Living in Male
What it really costs to live in Male, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Maldives, updated 2026. Male lies in Southern Asia. Maldives's capital is Malé. The main language is Dhivehi. The currency is the rufiyaa.
What You Can Earn in Maldives
Typical gross annual salaries in Maldives by sector (entry · median · senior). Male pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €19 500 | €28 000 | €39 000 |
| retail | €6 500 | €9 500 | €13 500 |
| finance | €17 500 | €25 000 | €35 000 |
| education | €8 500 | €12 000 | €17 000 |
| healthcare | €11 500 | €16 500 | €23 000 |
| engineering | €15 500 | €22 000 | €31 000 |
| hospitality | €7 500 | €11 000 | €15 500 |
| construction | €10 500 | €15 000 | €21 000 |
Living in Male: Safety, Health & Climate
Male shares Maldives's wider quality-of-life profile. Male has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Maldives
Affording Male is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Maldives. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~12 years.
- Investment route from about €230 000 (USD).
Taxes in Maldives
Top marginal rate 0%, VAT 6%.
Settling into Male
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Maldives.
- Budget around €3 200 for first-month setup in Male.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Engineering, Law, Nursing.
Get Your Maldives Emigration Report
Personalised visa options, costs and a 90-day plan for Maldives.
Get Essential Report — €5or start the free assessmentSources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Maldives Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries