Quick answer
A 4-night Maldives trip from India costs from about ₹55,000 per person on a local island, ₹95,000 at a 4★ resort with half board, and ₹2.5 lakh or more for a 5★ water villa with seaplane transfers — all including return flights from Delhi or Mumbai, twin sharing. Transfers, the 17% tourism tax and the green tax make resorts costlier than room rates suggest.
Maldives at three budgets
Budget
Starting from
₹55,000
per person, twin sharing
Guesthouse on a local island such as Maafushi or Thoddoo, breakfast, shared speedboat or ferry transfers, two shared excursions, return flights.
Mid-range
Starting from
₹95,000
per person, twin sharing
4★ resort in North or South Malé Atoll, beach villa, half board, return speedboat transfers, one excursion, all taxes, return flights.
Luxury
Starting from
₹2,50,000
per person, twin sharing
5★ resort in Baa, Ari or Lhaviyani Atoll, water villa, half board or all-inclusive, seaplane transfers, return flights.
Starting prices per person on twin sharing for 4 nights, reflecting typical market rates at the time of review. Peak dates (Diwali, Christmas–New Year, May–June school holidays) cost more. GST and TCS apply as per law on packages.
Where the money goes (mid-range, per person)
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights (Delhi or Mumbai) | ₹22,000–45,000 | Economy, booked four to eight weeks ahead |
| Resort, 4 nights, beach villa, half board | ₹50,000–70,000 | Twin sharing, including 10% service charge, 17% tax and USD 12 nightly green tax |
| Speedboat transfers (return) | ₹8,000–13,000 | USD 90–150; seaplanes cost USD 500–900 |
| Excursions | ₹6,000–12,000 | One or two shared trips, such as a dolphin cruise or sandbank |
| Drinks, snacks and extras | ₹4,000–8,000 | Bottled and soft drinks are often charged; alcohol costs far more |
| Travel insurance | ₹600–1,200 | — |
Return flight fares from Indian cities
| From | Typical return economy fare |
|---|---|
| Delhi | ₹28,000–45,000 |
| Mumbai | ₹22,000–38,000 |
| Bengaluru | ₹18,000–32,000 |
| Kochi / Chennai | ₹15,000–28,000 |
Booked 4–8 weeks ahead outside peak holidays. Last-minute and festive fares run higher.
How to spend less without ruining the trip
- Travel in May–June or September–October, outside Indian holiday weeks, when resort rates are often 25–40% below February levels.
- Choose half board over all-inclusive unless you drink alcohol; for vegetarian families, all-inclusive rarely pays for itself.
- Pick a speedboat resort in the Malé atolls — seaplane transfers alone can add ₹44,000–79,000 per person.
- Split the stay: two nights on a local island and two at a resort gives you the resort experience for less.
- Ask whether drinking water in the villa is free; bottled water at some resorts costs USD 5–10.
- Book excursions with local-island operators where possible — they often cost half the resort price.
- Compare quotes that include all taxes; many resort rates exclude the service charge, tourism tax and green tax.
How much does a Maldives trip cost from India?
The Maldives looks expensive because it often is, but the range is wide. A local-island guesthouse trip costs about the same as a week in Thailand; a water villa with seaplane transfers costs more than a fortnight in Europe. Most Indian couples and families land in the middle: a 4★ speedboat resort near Malé on half board, from about ₹95,000 per person for four nights with flights.
What pushes the price up?
Three things catch first-time visitors:
- Taxes and charges: resorts add a 10% service charge and 17% tourism GST, plus a green tax of USD 12 per person per night (USD 6 at guesthouses). A USD 300 room-night becomes about USD 385 before green tax.
- Transfers: speedboats cost USD 90–150 return per person and seaplanes USD 500–900. Children usually pay less.
- Food and drink: resort meals are priced like five-star hotels in India — an à la carte vegetarian dinner can be USD 40–70 per person. Half board is usually the best value.
Local island or resort: the cost difference
| Item (per person, 4 nights) | Local island | 4★ resort |
|---|---|---|
| Stay | ₹12,000–20,000 | ₹50,000–70,000 |
| Transfers | ₹2,000–6,000 | ₹8,000–13,000 |
| Food | ₹6,000–10,000 | Half board included |
| Excursions | ₹6,000–10,000 | ₹6,000–12,000 |
Local islands sell no alcohol and limit swimwear to bikini beaches, but the sea is the same. See where to stay in the Maldives for the islands that work best.
When are prices lowest?
Rates fall from May to October, outside Indian holiday weeks, and peak from about 20 December to early January, when many resorts insist on minimum stays. Diwali week is also expensive at resorts popular with Indians. See the best time to visit the Maldives.
Money, TCS and payments
Resorts quote and bill in US dollars, and cards are accepted everywhere. Carry USD 100–200 in small notes for tips and local-island trips; Maldivian rufiyaa is useful only on local islands. Overseas tour packages bought from an Indian agent attract TCS, which you can adjust against your income tax — ask for the current rate when you book. Our foreign exchange and travel insurance services can be arranged with the booking.
Indian passport holders get a free 30-day visa on arrival, so there is no visa cost to budget. See the Maldives visa guide and the 4-day Maldives itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to visit the Maldives from India?
How much does a Maldives honeymoon cost for a couple?
Is all-inclusive worth it in the Maldives?
What is the green tax in the Maldives?
Do I need to carry US dollars to the Maldives?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
