Maldives
Profiled in Malé · South Asia
A capital packed onto a single square-kilometre island, ringed by turquoise atolls where the resort economy and everyday Maldivian life run on parallel tracks.
Cost of living
What a month costs
Malé is dense and expensive for its size, and almost everything is imported. Resort islands operate at an entirely different price level from the capital.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in Malé
- Malé Friday MosqueSixteenth-century coral stone mosque, a UNESCO site.
- Islamic CentreGold-domed Grand Friday Mosque dominating the skyline.
- Sultan ParkGreen square on the former royal palace grounds.
- Malé Fish MarketWorking morning market on the northern waterfront.
- Rasfannu BeachArtificial city beach on the western reclaimed edge.
- National MuseumPre-Islamic and sultanate artefacts in the old palace compound.
- Hukuru Miskiy cemeteryCarved coral headstones beside the old mosque.
- VillingiliGreen residential island a short public ferry from the capital.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- HulhumaléReclaimed island beside the airport, with beaches and newer housing.
- MaafushiLocal island that pioneered guesthouse tourism, an hour by ferry.
- Baa AtollUNESCO biosphere reserve and Hanifaru Bay manta aggregations.
- Addu AtollThe far south, with causeway-linked islands and wartime relics.
- ThulusdhooSurf breaks and a laid-back local island close to the capital.
Residency
There is no citizenship route for foreigners and land cannot be owned outright, only leased. Residence follows work permits or the corporate investment framework, and the Maldives does not permit dual citizenship or non-Muslim citizenship.
Tax
Personal income tax is progressive to 15% and was only introduced in 2020. The corporate rate is 15%. GST is 8% generally but 16% for tourism. There is no wealth or inheritance tax.
Curious what you would actually pay? See the Maldives tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
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