Maldives Expensive? What It Really Costs to Visit This Island Paradise

When people say Maldives expensive, a tropical island nation known for overwater bungalows and crystal-clear waters, they’re usually right—but not for the reasons you think. The cost isn’t just about luxury resorts. It’s about location, logistics, and the fact that almost everything gets shipped in. Unlike India, where you can find a clean guesthouse for $10 a night, the Maldives has no local farms, no public transport, and no cheap grocery stores. Everything from bottled water to fresh fish is flown or ferried in, and that adds up fast.

Compare that to Goa, India’s most popular beach destination, where you can swim in the Arabian Sea, eat fresh seafood for $3, and catch a bus to the next town. The Maldives doesn’t have buses. It has speedboats—private ones, usually included in your resort package. And that’s where the real cost hides: you’re paying for isolation. A $500-a-night resort isn’t just for the view—it’s because you’re the only guest on a 10-acre island with 50 staff. In India, you get the same turquoise water, white sand, and coral reefs in the Andamans, a remote archipelago with diving, jungle treks, and budget stays, but for a fraction of the price.

So why do people still go? Because the Maldives delivers a kind of quiet that’s hard to find elsewhere. No crowds. No street vendors. No tuk-tuks. Just you, the ocean, and a butler bringing mango juice at sunrise. But if you’re looking for value, India offers the same beauty with more variety. You can dive in the Andamans, relax in Kerala’s backwaters, or party on Goa’s beaches—all for less than one night in the Maldives. The Maldives is a destination for pampering. India is a destination for discovery.

What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just travel tips—they’re real comparisons. From how much $1 buys in India versus the Maldives, to which Indian beaches rival its beauty, to how to plan a budget trip that still feels like paradise. You’ll see why some travelers skip the Maldives entirely. And why others still think it’s worth every rupee.