Maldives : Cost of Living by City
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Maldives?
The cost of living in the Maldives depends highly on where you live: for instance, if you are a local Maldivian and live on one of the islands, then the cost of living is reasonable – in between the high and the low.
But if you live in the capital Malé it can be twice as much.
Another thing that is good to know is that the prices change seasonally: during the tourist season – they start skyrocketing, and when the rainy weather comes – the prices get lower.
The capital island of Malé does have some cheap places, though, where you can stay for smaller amounts of money.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Maldives
RESTAURANTS
The cost of restaurants also depends on whether you’re eating on an island or in the capital.
On a local village island, you can eat in a local café for less than 5$ per meal.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t eat cheap food in the capital: Malé still has similar cheap places but it also has places where you can spend over 7$ on coffee and a tiny piece of cake.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $5.53 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $3.09 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.34 |
MARKETS
The good thing about cooking in the Maldives is that their local dishes comprise of a very small amount of groceries.
So, if you want to whisk up a delicious Maldivian meal, just buy some tuna, coconut milk, and rice – and you’re done.
Cooking at home, generally, saves up a lot of your money since groceries cost much less than meals in restaurants do.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.71 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.52 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.53 |
TRANSPORTATION
Malé city is the biggest in the Maldives, but it’s still very small, so you can get anywhere on foot within 10-15 minutes.
Of course, you can take a bus, but they aren’t very reliable and the tickets can’t be considered cheap: a one-way ticket costs around 0.65$.
If you are staying in Malé the best advice you can get is to buy yourself a motorbike.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.65 |
| Monthly Pass | $21.48 |
| Gasoline | $0.93 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
For such a worldwide popular tourist destination, the prices of necessary things such as bills and utilities aren’t high at all.
For example, if you live in a larger apartment for two people, which means around 85m2, all of your basic utilities including electricity, cooling, gas, garbage services, and water – will cost around 162$.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $162.76 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $-1.94 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $91.23 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Indulging in sports and fitness isn’t too pricey either – taking into account where you are!
Becoming a member of a gym or a fitness club will cost you roughly 71.61$, which is a reasonable price, while leisure activities like going to the cinema aren’t exactly cheap, but they aren’t expensive either: a movie ticket costs less than 8$.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $71.61 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $45.57 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $7.98 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Shopping for clothing in the Maldives – now that’s an outstanding idea!
Go shopping and you won’t regret it: buying clothes in one of Maldive’s shopping centers can include finding quality jeans like Levi’s for only 39$, running sneakers of brands like Nike for 92$, while lighter pieces of clothing like summer dresses cost 39$.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $38.76 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $38.49 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $91.15 |
RENT PER MONTH
Rent can be a bit steep in the Maldives.
But it all still depends on where you want to live.
For a decent flat in most of the Maldives, you’ll need around 1000$, but let’s break that down into areas.
A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around 886$ approximately, while the same apartment on the outskirts of town will cost you around 630$.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $886.59 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $622.11 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1771.76 |
HEALTHCARE
The Maldives provides public healthcare funded through taxes, with private hospitals and clinics widely used by residents and tourists.
Private insurance typically costs around 40 to 100 USD per month.
Out-of-pocket expenses average 250-500 USD per person per year, mainly for private care and medications.
With average monthly salaries of 600 to 700 USD, healthcare expenses can represent a moderate portion of income.
EDUCATION
Public primary and secondary schools are tuition-free, with families paying for uniforms, books, and supplies.
Private schools, including international schools, charge tuition typically between $3,000 and $15,000 per year.
Public universities charge modest tuition of about $1,000 to $3,000 annually, while private universities cost $4,000 to $10,000 per year.
Additional costs include housing, food, transport, and textbooks.
Average monthly income is around $600, making education expenses, especially private tuition and living costs, a large portion of household income.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Maldives?
Like in most countries, the largest amount of money in the state of Maldives gets spent on food.
Right after the food and groceries, rent is the next big expense for the people of Maldives: it is exceptionally high, especially taking into consideration the average salary in the Maldives.
Apart from food and rent, huge expenses here are also transportation and restaurants – since a huge part of society eats in restaurants every day.
Sports and leisure are just above clothing expenses which take up the last place.
Average Costs Breakdown
Maldives: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
It is really no surprise that the average wage of an average citizen of Maldives is only around 865.34$, as can be concluded right away when you see their low prices.
For this amount of money, they have enough for food and all basic necessities but there isn’t any room for savings or anything else that isn’t truly necessary.
If you’re planning on going to the Maldives for a period of time, bring 1000$ with you and you’ll have no problems – you can even splurge.
Maldives Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Maldives Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | LOW |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | HIGH |
Cost of Living by City in Maldives
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Male |
70.45 |
It’s heartbreaking to think about how the beauty of the Maldives contrasts with the struggle for locals to make ends meet. The seasonal price swings really highlight how challenging life can be, especially for those without the luxury of tourism income. It must be tough navigating those ups and downs.
It’s wild how the cost can swing so drastically depending on the season and location. Imagine trying to budget for a trip, only to find that a cozy beach bungalow turns into a luxury suite during peak season. Makes you appreciate a good rainy day discount!