The Maldives is a tropical paradise of 1,190 coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and luxurious overwater villas. This island nation offers world-class diving, pristine white-sand beaches, and unparalleled marine biodiversity including manta rays, whale sharks, and bioluminescent plankton.
Local currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR); US Dollar also widely accepted.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Maldives.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- N/A - no hostels; budget guesthouse from $40-60/night on local islands
- Budget
- $50-100 (guesthouse on Maafushi or Hulhumale with AC and WiFi)
- Midrange
- $200-500 (mid-range resort with meals included)
- Luxury
- $1,500-5,000+ (5-star resort, overwater villa)
Food
- Street
- $1-3 (hedhikaa short eats, tea at local café)
- Local
- $5-15 (full meal at local restaurant in Male or local island)
- Midrange
- $30-80 (resort restaurant meal)
- Fine
- $100-350+ (fine dining at top resort restaurant)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.30 (Male local bus) to $5 (ferry between islands)
- Taxi
- $3-10 (Male taxi); $7-15 (airport taxi)
- Airport
- $1 (public ferry to Male); $7-15 (taxi); $200-600 (seaplane to outer atoll)
- Daytrip
- $30-180 (guided day trip by speedboat from Male)
Activities
- Museum
- $3 (National Museum Male)
- Sites
- $0-15 (most historical sites free or low cost)
- Tour
- $45-90 (snorkel day trip, island hopping tour)
- Excursion
- $80-180 (whale shark snorkel, dolphin cruise, diving)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Maldives costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$350-700/week (local island guesthouses, public transport, local restaurants, free beaches)
Midrange traveller
$1,400-2,800/week (mid-range guesthouse to entry-level resort, excursions, mix of dining)
Luxury traveller
$10,000-50,000+/week (5-star resort, overwater villa, seaplane transfers, fine dining, spa)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Stay on local islands instead of resorts - Maafushi guesthouses from $50-100/night versus $500+ at resorts for same or better beach access
Use public ferries from Male Ferry Terminal - $2-5 versus $30-50 speedboat for same destinations
Eat at local tea shops and cafes in Male - full Maldivian meal for $5-10 versus $30-80 at resorts
Book island-hopping tours through guesthouses in Maafushi rather than Male tour operators - same trips at 30-40% less cost
Travel in shoulder season (May, October) for significantly reduced guesthouse rates and resort packages
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Male City Heritage Walk
Self-guided walk through Male visiting Grand Friday Mosque, Sultan Park, Fish Market, and Artificial Beach seafront. Free public spaces throughout.
Hulhumale Beach Swimming
Public beach near Male airport with free entry. Clean white sand, calm turquoise water, and good snorkeling on the fringe reef - all completely free.
Male Fish Market at Dawn
Watch the extraordinary tuna auction at Male Fish Market from 5-7 AM as fishermen unload catches from dhoni boats. No charge, authentic cultural experience.
Grand Friday Mosque and Cemetery
View the largest mosque in Maldives and historic cemetery with centuries-old tombstones from outside freely. The golden dome and grounds are open public areas.
Bioluminescent Beach at Night
Many beaches near Vaadhoo, Mudhdhoo, and other islands glow with bioluminescent plankton after dark. Free natural phenomenon requiring only walking to beach at night.
Sunset Watching from Artificial Beach
Male's Artificial Beach and harbour waterfront are popular free sunset spots with traditional dhoni silhouettes and golden light over the lagoon.
Local Island Community Strolls
Walking through inhabited islands like Maafushi, Gulhi, or Ukulhas is free and reveals authentic Maldivian daily life in a way resorts cannot.