How Much Does a Liveaboard Cost? Real Prices by Region
Liveaboard prices vary more than almost any other part of a diving trip — from a budget week in the Red Sea for around €564 to a Galapagos expedition topping $7,300. Understanding what drives that gap makes it much easier to pick a trip that fits your budget and know exactly what you are paying for.
This guide breaks down real liveaboard cost per week by region using actual listing prices, explains what is included and what almost always costs extra, and shows the math on cost per dive so you can compare a liveaboard fairly against resort-based diving.
How Much Does a Liveaboard Cost? Quick Answer
A week-long liveaboard typically costs $1,600 to $4,000 per person in a shared cabin, all meals and 3–4 dives a day included. The cheapest region is Egypt's Red Sea, with weekly trips starting from around €564. Prices climb with remoteness and boat standard: Indonesia (Komodo, Raja Ampat) runs roughly $950–$6,921, the Maldives from $1,610, the Caribbean from $3,395–$3,695, and expedition destinations like Cocos Island ($6,399) and the Galapagos ($7,300) sit at the top of the market due to long transits, small passenger counts and strict permits.
The headline price almost never includes nitrox, gear rental, marine park fees, tips or a single supplement — budget an extra 10–20% of the trip cost for those.
Liveaboard Cost by Region
Prices below are per person, per week, in a shared cabin — the entry point for that region on Be Underwater. Luxury boats and private cabins cost significantly more.
| Region | From (per week) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Red Sea, Egypt | €564 | Short transits, high boat supply |
| Komodo, Indonesia | $950 / €1,475 | Short 3–4 day trips available |
| Raja Ampat, Indonesia | $2,190 – $6,921 | Remote, luxury phinisi boats |
| Maldives | $1,610 | Atoll hopping, moderate transit |
| Caribbean | $3,395 – $3,695 | US-flagged boats, shorter itineraries |
| Thailand | $3,490 | Similan/Richelieu premium routes |
| Philippines | $3,895 | Tubbataha permits, remote reefs |
| Palau | $3,835 | Remote Pacific, small operator pool |
| Cocos Island, Costa Rica | $6,399 | 36-hour crossing, hammerhead expeditions |
| Galapagos, Ecuador | $7,300 | Longest transit, strictest permits |
Related: Best Liveaboards in the Red Sea · Best Liveaboards in Indonesia · Best Liveaboards in the Maldives · Best Liveaboards in the Caribbean
What's Included in the Price
Across every region above, the base liveaboard price almost always covers the same core package:
- Cabin accommodation for the length of the trip, shared or private depending on the room type you book.
- Full board — breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks between dives.
- 3–4 dives a day on the standard itinerary, sometimes with an optional night dive.
- Tanks and weights for every dive on the schedule.
- Crew, dive guides and boat transit between sites, including overnight crossings.
Tip: always check whether the listed price is per person in a shared twin cabin — that is the standard basis for every figure in the table above.
What Costs Extra
These are the line items that catch first-time liveaboard divers off guard — budget for them before you compare prices between boats:
- Nitrox: usually $100–$250 for the whole week if you want enriched air on every dive. Some boats charge per tank instead of a flat weekly fee.
- Equipment rental: a full BCD, regulator and wetsuit set typically adds $150–$350 for the week if you do not travel with your own gear.
- Marine park fees: often $50–$150 per trip, paid in cash locally — Komodo, Galapagos and Raja Ampat all charge separate conservation fees that are rarely folded into the headline price.
- Tips for the crew: the industry norm is roughly $10–$15 per person, per day — so $70–$100 for a week-long trip.
- Single supplement: if you want a cabin to yourself, expect to pay 50–100% more than the shared-cabin price shown in the table.
Cost Per Dive: Why the Math Works in Your Favor
A weekly trip price looks steep next to a single $60 fun dive from shore — until you divide it by the number of dives you actually log. Most liveaboards run 3–4 dives a day for 6–7 days, which adds up to 18–27+ dives on one trip.
On a Red Sea trip from €564 with around 20 dives, meals and accommodation included, that works out to roughly €28 per dive — cheaper than a single fun dive at most resorts. Even at the top end, a Galapagos trip at $7,300 for about 20 dives comes out to around $365 per dive — high in absolute terms, but the price reflects sites (hammerhead schools at Darwin and Wolf) that are simply unreachable any other way.
The takeaway: compare liveaboards on cost per dive, not just the headline weekly price, and factor in whether the destination is reachable by any cheaper route at all.
How to Save on a Liveaboard
- Book a shared cabin, not a private one: the single supplement can add 50–100% to the price — sharing with another diver is the single biggest lever.
- Consider a shorter itinerary: Komodo runs 3–4 day trips from around $950 — a good way to try a liveaboard before committing to a full week.
- Skip optional extras you don't need: if you are not doing deep or long dives, you may not need nitrox on every tank.
- Travel with your own gear: avoiding rental fees saves $150–$350 over a week-long trip.
- Watch for shoulder-season pricing: boats often discount departures just outside peak season while conditions are still good.
- Compare cost per dive, not just the sticker price: a slightly more expensive boat with more dives per day can work out cheaper overall.
FAQ: Liveaboard Costs
How much does a liveaboard cost per week?
Most week-long liveaboards cost between $1,600 and $4,000 per person in a shared cabin, with full board and 3–4 dives a day included. Budget Red Sea routes start from around €564, while remote expedition destinations like the Galapagos can exceed $7,300.
What is the cheapest liveaboard destination?
Egypt's Red Sea is consistently the cheapest liveaboard destination, with weekly trips starting from around €564. Short Komodo itineraries in Indonesia are also budget-friendly, starting from roughly $950 for 3–4 days.
What is usually included in the price?
The base price covers your cabin, full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks), 3–4 dives a day, tanks, weights and the crew running the boat. Nitrox, gear rental, marine park fees, tips and a single-cabin supplement are almost always separate.
How much should I budget for extras?
Plan for an extra 10–20% of the trip cost to cover nitrox ($100–$250), equipment rental ($150–$350), marine park fees ($50–$150), and crew tips (roughly $10–$15 per person per day). A single supplement, if you want your own cabin, adds 50–100% more.
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