MigrantoCost of living in the Maldives
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
MVR 8,630
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
MVR 4,430richest 20%
MVR 19,100
The Maldives is a scatter of small islands far out at sea, and that geography decides almost everything about what life costs. Nearly every good arrives by boat or plane, so even basics carry the price of the journey to get them there, while a tourism economy keeps a steady upward pull on prices. The gap between a comfortable life and a getting-by one is narrow — the cost of distance lands on more or less everyone the same way.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in the Maldives
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in the Maldives and how much you could have left each month
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- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in the Maldives
MVR 4,430/mo
vs MVR 12,400 in your country
Take-home
MVR 5,600
vs MVR 18,500 in your country
Potential savings
MVR 1,160
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in the Maldives compare
Against the world as a whole, the Maldives sits somewhere in the middle, but within Asia it ranks among the more expensive places to settle. The explanation is logistics, plain and simple: an economy spread across remote islands has to import what it needs, and shipping turns ordinary goods into pricey ones. For someone deciding, the postcard hides a practical truth — daily life here costs what it costs because everything has to travel.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in the Maldives?
A typical person in the Maldives spends about MVR 8,630 a month — around MVR 104,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in the Maldives in US dollars?
The cost of living in the Maldives is about $559 a month, or roughly $6,708 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in the Maldives?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about MVR 4,430 a month per person, a typical one around MVR 8,630, and a comfortable life around MVR 11,100. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is the average salary in the Maldives enough to live on?
Yes, with room to spare. Average spending is about MVR 8,630 a month, while the average take-home pay in the Maldives is about MVR 13,200. For more on incomes, see salaries in the Maldives.
Is the Maldives an expensive country to live in?
Somewhat. The Maldives is more expensive than 59% of countries worldwide and ranks 8th of 27 in Asia by cost of living.
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Living in the Maldives
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