost every local meal and at resort Maldivian breakfasts.
- Hedhikaa — Tea shops (hotaa) in Malé and on local islands, especially in the late afternoon.
- Kulhi boakibaa — Malé tea shops and bakeries; it is also a favourite at celebrations.
Getting around for less
Getting around the Maldives means boats and planes: speedboats to resorts near Malé, seaplanes and domestic flights to more distant atolls, and slow but cheap public ferries between local islands. Islands themselves are small enough to walk around.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Maldives cost?
About $1,250–$2,500 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $350–$650 on a tight budget.
+Is Maldives expensive?
It is very expensive for international visitors. Pick a resort in North or South Malé Atoll reachable by speedboat to avoid the cost of seaplane transfers.
+How much money do I need per day in Maldives?
Roughly $70–$130 on a budget and $250–$500 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Maldives?
Usually in May–June and September–October.