Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Maldives Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Maldives

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 59.5% more expensive than Maldives without rent, and 85.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 62.2% more expensive than Maldives without rent, and 66% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Maldives
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.97 $19.97
$5.94 MVR 91.7
236.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$48.36 MVR 746
54.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 $11.40
$9.64 MVR 149
18.26%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.60 MVR 70.9
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.04 MVR 93.2
-
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$3.02 MVR 46.52
77.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.40 MVR 21.54
87.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.32 MVR 4.91
543.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 $5.90
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Maldives
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.76 MVR 27.13
-38.07%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$1.51 MVR 23.27
135.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$1.12 MVR 17.29
322.32%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$1.57 MVR 24.24
173.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 $13.01
$7.91 MVR 122
64.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.22 $12.22
$6.23 MVR 96.2
96.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.36 $16.36
$10.13 MVR 156
61.50%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$4.05 MVR 62.5
28.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$3.78 MVR 58.4
-55.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$3.87 MVR 59.7
18.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.62 MVR 55.9
37.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.50 MVR 23.09
98.67%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.20 MVR 18.56
153.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.48 MVR 38.30
-8.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.60 MVR 9.29
261.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$11.47 MVR 177
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.67 MVR 41.19
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$8.29 MVR 128
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$8.08 MVR 125
21.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Maldives
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 $2.49
$0.68 MVR 10.50
266.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 $66.1
$28.53 MVR 440
131.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.97 MVR 30.39
93.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.93 MVR 29.72
-7.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.48 $29.48
$8.33 MVR 129
253.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$0.91 MVR 14.07
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$31.9K MVR 492.0K
-7.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$30.3K MVR 466.9K
-13.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Maldives
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$115 MVR 1,775
79.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9 $56.9
$40.71 MVR 628
39.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$70.1 MVR 1,081
3.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Maldives
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.23 $45.23
$76.8 MVR 1,185
-41.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.84 $21.84
$35.45 MVR 547
-38.39%
Cinema Ticket
$13.79 $13.79
$9.20 MVR 142
49.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Maldives
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$173 MVR 2,675
681.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.6K $22.6K
$3,343 MVR 51.6K
574.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Maldives
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$41.95 MVR 647
22.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.37 $42.37
$51.1 MVR 788
-17.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$81.9 MVR 1,263
8.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$53.1 MVR 819
116.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Maldives
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 $1,763
$980 MVR 15.1K
79.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 $1,432
$691 MVR 10.7K
107.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,827 $2,827
$1,656 MVR 25.5K
70.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,358 $2,358
$1,361 MVR 21.0K
73.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,391 $3,391
$2,577 MVR 39.8K
31.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$1,066 MVR 16.5K
145.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Maldives
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,326 $4,326
$797 MVR 12.3K
442.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
12.4
-47.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for United States: March 3, 2026

Last update for Maldives: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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