Yes, the Maldives are expensive, but this year, the bill is even higher.
Did you know that in 2025, Maldives tourist taxes and hotel fees can add more than 30% on top of the room rate you see online ?
And I can’t count how many times travelers have asked me why the Maldives appear so much more expensive than other dream destinations.
I know how this works : I’ve worked in travel and tour operating for many years, including many years on the ground in the Maldives, I’m now the founder of Dreaming of Maldives, and I’m even an affiliate of online booking travel agents (OTA’s).
After years of looking behind the curtain, I can tell you one thing : in the Maldives, the price you first see is rarely the price you finally pay.
It’s a bit like buying a plane ticket with a “promo fare” and by the time you add the extras, you’re left wondering if the calculator is playing tricks on you.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not cutting the branch I sit on. But, let’s be honest. Such a unique combination of luxury, magic, and rarity comes with a price, and in the Maldives, it really does.
But the truth is, it’s not just about luxury, it’s about the reality of building paradise on tiny islands : importing everything, creating power and water systems, paying high island leases, and yes, covering a higher tax load than almost anywhere else.
The Maldives are paradise on earth, a dream come true… yet one that comes at a price.
Let me show you exactly why the Maldives look so expensive, how the tourist tax really works, and what makes this paradise unique.
As an example, I’ll walk you through a simple $1,000/night example, uncover the hidden transfer costs, and compare the Maldives with four other popular destinations.
Let’s break it down clearly.
All photos © Dreaming of Maldives – All rights reserved.
Why Are the Maldives So Expensive?
The Maldives are expensive for various reasons. Yes, there are out of this world but that doesn’t explain all.
The main reason is the unique one island, one resort concept. Each resort being a private sanctuary, surrounded by a turquoise lagoon and coral reef.
But paradise comes at a cost. The Maldives are remote, look at them on my Maldives map, they’re totally lost in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Some could say that French Polynesia is more remote, but those people forget (or ignore) that there are industries and food production in those islands. I know, I lived there for many years.
The Maldives Import absolutely Everything
In the Maldives, everything needed for your stay must be imported by sea or air : food, building materials, even mineral water – Tahiti produces its own water, the island has rivers, mountains and waterfalls…
Industrial capability in the Maldives is minimal, limited to a few small factories producing basics like soda and bottled water, plus some small-scale manufacturing for a few essential items. Contary to French Polynesia, here, there is no significant agro-food or secondary sector : no real agriculture, no livestock, no transformation industry.
In the Maldives, almost nothing can be sourced on the islands. Even most of the traditional coconut palm thatching you see on resort and villa roofs is now often imported, as the growing number of hotels has outstripped what local production can supply.
Everything must come from abroad.
Building and Running a Maldives Resort is a serious investment
Resort construction is extremely pricey. On the top of the infrastructure construction, hoteliers pay a very high annual lease rent to the Maldivian government (ranging from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars depending on island size and location), sometimes with an additional revenue share.
The rent is due even before the resort opens, on top of massive upfront investments to build and maintain full infrastructure.
Then they must import everything, furnitures, all items, and must also have their own power plants and desalination systems, staff housing…
It’s literally like creating a tiny city on a deserted island.
Land Scarcity in the Maldives : 99% Water, 1% Land !
Add to that a country where land is rare (99% water, 1% land), real estate prices are inevitably very high.
Male, the capital, is under 2 km² in size yet one of the most densely populated places on earth.
Hulhumale, its artificial sister island, is not better, about 2.4 km long and 1 km wide.
Read more insights in my full story on the challenges of building a resort in the Maldives.
The Dream and the Magic of the Islands
And then, of course, there’s the magic : the Maldives islands themselves, their endless lagoons, and those unforgettable Maldives sunsets.
Maldives. A vision of paradise in photos.
All photos © Dreaming of Maldives
It’s this combination of remoteness, exclusivity, and natural wonder that explains why the Maldives are expensive compared to the rest of the world.
For a full overview at what makes the Maldives so unique and beautiful, you can also browse my essential Maldives travel resources and our collection of Maldives photos.
