Living in the Maldives

The everyday side of life here: finding a place to rent, healthcare and insurance, phones and internet, schools, and the local laws and customs worth knowing.

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Renting a flat in Malé or Hulhumalé: what expats need to know

Where to live, what affects rent, deposits and advance payments, rent in dollars versus rufiyaa, what to check in a lease, and how to avoid common problems.

Reviewed 13 October 2026

Healthcare in the Maldives for expats: hospitals, insurance and medicals

How healthcare works for foreigners in the Maldives: hospitals in Malé and the atolls, why private insurance matters, work permit medicals, pharmacies and emergencies.

Reviewed 13 October 2026

SIM cards, eSIMs and internet in the Maldives: Dhiraagu vs Ooredoo

The two mobile operators, tourist SIMs and eSIMs at the airport, what you need to register, home broadband for residents, coverage on islands and money-saving tips.

Reviewed 13 October 2026

Laws and customs in the Maldives every foreigner should know

Alcohol and pork, what you can't bring in, dress codes on local islands and in Malé, religion, Ramadan, drugs, photography and everyday etiquette, explained simply.

Reviewed 13 October 2026

Moving to the Maldives: a checklist for your first month

Everything to sort out before you arrive and in your first weeks: visa and medical deadlines, housing, a bank account, SIM card, insurance, transport and settling in.

Reviewed 13 October 2026