Is Maldives More Expensive Than India? A Beach Lover’s Cost Breakdown

So you’re looking at your next beach holiday, torn between the postcard-perfect Maldives and the sun-soaked sands of India. First question everyone asks: which one is going to hurt your wallet more?

If you Google “Is the Maldives more expensive than India,” you get a straight yes almost everywhere. But hang on—there’s more to it. It’s not just about hotel prices. Think flights, food, what you do for fun, and those surprises kids like Finnian always seem to sniff out.

Most of us picture the Maldives as some billionaire’s hideaway, but if you know a few tricks (and avoid the jaw-dropping overwater villas), it doesn’t have to destroy your savings. Meanwhile, India’s beach hotspots, like Goa and Kerala, are famous for good reason—not just the vibe, but the crazy range of prices. You can go wild or be a total cheapskate, and it still works.

Here’s the real scoop, without the boring stuff. Let’s unpack what you’ll actually pay for getting there, staying, eating, and having fun—plus some hacks so you don’t leave feeling broke or shortchanged.

• Real Cost of Getting There
• Stay and Eat: Where Your Money Goes
• Fun on the Sand: Activities and Extras
• Tips to Make Your Budget Work Harder

Real Cost of Getting There

The first thing eating up your beach budget? Flights. Let’s put it out there—getting to the Maldives from India costs way more than bouncing around Indian beach towns. If you’re flying out of Mumbai, a round-trip ticket to Malé, the Maldives’ airport island, usually starts around ₹18,000–₹25,000 per person for a direct economy seat if you book a couple of months ahead. If you wait till the last minute or travel during the peak December-January madness, those prices can shoot up to ₹40,000 or higher. Fancy a direct flight from Delhi or Bangalore? Slightly longer flight, similar prices, sometimes higher.

Now, compare this to heading to Goa, Kerala, or even the Andamans from the same cities. Most domestic flights, even in high season, hover around ₹4,000–₹8,000 one way if you book early, and you’ll almost always find some budget airline sales slashing those rates.

Here’s what that all looks like at a glance:

And there’s another catch with the Maldives: You’ll need a speedboat or seaplane transfer from Malé to most islands where the resorts are. These transfers often cost anywhere from ₹4,000–₹25,000 per person, round trip—sometimes almost as much as your flight. No extra transfers when you book a taxi or a bus to a beach town in India.

If you’re bringing kids, like my Finnian, or traveling as a group, these flight and transfer costs pile up fast. So, if keeping costs down is priority one, India’s the clear winner when it comes to just getting there.

Stay and Eat: Where Your Money Goes

Here’s where things get real. The Maldives is famous for dreamy resorts that can cost more per night than some people’s monthly rent. A basic guesthouse on a local island might cost you $50 to $80 a night, but the typical overwater villa rockets up to $400–$1000+ per night, and that’s before taxes and service charges that add another 20-25% to your bill. Big ouch.

Now compare this with India’s popular beach destinations. In Goa or Kerala, you’ll find rooms just steps from the sand for $15–$40 a night. Even in India’s “fancy” resorts, prices usually top out around $150–$300 a night for something seriously nice. There’s an option for every budget, and you’ll have plenty left over for food and fun.

When it comes to eating out, the Maldives hits you with surprise bills. Resorts often run on meal plans: half-board, full-board, or all-inclusive. A simple buffet dinner can be $40–$60 per person, and à la carte dishes start at $18–$30. If you hop over to local islands, you’ll spend much less—think $6–$10 per meal at simple cafés, but options are limited and sometimes pretty basic.

India? That’s food paradise, no contest. Even at beachside shacks, a tasty Goan seafood thali or a plate of Kerala-style fried fish rarely crosses $8–$10. In proper restaurants, meals might hit $15 if you go big, and you can snack all day on samosas and chai for pocket change—perfect if you’re traveling with kids who are always hungry.

• If you’re craving variety and flexibility, India’s the clear winner.
• In the Maldives, if you want to cut food costs, look for guesthouses on local islands that offer breakfast included, and save big by eating away from the big resorts.
• Always check if taxes and extra service charges are hidden in the Maldives—those add up fast.

If you’re weighing where to spend the night and what’s on your plate, India keeps things flexible and friendly for nearly every wallet. The Maldives feels exclusive for a reason—your wallet works harder, and you get paradise, but you pay for every bit of that postcard view.