So yes, the Maldives cost more than Tahiti, Thailand or Hawaii, but that’s exactly why they remain one of the most exclusive, unique, and unforgettable destinations in the world.
Maldives Tourist Taxes : The Hidden Costs After High Resort Prices
All of these factors explain why Maldives resorts start off more expensive than many other destinations. But what many travelers don’t realize is that this is only the beginning. On top of already high base rates, the Maldives also applies a unique set of tourist taxes and hotel fees that can add more than 30% to the final bill.
Yes, you read it right : 30% – a bit more actually in 2025.
And this is where most of the confusion starts.
Some Online Travel Agents show the totals with these taxes, but transfers are left out.
On resort websites, nightly rates are shown before taxes, and only when you check out do you discover an extra 30% or so, plus transfers.
Yes, Maldives Tourist Taxes Are high, But Don’t Blame the Resorts !
As I’ve written here several times before, tourist taxes in the Maldives are constantly increasing, and with them, the final prices are rising too (see all my Maldives tax updates, or for the more recent ones : 2024, and the last in 2025.).
But don’t blame the resorts. These charges are mandatory, government-regulated taxes and fees that every property must collect. Apart from the 10% service charge, which is redistributed to staff, all other taxes and fees collected by Maldives resorts are paid directly to the government.
Whether you stay in a 5-star luxury resort or a small guesthouse, the same rules apply. Resorts, hotels and guest houses don’t pocket this money; they’re simply collecting it on behalf of the Maldivian state.
By law, every Maldives resort must add :
- 10 % service charge (on the base room rate)
- 17 % GST (from July 2025, applied on both room rate + service charge)
- Green Tax, US $12 per person…per night.
That combination is why a Maldives stay can easily feel 30% more expensive than the advertised net rate.
And if you think this is unique to the Maldives, remember : all destinations also add local hotel taxes and surcharges.
The Maldives just happen to have one of the highest combined totals worldwide.
Maldives Tourist Tax Example : What $1,000 a Night Really Costs
All these percentages and fees can sound a bit abstract, so let’s make it simple with a real-life example. Imagine a villa advertised at $1,000 net per night for 2 adults.
- Room (10 nights): $10,000
- Service charge (10 %) : $1,000
- Subtotal : $11,000
- GST (17 %) : $1,870
- Green Tax ($12 × 2 adults × 10 nights) : $240
- Final total = $13,110 — that’s $3,110 extra in taxes and fees !
That “$1,000 villa” actually costs $1,311 per night once taxes and fees are applied, and that’s before transfers.
Many travelers only realize this when they reach the checkout page.
And taxes aren’t the only surprise. Once you’ve understood how the Maldives tourist tax works, there’s another cost that travelers often forget about : transfers.
Maldives Transfers : The Other “Hidden” Tourist Cost
Well, transfer costs are not exactly hidden, every traveler to the Maldives needs a transfer to reach their island. But the truth is, transfers are rarely included in the advertised price, which is why they often come as a surprise when the final bill arrives.
In the Maldives, transfers are mandatory because resorts are spread across distant atolls, each on its own island. And unlike most destinations where you just hop in a taxi, a shuttle, or rent your own car, here you need either a seaplane, speedboat, or a domestic flight + boat ride to reach your island.
Maldives transfer prices
Transfer prices aren’t small either. And yes, just like your villa, transfers in the Maldives are also taxed with the same service charge and GST. They’re part of any Maldivian journey, but they’re also a real extra cost that many travelers don’t factor in at first.
Here are some price ranges to give you an idea :
- Seaplane : +/- $600–$1000 per person roundtrip
- Speedboat :+/- $150–$450 per person roundtrip
- Domestic flight + boat : +/- $400–$700 per person roundtrip
Fortunately, it’s not just a ride from the airport, though. Transfers in the Maldives are part of the experience, they are a dream !
Seaplanes give you that unforgettable bird’s-eye view of turquoise lagoons, while speedboats cut the ocean and the lagoons, offering a range of blue colors…
If the sea is not too rough, it’s a wonder too : you’ll glide in a waterworld, see islands after islands, reefs, a wide variety of boats, and if you’re lucky : dolphins, and even flying fish ! yes, it happened to me many times.
And let’s not forget : you don’t really have a choice. Expensive or not, you must take a transfer.
But still, they’re a kind of hidden cost as many travelers only notice once the booking is finalized.
Want to know more about seaplane transfers in the Maldives ? I’ve written a full guide about them here : Flying High — A Complete Guide to Maldives Seaplanes.
Dreaming of seeing the Maldives from the sky ? See our collection of Maldives Aerial Photos.
How the Maldives Compare to Other Destinations
Now that we’ve looked at taxes and transfers in the Maldives, the obvious question is : how does this compare to other dream destinations?
Are the Maldives really that much more expensive?
To find out, I took some time to investigate and checked the numbers for four iconic escapes : Tahiti, Thailand, Greece, which I know very well, and Hawaii, because it’s in the US and popular.
Greece — proof that beauty takes many forms. While our post compares travel costs, places like this remind us why the journey is priceless.
Photo by Sakis — discover more of his photography on Impressions by Sakis.
You can do the same, pick up any destination and look at the final check-out.
I based myself on on a 10-night stay for 2 adults in October 2025, in B&B, on booking.com, as I am an affiliate.
The results may surprise you.
- Thailand: ~8 % — see hotels ➚
One of the lightest tax loads, which explains why Thailand often feels cheaper overall. - Tahiti: ~13 % — see hotels ➚
The % looks lower, but because base prices are so high, you still pay a lot in in taxes. - Greece: ~15 % — see hotels ➚
With the new Climate Resilience Fee, Greece has quietly climbed into mid-range tax territory. - Hawaii: ~22 % — see hotels ➚
Between state tax, resort fees, and city surcharges, Hawaii adds up fast. - Maldives: ~31 % — see resorts ➚
The highest in percentage terms, making the Maldives the most heavily taxed of all.
Taxes as % of Net Room Rate
Seeing numbers in a list is one thing, but the real impact becomes clear when you put them side by side. Here’s how much tourist taxes add as a percentage of the net room rate in each destination.
As you can see, the Maldives clearly stand out with the heaviest burden, over 30% extra on top of the advertised price. Hawaii follows at just over 20%, while Greece and Tahiti sit in the mid-range. Thailand, by comparison, feels almost “light” at around 8%.
This is why so many travelers are caught off guard, the Maldives may look similar to other luxury destinations at first glance, but once taxes and transfers are added, the gap becomes much clearer.
Final Word : Transparency Over Surprises
What’s the clearer, better way to book your Maldives resort ?
Yes, the Maldives are one of the most heavily taxed destinations in the world. But so are other paradises. The difference lies in how it’s presented.
And this is why I insist on transparency.
When you book through my Dreaming of Maldives Exclusive Offers, you know upfront what you’ll pay : taxes, transfers, everything, it’s already included to keep things simple, transparent, and stress-free.
To make this possible, I work closely with my trusted partner, a specialist in Maldives travel.
Together, we negotiate the best possible rates directly with the resorts, so I can offer you both security and clarity.
With my offers, you get :
- A final price with all taxes and fees included
- Seaplane or speedboat transfers included
- Tightly negotiated, exclusive rates you won’t find online.
- No hidden extras. No surprises at checkout.
- Exclusive prices.
The price I share is the price you pay. One number. All in.
Of course, you’re free to compare. You can always check current rates on Booking.com and see the difference for yourself, I even encourage it.
But if you prefer clarity, all-in pricing, and my handpicked exclusive deals, then my offers are the clearer, better way to book your Maldives resort.
Because travel should surprise you with beauty, not with your final bill.
If you want to enjoy the Maldives with a final, all-inclusive rate — transfers and taxes already included — my exclusive offers are the clearest way to book.
Simply fill out the form below, and I’ll get back to you with your personalized Maldives offer.
Tell me more, I’ll plan your Dreamy Journey to the Maldives
Fill in your details and I’ll send you a personalized Maldives offer with everything included : all taxes, transfers, and my dreamy rates.
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