How Much Does a Trip to the Maldives Cost?

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How Much Does a Trip to the Maldives Cost? A Comprehensive Guide to Paradise

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How Much Does a Trip to the Maldives Cost? A Comprehensive Guide to Paradise

September 16, 2026

A week in the Maldives can cost as little as $1,700 or well over $15,000, and almost all of that gap comes down to three decisions you make before you even book a flight. This guide breaks down exactly what you'll pay for flights, transfers, food, and accommodation in 2026, plus the hidden costs that catch first-time visitors out. By the end, you'll know roughly what your trip will cost, and where an all-inclusive stay actually saves you money.

Key takeaways

A week in the Maldives runs from around $1,700 for a no-frills local-island trip to $15,000+ for five-star luxury.
Flights, accommodation, and inter-island transfers make up the bulk of your spend, in that order.
All-inclusive resorts fold food, drinks, and activities into one upfront rate, the easiest way to protect a budget.
The high season (December to March) is the most expensive time to book, the low season (May to November) the cheapest.

How much does a week in the Maldives cost in 2026?

Your total cost comes down to three things: where you stay, how you eat, and when you travel. Here's what a week looks like at each level, updated for 2026:

Traveller type	Weekly cost (couple)	What it gets you
Budget	$1,700 – $3,000	Local island guesthouses, local eateries, speedboat transfers, Local Beaches with Restrictions
Mid-range	$4,000 – $7,000	Beachfront resort, some excursions, speedboat transfer, Private Beaches
Luxury	$7,000 – $15,000+	Five-star resort, fine dining, seaplane transfer, Private Island Experience

These figures cover flights, accommodation, meals, and transport for two people. An all-inclusive package folds most of this into a single upfront rate, worth knowing before you start pricing out flights and villas separately.

How much do flights to the Maldives cost?

Flights are usually your single biggest expense, and where you fly from changes the number more than anything else.

From the US: $1,000 to $1,900 round trip.
From the UK: $700 to $1,500 round trip.
From the EU: $600 to $1,400 round trip, depending on departure city and stopovers.
From India: $350 to $550 round trip.
From Australia: $900 to $1,500 round trip.

Book six to twelve months ahead for the high season, or travel between May and November when fares and resort rates both drop.

How much does it cost to get between islands?

Once you land at Velana International Airport, you still need to reach your resort.

Speedboat transfers run $120 to $280 per person round trip for closer resorts.
Ferries cost under $15 per trip but run on fixed schedules and skip Fridays.
Seaplanes cost $250 to $600 one way for resorts further out, and your resort usually arranges the booking.

How much does food cost in the Maldives?

What you pay for meals depends entirely on your meal plan.

Fine dining at resorts runs $90 to $150 per person, per meal.
Mid-range resort dining costs $30 to $90 per person, per meal.
Local eateries on inhabited islands charge under $15 per meal.

An all-inclusive plan covers most of this upfront, usually the better value if you're staying at a resort rather than island-hopping between local eateries.

How much does accommodation cost?

Nightly rates span a wide range depending on where you stay.

Local guesthouses: $50 to $150 per night.
Mid-range beachfront resorts: $300 to $600 per night.
Luxury overwater or beach villas: $600 to $1,500 per night.
Ultra-luxury villas: $1,500 to $6,000+ per night.

Overwater villas typically cost more than beach villas at the same resort, largely for the private plunge pool and direct lagoon access. If you're weighing up the two, our overwater villa vs beach villa comparison breaks down what you get for the difference.

What's the real average daily budget?

Resort pricing tells you the ceiling, but it helps to know what typical travellers actually spend day to day. Budget Your Trip's traveller-reported data puts a week for two people at close to $4,895, which works out to roughly $350 per day.

Category	Average daily spend
Accommodation	$150 – $200
Food	$60 – $100
Local transport	$20 – $40
Activities	$30 – $60
Total	$260 – $400

What extra costs should you plan for?

Beyond the basics, budget for the things that make a Maldives trip memorable.

Guided snorkelling or diving: $60 to $220, more for jet skiing or parasailing.
Island-hopping tours: $120 to $260.
Spa treatments: from $80.
Souvenirs and photography: $120 to $350.

Check what's already included in your package before you book extras separately, since some resorts bundle activities like kayaking into the base rate.

What hidden costs catch travellers out?

A few charges rarely show up in the headline price.

Taxes and service charges recently add up to 29% on top of most bills.
Alcohol is only available in resorts, where selected beverages are only included in your meal plan - expect $15 - $60 per specialty drink.
Wifi is rarely charged separately, though most resorts now include it.
Late checkout and "included" excursions can carry surprise upcharges.

This is where an all-inclusive rate earns its keep: most of these charges are already folded into the price you pay upfront.

Why an all-inclusive stay at Oaga Art Resort simplifies the budget

This is exactly the gap an all-inclusive stay at Oaga Art Resort is built to close. Your rate covers meals across the resort's restaurants, a selection of beverages, non-motorised water sports, and access to the artist-led workshops that set Oaga apart from a standard beach resort. You won't get hit with the tax stack at checkout, or a surprise bill for kayaking you assumed was free. Planning a honeymoon? Our Maldives honeymoon guide covers what to expect on top of the standard package. Travelling with kids? Our Maldives family resort guide does the same.

Final thoughts

Oaga Art Resort's all-inclusive rate is built around exactly the costs that catch most travellers out: meals, drinks, and activities, all locked in before you land. The real gap between a $1,700 budget trip and a $15,000 luxury one usually comes down to a handful of hidden fees you now know to watch for. Lock in your all-inclusive rate today and skip the guesswork.

FAQs

01 How much does it cost to go to the Maldives?

A week for two people typically costs $1,700 to $3,000 for a budget trip, or $7,000 to $15,000+ for a luxury resort stay. Flights and accommodation make up most of that, so where you fly from and how you sleep matter more than anything else.

02 Is the Maldives expensive to visit?

It can be, but it doesn't have to be. Local guesthouses and ferries bring costs down to $1,700 to $3,000 a week for a couple, while five-star resorts push that well past $10,000.

03 How much does a trip to the Maldives cost for a couple?

Budget travellers spend $1,700 to $3,000 a week, mid-range travellers $4,000 to $7,000, and luxury travellers $7,000 to $15,000 or more. These figures include flights, accommodation, food, and transfers.

04 What's the cheapest time of year to visit the Maldives?

The low season, from May to November, offers the lowest prices on flights and resorts. You'll trade some guaranteed sunshine for savings, plus a better chance at manta ray and whale shark sightings.

05 Does an all-inclusive package cover alcohol and activities?

At Oaga Art Resort, your all-inclusive rate covers a selection of beverages and non-motorised water sports. Premium spirits, certain excursions, and spa treatments are usually priced separately.

06 How much should I budget per day in the Maldives?

Traveller-reported data puts average daily spend around $350 per person, covering accommodation, food, and activities. An all-inclusive rate typically comes in at or below that once you factor in the hidden taxes and extras it replaces.