Fun on the Sand: Activities and Extras

Here’s where trips to the Maldives and India’s beaches really start to look different. Prices and experiences swing wildly, depending on where you're parked and what you want to do with your days. Don’t just compare beach views—think about what you're paying for snorkeling, dolphin spotting, or having drinks by the water.

In the Maldives, big-ticket activities often drive up the total cost. Most travelers want at least one day of snorkeling (it's basically illegal to skip the reefs). Snorkeling trips start around $30 per person and can climb past $100 if you want a half-day luxury cruise. Scuba diving? Certified divers pay around $70–$150 per dive, gear included. Island-hopping boat trips are all the rage and usually cost $50–$120. Expect private sandbank picnics or dolphin cruises to easily run over $100 per person. And here’s the kicker: most activities are priced in US dollars, not local money, and resorts can tack on a service charge of 10% plus 16% goods and services tax.

India’s Goan or Keralan beaches come with a totally different vibe and price sheet. Most water sports (think banana boat rides, parasailing, or jet skis) cost between ₹500 and ₹1,500 per person (roughly $6–$18). You can get a group boat tour, including dolphin spotting, for ₹700–₹1,200 per person. Yoga classes on the sand usually ask for ₹400–₹800. Beach shack massages? About ₹1,200 an hour for a full body rubdown. Local SEPA-certified guides in Kerala can organize backwater canoe tours that start around ₹1,500, snacks included.

What you might not expect: in the Maldives, being on a private island sometimes means you have no option but to use the resort’s activities and prices—no haggling or outside shopping around. In India, you’ve got way more freedom to find local deals or join group activities that cost next to nothing.

• If you’ve got adventurous kids (like Finnian), Indian beaches are a win for endless, budget-friendly fun, from building sandcastles to camel rides.
• Maldives is magical for couples or groups who want luxury, privacy, or a once-in-a-lifetime underwater experience, but you pay for it.

Bottom line: activities are pricier in the Maldives, both because of the luxury angle and because there isn’t much outside the resorts. India makes it easy to do a ton without blowing your stash, especially if you want something different every day. Either way, the real answer depends on what kind of beach memories you’re after—and how much you want to spend making them.

Tips to Make Your Budget Work Harder

If you’re hoping your beach vacation doesn’t leave your bank account sunburned, a few smart moves make a huge difference, whether you're in India or the Maldives. Forget the image that you need to drop thousands to enjoy crazy clear water. Here’s how you stretch your cash without sacrificing the good stuff.

• Maldives: Skip those overwater villas unless it’s a special occasion. Local guesthouses on “inhabited islands” (like Maafushi or Thulusdhoo) run as low as $50–$70 per night, and you get a slice of real island life.
• India: If you head to Goa or Kerala, book early for the best deals. Outside Christmas and New Year’s, you can find beachfront rooms for $20–$40, especially on non-tourist stretches or family-run homestays.

Cheap eats also make a difference. In India, street food and local seafood shacks often outshine restaurants, both in flavor and price. In the Maldives, try small cafés known as 'hotaa'. You’ll get solid meals for a couple of dollars, not $30 like at a resort restaurant.

It’s worth keeping an eye out for flights. Flying to the Maldives is usually pricier than Goa or Kochi, but if you can travel outside India’s school holidays or use airline points, round-trip fares from major Indian cities dip as low as $220.

Below is a side-by-side snapshot of common travel costs, based on 2024 figures:

Some final hacks:

• Travel in the shoulder season (May or September) for fewer crowds and cheaper stays in both places, but check the weather—you don’t want your beach week to turn into a monsoon escape room.
• Check for package deals, especially for the Maldives, where transfers and snorkeling trips can add up if booked separately.
• Use local transport—Maldives ferries cost just a few dollars, and Indian tuk-tuks or buses are dirt cheap.
• If you’re traveling with kids, choose properties with breakfast included. Trust me, it’s one less thing to think about when Finnian wakes up hungry at 6am.

Stack these tips, and you’ll get the postcard beaches minus the scary credit card bill. Doesn’t matter if your heart’s set on Maldives turquoise or India’s spicy waves—the best trip is one you can actually afford without stress.