How Much Does It Cost to go to the Maldives?

Do you want to know how much does it cost to go to the Maldives? The country is made up of many islands and is an exotic paradise and dream destination for many travellers, especially those looking for a special honeymoon location or a romantic getaway. However, while the crystal waters and sandy beaches promise to impress, the price tag associated with the country often scares people away. Is it as expensive as everyone says? Read on to find out.

For the purpose of this article, I’m going to suggest an 8-day 7-night itinerary in the Maldives. This is going to be a more luxury-oriented itinerary including a 2 night’s stay in the over-water bungalows that the Maldives is known for, so keep that in mind when you look at the initial price breakdown. I will, however, also be including a couple of tips for more budget-friendly options when visiting the Maldives.

Please note that this guide is based on the costs of a single person. If you are travelling as a couple make sure to double these estimates (except for hotels).

	Estimated cost
Airfare	$1,000
Accommodations	$3,900
Local transportation	$350
Attractions	$300
Food and drink	$200
Random spending	$200
Total	$5,950 USD

The above estimate is in American dollars, so please use xe.com to find out the average costs in your home currency.

If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a generous welcome bonus that’s often worth more than $900 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees, and it comes with airport lounge access.   

Airfare

The Maldives isn’t exactly the easiest place to get to. That said, there are multiple airlines that fly to Malé where the main airport (Velana International Airport) is located. Note that there are no direct flights to the Maldives from North America, so factor the extra time flying for your vacation.

Flights to Malé will cost you about $1,000 USD coming from North America. You’ll also need to take at least one (sometimes two) stopovers just to get to the Maldives. Of course, there are expectations; some months are cheaper than others, and you may find a sale, but $1,000 is a good estimate to expect to pay for flights. If you’re flying from Asia, flights should be a bit cheaper.

Tip: The Maldives is hot and sunny year-round, however, the monsoon season runs from May to October, so keep that in mind when booking.

Accommodations

The Maldives is known to be a luxury destination and is renowned for its resorts and over-the-water bungalows/villas.

Essentially, each of the luxury resorts in the Maldives has its own island which means you will need to change islands if you want to change hotels. Whether you change or not is up to you, however for this itinerary I’m allocating a couple of nights in an over the water bungalow since that’s one of the top experiences you can have in the Maldives, and then the rest of the time at a regular room in another resort.

Overwater bungalows are, unsurprisingly, the most expensive accommodation option in the Maldives and prices start at around $700+ per night. They also charge some crazy resort fees each day. However, they are an experience in themselves. This type of accommodation does book up very quickly, so if you have your heart set on staying in one, book well in advance (as in a year in advance). A few top-rated options include:

As for resorts, there are plenty to choose from. If you are switching islands, you’ll want to make sure you choose islands that are relatively close together so it’s not too long to get to (or too expensive; more on that to come). Resorts will still cost $500+ per night. Some more popular properties include:

• Adaaran Prestige Water Villas – Premium All Inclusive
• Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives
• OBLU SELECT at Sangeli- All Inclusive

As for resorts, there are plenty to choose from. If you are switching islands, you’ll want to make sure you choose islands that are relatively close together so it’s not too long to get to (or too expensive; more on that to come).  Resorts will still cost $500+ per night. Some more popular properties include:

• Summer Island Maldives Resort
• Kandima Maldives
• Sun Island Resort and Spa

It is possible to find cheaper accommodation in the Maldives. There are some more local islands which have hotels, guesthouses and even Airbnb rentals. Islands like Malé  have more budget-friendly options. However, the local islands, while still nice, are not the same as the islands you see in the media. If you are looking for that more remote escape type of experience, you’ll want to go to the resorts.

It is important to note that there is a tax and service charge of 22% on pretty much everything in the Maldives, so don’t forget to add that to your prices!

If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $300 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.

Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, which gives you up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels, which could easily have a value of over $500.

