Un dhoni aux Maldives.
Photographs from Maldives
Butorides striata photograph from Maldives
Butorides striata photograph from Maldives
Maldives view 5
Malé, capital of Maldives

Maldives

N/A
Climate
MVR
Currency
Caution
Safety
Moderate
Cost of Living
Maldivian
Language
Country Information Maldives

The Maldives is a unique island nation located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka, comprising a stunning archipelago of 26 coral atolls. Consisting of approximately 1,190 coral islands, of which only about 200 are inhabited, the co...

Cost of Living
vs EU AverageSimilar cost of living
Rent
MVR14,500Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
MVR135Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
MVR27.76Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
MVR8.68One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Maldives Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
  • District Matching for your Lifestyle
  • Vetted Local Partner Directory

With a safety index of 48/100, Maldives offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

The Maldives welcomes international tourists from all nationalities with a streamlined visa-on-arrival program, making it one of the most accessible destinations globally. All visitors—including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most other countries—receive a complimentary 30-day tourist visa upon arrival at Velana International Airport, provided they meet entry requirements[1][4]. The only exception is Israeli passport holders, who have been denied entry effective April 15, 2025[4]. To qualify for visa-on-arrival, travelers must present a valid passport with...

Visa-free entry: 1 month
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Maldives

Create your free profile to see personalized match scores.

Location Intelligence for Maldives
Cost of Living47.7

Near EU average

Safety47.6

27% below EU avg

Quality of Life103.7

33% below EU avg

Purchasing Power44.3

37% below EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Malé

Timezone

UTC+05:00

Area

300 km²

Population

540,542

Maldives shows a purchasing power index of 44/100, indicating moderate economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Maldives

GDP

$6.19B

HDI

0.7

Quality of Life

45/100

+2 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

18/100

-24 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Maldives. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Maldives
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

High

Affordable costs (CPI: 48.5). Groceries (52.9), restaurants (42.3), and rent (23.4) are low compared to NYC baseline of 100, though imports may raise prices on islands.

Housing Market

Moderate

Property prices average 10.8 years of household income. Rent index of 23.4 offers affordability, with variations between Male and atolls.

Average Income Levels

Very Poor

Low purchasing power index of 48.4 limits buying power. GDP per capita around USD 12,000 nominal in 2024, with tourism-driven employment.

Tax System

Good

No personal income tax for residents; Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 6-12% with recent cautious increases to 8% on some items. Low property taxes and simple structure favor expats.

Business Environment

Moderate

Moderate ease of doing business hampered by high bureaucracy, tourism reliance, and fiscal challenges like 120% debt-to-GDP. 5.2% GDP growth projected for 2024 from tourism recovery.

Social Security

Moderate

Public healthcare free for citizens with Aasandha scheme covering expats variably; pension via Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme. Limited unemployment benefits, low 4.2% rate in 2023.

Work & Business in Maldives
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

The Maldives features a uniform hot tropical climate across its 298 km² archipelago of low-lying coral atolls, classified under Köppen as **Af** (tropical rainforest) with no dry season and temperatures consistently above 26°C year-round. Daytime highs range from 30-32°C, with nights at 26-27°C, creating a perpetually warm, humid environment ideal for beach living but challenging due to heat and sudden showers.

Climate
Tropical Rainforest
Summer
27–32°C
Winter
26–31°C
Sunshine
2800+ hrs/yr

3 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Maldives

Life Expectancy

77.3

Population

540,542

Religions

Currently under research

Ethnic Composition

Currently under research

What Expats Say About MaldivesBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Maldives. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Maldives
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Maldives
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Maldives
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

The Maldives operates as a presidential republic under President Mohamed Muizzu since November 2023, with his People's National Congress holding a majority in the unicameral People's Majlis following the 2024 elections. Recent constitutional amendments ratified in late 2024 aim to enhance political accountability and national sovereignty amid concerns over democratic freedoms.

System
Presidential republic
Legal System
Mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Maldives
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Maldives flag
Maldives at a Glance

Capital

Malé

Languages

Maldivian

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Maldives

Population

540,542

Currency

MVR

Timezone

UTC+05:00

Calling Code

+960

Week starts on

Sunday

Gini Coefficient

31.3 (2016)

Traffic side

left side

Location

Map coordinates not available for this location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.