Cost of Living in Maldives - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Maldives
Address: MV

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $710 (excluding rent), and $1,489 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,715 (excluding rent), and $3,255 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.94 MVR 91.8

$3.85 MVR 59.5

$11.49 MVR 178

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.36 MVR 747

$19.34 MVR 299

$116 MVR 1,793

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.64 MVR 149

$7.71 MVR 119

$12.84 MVR 198

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.60 MVR 71.0

$3.17 MVR 49.01

$9.51 MVR 147

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 MVR 93.3

$4.90 MVR 75.7

$9.80 MVR 151

Cappuccino

$3.02 MVR 46.58

$0.95 MVR 14.67

$5.72 MVR 88.3

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 MVR 21.57

$0.95 MVR 14.73

$2.95 MVR 45.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MVR 4.92

$0.18 MVR 2.83

$0.63 MVR 9.69

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 MVR 27.16

$1.33 MVR 20.53

$2.32 MVR 35.85

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 MVR 23.30

$0.95 MVR 14.67

$3.39 MVR 52.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 MVR 17.31

$0.31 MVR 4.86

$2.23 MVR 34.47

Eggs

$1.57 MVR 24.27

$1.14 MVR 17.64

$2.28 MVR 35.28

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 MVR 122

$2.90 MVR 44.86

$16.78 MVR 259

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 MVR 96.3

$1.64 MVR 25.33

$9.20 MVR 142

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 MVR 157

$6.61 MVR 102

$13.22 MVR 204

Apples (1kg)

$4.05 MVR 62.6

$1.61 MVR 24.86

$5.15 MVR 79.6

Banana (1kg)

$3.78 MVR 58.4

$1.64 MVR 25.38

$6.53 MVR 101

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 MVR 59.8

$1.19 MVR 18.35

$5.27 MVR 81.4

Tomato (1kg)

$3.62 MVR 55.9

$1.67 MVR 25.74

$4.34 MVR 67.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 MVR 23.12

$0.99 MVR 15.36

$2.00 MVR 30.88

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MVR 18.58

$0.79 MVR 12.18

$1.97 MVR 30.45

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 MVR 38.35

$1.05 MVR 16.15

$7.83 MVR 121

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MVR 9.30

$0.31 MVR 4.73

$0.93 MVR 14.32

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.47 MVR 177

$3.27 MVR 50.5

$16.38 MVR 253

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 MVR 41.24

$1.29 MVR 20.01

$4.20 MVR 64.9

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 MVR 128

$1.32 MVR 20.38

$16.47 MVR 254

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.08 MVR 125

$6.94 MVR 107

$15.18 MVR 235

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MVR 10.52

$0.47 MVR 7.28

$1.02 MVR 15.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.53 MVR 441

$19.69 MVR 304

$32.82 MVR 507

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 MVR 30.42

$1.64 MVR 25.28

$1.97 MVR 30.42

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 MVR 29.76

$1.60 MVR 24.72

$1.93 MVR 29.76

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.33 MVR 129

$5.00 MVR 77.3

$16.67 MVR 258

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 MVR 14.09

$0.82 MVR 12.59

$1.07 MVR 16.49

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K MVR 492.6K

$25.5K MVR 394.1K

$38.3K MVR 591.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.3K MVR 467.5K

$35.7K MVR 551.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$115 MVR 1,777

$77.4 MVR 1,196

$161 MVR 2,491

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.71 MVR 629

$25.55 MVR 395

$47.91 MVR 740

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 MVR 1,082

$41.39 MVR 639

$115 MVR 1,771

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.8 MVR 1,187

$52.3 MVR 808

$98.1 MVR 1,515

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.45 MVR 548

$12.89 MVR 199

$35.45 MVR 548

Cinema Ticket

$9.20 MVR 142

$7.75 MVR 120

$9.69 MVR 150

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$173 MVR 2,679

$132 MVR 2,038

$198 MVR 3,057

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,343 MVR 51.6K

$2,298 MVR 35.5K

$6,303 MVR 97.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.95 MVR 648

$12.91 MVR 199

$64.5 MVR 997

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 MVR 789

$19.45 MVR 300

$98.9 MVR 1,528

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 MVR 1,265

$38.69 MVR 598

$98.4 MVR 1,520

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.1 MVR 820

$38.60 MVR 596

$77.2 MVR 1,193

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$980 MVR 15.1K

$831 MVR 12.8K

$1,278 MVR 19.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$691 MVR 10.7K

$589 MVR 9,097

$1,047 MVR 16.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,656 MVR 25.6K

$1,305 MVR 20.2K

$2,479 MVR 38.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 MVR 21.0K

$1,146 MVR 17.7K

$1,910 MVR 29.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,577 MVR 39.8K

$1,274 MVR 19.7K

$5,302 MVR 81.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 MVR 16.5K

$499 MVR 7,705

$2,431 MVR 37.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$797 MVR 12.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.4

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

Last update: March 1, 2026

By City in Maldives

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Fuvahmulah	-		$308	$762	$857	$1,430	216.45	20.41
2	Gan	-		$46.39	$43.56	$95.5	$99.7	155.57	17.71
3	Hulhumale	-	76	$708	$1,515	$1,302	$3,909	287.13	44.29
4	Male	103693	77	$722	$1,512	$1,683	$3,191	190.94	45.28

Maldives Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Maldives - Frequently Asked Questions

The Maldives offers value that depends on where you base yourself and how you live. On Malé and resort-heavy islands, costs tend to be higher, while local guesthouses on other islands can be more affordable if you embrace local services and meals. Imports influence certain conveniences, but you can offset this by cooking at home, shopping in local markets, and using public ferries. For some travelers and digital nomads, the experience justifies a premium, especially if you value island life, safety, and a slower rhythm. Cost of Living in Maldives varies with your choice of island and lifestyle. Tip: Plan a short trial stay on a local island to gauge daily expenses and adjust your setup accordingly.

Daily life in the Maldives blends convenience with island logistics. Housing searches often start with guesthouses or small rental flats on local islands – online listings, hostel networks, and word of mouth help you compare options. Food ranges from local curries and fresh fish markets to imported groceries on some islands, with local meals often more budget-friendly. Getting around usually means ferries or speedboats between atolls; rentals and rideshare-like services exist on busier islands, while domestic flights handle longer jumps. Co-working spaces are growing in Malé and a few hub islands, offering reliable wifi for remote work. Maldives living cost depends on island choice and lifestyle. Tip: Build a flexible schedule to align errands and transport with sea conditions.

Quality of life hinges on a simple budgeting approach, seasonality, and neighborhood fit. Use a framework you can apply to housing, utilities, groceries, and discretionary expenses, then adjust as island choice and routines change. Urban hubs like Malé offer more services and faster connectivity but come with higher costs, while local islands emphasize community and a slower pace. Plan around seasonality to catch deals on accommodations and flights, and prioritize energy efficiency to keep utilities manageable. For neighborhood fit, test different island vibes, water access, and proximity to markets and clinics. Tip: Start with a two-week trial on a couple of islands to compare living rhythms and costs.