Local transportation

As mentioned above, the majority of luxury hotels and properties in the Maldives have their own island which means guests will need to arrive by seaplane or speedboat. Unsurprisingly, neither of these are cheap options.

Pricing depends on which resort island you are going to, and how far it is from Male. For speed boats, you can expect to pay about $100 return. Seaplanes can cost as much as $500 return. If you were thinking about going to a nice restaurant on a different island for a special occasion, you need to budget for the cost of your transportation which will likely cost more than your meal.

Given these costs, I recommend you stick to one or two islands for your trip and do some research ahead of time about how expensive it is to get to the islands you choose.

There are a few local ferries, but they have limited use as they won’t get you to any of the private resorts.

For this article, I’ve estimated $350 with the idea of visiting two islands and using the cheaper transfer options. That said, you could spend much much more.

Attractions

The Maldives is an ocean lover’s paradise. This country has some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling excursions in the Indian Ocean/world. You can expect to pay around $80 for a snorkelling tour and around $160 for scuba diving. Other popular activities include surfing, spa treatments, lagoon/atolls tours, boating and fishing.

If you’re staying in Malé, consider a walking tour or food tour so you can get a sense of the local culture. You could also take an island hopping tour to give you a look at different parts of the country

What you spend here really depends on how much you want to do and what you plan on doing, but allocating $300 for attractions will give you a couple of days of activities.

Food and Drink

If you are staying in the resorts in the Maldives, you’ll likely have the option to do an all-inclusive package, often referred to as a full board package, or pay for meals separately. It is definitely in your best interest to go with the all-inclusive packages. Since the resorts are the only buildings on the islands, you will have to eat in their restaurants anyway and you will be charged a premium for all fees. To be clear, everything you order will be expensive. That includes beer, curries, coconut water, pizza, tuna, etc.

Alcohol is generally not included in the all-inclusive packages, so you’ll need to add more to your budget to pay for drinks. These drinks range from about 10-20 dollars each.

Some properties also have half board packages available where some of your meals are included.

Assuming you go with the all-inclusive plan, allow about $200 for extra food and drink charges and remember that 22% tax!

Random spending

The Maldives isn’t exactly a shopping destination but it’s always good to budget a little extra in case. Maybe you’ll find some souvenirs, or maybe there’s an extra tour you’d like to take. Or maybe you’d just like to spend a little more on cocktails by the beach. I’d add an extra $200 to your budget just in case.

Maldives trip cost

So, how much does it cost to do to the Maldives? Based on my suggested 8-day, 7-night itinerary which leans more towards luxury, you can expect to spend about $5,950. As I said, this is taking a more luxury approach to your vacation planning, but there are ways. However, if you’ve always dreamed of a luxury tropical vacation to the islands, then the Maldives is definitely worth the splurge. That said, if you want something a bit more budget friendly, check out my guides to London, Dubai, Bali, Barbados, Hawaii and Thailand.

When is the best time of the year to visit the Maldives?

Traditionally, November is a cheaper month to visit the Maldives as it’s right before the December / winter rush. That said, the Maldives has a lot more action going on during the summer months of June, July and August since that’s when the country has the most tourists. April is another good time to visit as that’s when tourism tends to naturally go down.

How far in advance should I book my Maldives vacation?

Since the Maldives is a dream destination, many people will plan years in advance. That said, when it comes to actually booking your trip, most people will book about 8-12 months before their departure date. Checking out flights early can be advantageous as you might be able to find a sale. Booking your accommodations early will help guarantee you a room at the resort you’re looking at.

How do I get a cheap travel package to the Maldives?

While cheap travel packages to the Maldives do exist, they’re usually only offered through specific travel providers such as Expedia. It may be tempting to book one of these deals, but be sure to read the fine print and check to see if the dates work for you.

What are the top attractions in the Maldives?

Most people head to the Maldives for the beaches and overwater bungalows, but there are also a few attractions that are worth checking out. The Male fish market, Male local market, Grand Friday Mosque, and water sports are just some of the things you can enjoy while visiting the Maldives.