The Maldives on a budget: real costs and how to save

The Maldives has a reputation as one of the world's most expensive destinations, and at a luxury resort, it can be. But since local islands opened to tourism, a Maldives holiday has become possible on a much smaller budget. You can sleep in a comfortable guesthouse, snorkel the same reefs, picnic on sandbanks and eat delicious local food for a fraction of resort prices. This guide breaks down the real costs and the best ways to save.

Prices change with the season and vary by island. The figures below are estimates from travel guides and published taxes, intended to help you plan rather than as quotes.

Where the money goes

1. Flights to Velana International Airport (not covered here, but often the biggest single cost).
2. Accommodation.
3. Transfers between the airport and your island.
4. Food and drink.
5. Excursions such as snorkelling, diving and sandbank trips.
6. Taxes and charges, which apply to most tourist spending.

Accommodation: the biggest saving

The single most important choice is where you stay.

• Guesthouses on local islands: travel guides put basic rooms at roughly USD 40–80 a night, with many guesthouses on well-established islands in the USD 50–150 range. Rooms usually have air conditioning and private bathrooms, and some include breakfast.
• Resorts: from a few hundred dollars a night to well over a thousand at luxury properties, plus transfers.

Some travellers split their trip: most nights in a guesthouse, then a final splurge night or two at a resort. Our guide to choosing between a resort and a local island compares the experiences.

Taxes and charges: plan for them

Tourist prices often exclude:

• Tourism GST at 17% (from 1 July 2025);
• a service charge, commonly 10%; and
• the green tax: USD 6 per person per night at guesthouses on inhabited islands with 50 or fewer rooms, or USD 12 at resorts and larger properties.

A room advertised at USD 60 "plus taxes" can cost noticeably more once these are added. Compare total prices. See our guides to the green tax and tourism GST.

Transfers: ferry or speedboat?

• Public ferries are extremely cheap, often around USD 2 for routes near Malé, but slow and not daily on every route. See our ferry guide.
• Shared speedboats cost around USD 25–35 per person per trip to popular islands such as Maafushi, and run more often.
• Seaplanes to distant resorts are among the most expensive parts of a luxury trip.

A common budget approach: speedboat on arrival day, when you're tired and time matters, and the ferry on the way back if the schedule fits.

Food

Local cafés, known as hotaa, serve filling meals cheaply: travel guides suggest a vegetarian curry with rice for around USD 5–10. Try Maldivian staples such as mas huni (tuna, coconut, onion and chilli) with roshi for breakfast, fish curry, and hedhikaa (savoury snacks). Guesthouses often offer meal plans; compare them with eating out. Resorts are far more expensive for food, and imported goods anywhere cost more. Local islands have no alcohol, which also saves money.

Excursions

Excursions are where costs can climb. One guide suggests budgeting around USD 100–300 per person for a week, covering two or three snorkelling trips, a dive or a resort day trip. Popular options include:

• snorkelling trips to reefs and turtle spots;
• sandbank picnics;
• dolphin cruises at sunset;
• night fishing;
• diving with local dive centres; and
• resort day passes, which give you a taste of resort life.

Guesthouses often offer discounted packages, and travellers report better prices when booking locally rather than online. Two or three good excursions are usually plenty.

Sample daily budgets

Travel guides estimate, per person per day, excluding flights:

These are guides only; your costs depend on season, island and how many excursions you take.

Best islands for budget travellers

Islands near Malé, such as Maafushi, Guraidhoo, Gulhi, Thulusdhoo, Himmafushi and Dhiffushi, are easy to reach by ferry or speedboat and have plenty of guesthouses. Islands in Ari Atoll, such as Dhigurah, are popular for whale shark trips. More remote islands can be cheaper to stay on but cost more to reach. See our guide to island hopping on a budget.

15 ways to save

1. Stay in guesthouses on local islands.
2. Travel in the shoulder or low season (May to November, avoiding school holidays).
3. Book flights early and watch for deals.
4. Use public ferries when schedules allow.
5. Compare total prices including taxes.
6. Eat at local cafés.
7. Choose guesthouses with breakfast included.
8. Book excursions locally, and limit them to your favourites.
9. Share speedboat charters with other travellers.
10. Snorkel from the beach where safe and allowed.
11. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and essentials from home; they're expensive locally.
12. Refill water bottles where guesthouses offer filtered water.
13. Stay longer in fewer places to cut transfer costs.
14. Spend your last night near the airport to avoid expensive emergency transfers.
15. Use a card with low foreign fees, and carry some rufiyaa for small purchases.

A sample 7-day budget trip

• Day 1: arrive at Velana; shared speedboat to a guesthouse island near Malé.
• Day 2: snorkelling trip to a reef and turtle spot, booked through your guesthouse.
• Day 3: beach day on the tourist beach; local café meals.
• Day 4: sandbank picnic and a sunset dolphin cruise.
• Day 5: move to a second island on a ferry day, or stay put and take a resort day pass.
• Day 6: a dive or a second snorkelling trip.
• Day 7: public ferry or speedboat back to Malé or Hulhumalé, explore Malé, and fly home.

Check ferry days on the RTL schedule before fixing your moves, and always leave a buffer before your flight.

Common budget mistakes

• Forgetting taxes when comparing guesthouse prices.
• Relying on a ferry that doesn't run that day, then paying for an emergency speedboat.
• Booking too many excursions; two or three good ones are usually enough.
• Arriving on a small island without cash, when there's no ATM.
• Choosing a remote island without checking transfer costs.

What you give up on a budget

• Alcohol: not available on local islands (some excursions visit resorts or licensed boats).
• Dress codes: modest clothing in villages; swimwear on designated beaches only.
• Private beaches and overwater villas.
• Spa and resort facilities, unless you buy a day pass.

Many travellers find the trade worthwhile for the lower price and the chance to see real Maldivian life. See our guide to local customs.

Travelling solo on a budget

Solo travellers pay more per person for rooms and private boats, so look for guesthouses with single rates and join shared excursions with other guests to split costs. Local islands are generally safe and sociable, and guesthouse hosts are usually happy to help solo visitors find group trips.

Money tips

Carry some US dollars and rufiyaa, as smaller islands may have no ATM. See our guide to money for visitors.