How Much Does a Luxury Yacht Charter Cost? Real Weekly Budget

The gap between the advertised rate and the final bill comes from the standard MYBA terms: the weekly price pays for the yacht and its crew, and the running costs of your week go on top, at cost. Adding the ranges in the table below (APA 25-40%, VAT 0-25%, tip 5-15%) gives a total of roughly 1.3 to 1.8 times the charter fee, by our own sum; where you land depends mostly on the route and the country. A fast motor yacht covering long distances burns through more APA than a sailing yacht at anchor, the unspent APA comes back at the end, and the VAT can be lower where a reduced regime or time outside EU waters applies. At the very top, the largest yachts go above €1 million a week before any of this.

This guide breaks the bill down line by line, shows a worked example and points out where budgets go wrong. All figures are indicative: the final price always comes from the licensed charter agency that issues the contract.

How is the price of a yacht charter calculated?

The weekly price you see on a listing, the charter fee, buys you the yacht and its crew; the running costs of your particular week are paid separately, at cost. That is the “plus all expenses” basis of the MYBA terms, which YachtCharterFleet describes as the industry standard used by most yacht charters. MYBA is the industry association that publishes the standard charter agreement. So the total has four or five parts:

The percentages come from the MYBA guidelines and the large charter houses cited at the end of this guide. They are averages: a fast motor yacht that covers long distances will burn through more APA than a sailing yacht that spends the week at anchor.

What does the base charter fee include?

According to MYBA’s own guidance for captains and crew, the charter fee covers the yacht with its equipment in working order, the crew’s wages, uniforms and food, the insurance of yacht and crew set out in the contract, basic consumables from cleaning materials and toiletries to galley basics, and the laundry of the ship’s linen and towels. Everything else is for the charterer’s account, at cost, and is paid from the APA: fuel for the yacht, the tender and the toys, your food and drink, berths and port charges, shore water and electricity, agents’ fees, communications, transport ashore and anything hired at your request. MYBA’s full list of what is included and what goes on top, item by item, is in our MYBA charter agreement guide.

Some yachts, particularly smaller ones in the Caribbean, are offered on more inclusive terms instead (Caribbean Terms Inclusive, or “all-inclusive”), where three meals a day and fuel for four hours of cruising a day are built into the price, and some drinks may be included. BOAT International puts the extra allowance on those at around 5% instead of 30-35%. The headline rate looks higher, but the bill is more predictable. Check which model applies before you compare two yachts side by side.

How much does a yacht charter cost per week by size?

From about €40,000 a week under 30 metres to about €1.7 million for 80 metres and over, according to the average weekly rates by length band that BOAT International published for the yachts listed for charter on its platform. Length is the main driver of price because it drives everything else: number of cabins, crew size, fuel use and berthing costs. These averages are the most useful public benchmark we found: in between, BOAT put 50-60 m yachts at about €220,000 a week. The full table by length band, next to guest and crew numbers, is in our yacht size comparison.

Three things to keep in mind when you use these averages:

The ranges inside each band are wide. BOAT notes that three different 30-metre yachts may vary in price by as much as €75,000. Age, refit, builder, interior volume, crew reputation and toys all move the price.

Season matters. High-season weeks (July and August in the Mediterranean) cost more: IYC puts the gap between its average high- and low-season rates at about 7% across its fleet. BOAT’s data showed high-season premiums of a few thousand euros a week on 30-40 m yachts and tens of thousands on 60-80 m yachts.

The data is from 2022. Rates have moved since then, and they are averages, not quotes. Use them to know which size band fits your budget, not to judge a specific offer. The same comparison explains how size changes crew, space and the harbours you can reach.

Why most charters stop at 12 guests

Whatever the length, you will rarely see more than 12 guests sleeping on board. Northrop & Johnson notes that, because of international maritime rules, most yacht charters are limited to a maximum of 12 guests while cruising, even on yachts that could sleep more. That is why a 70-metre yacht and a 45-metre yacht often host the same number of people. The bigger yacht gives you more space per person, more crew and more toys, not more beds. If your group is larger, you are looking at two yachts or one of the few yachts that meet the Passenger Yacht Code and can legally cruise with more than 12 guests. When you compare yachts, look at the number and layout of cabins as much as the length.

What is the APA and how much should you budget?

The Advance Provisioning Allowance is money you send before the charter, usually 25-40% of the charter fee, so the captain can pay the running costs of your week: fuel, food, drink, berths, port fees. It is not a fee. It is your money, held and spent on your behalf, and the unspent balance comes back to you at the end.

Most sources put the APA within that band, not on a single figure:

• IYC: 25-40% of the charter fee.
• YachtCharterFleet: around 25-30%.
• Edmiston: about 30%, higher on long itineraries and lower when the base rate is very high.
• BOAT International: 30-35% for the APA on “plus all expenses” terms, and 25-50% of the charter fee for all expenses on top.

The exact percentage is written into your contract. Motor yachts that cruise long distances at speed sit at the top of the range, because fuel is the biggest single item. A sailing yacht or a slow itinerary with plenty of anchoring sits lower.

Under MYBA terms the captain must keep the accounts, tell you how the money is going during the week, and present a statement with receipts before you leave. If the APA runs out, the captain can ask for more; if there is money left, it is refunded. We cover the mechanics in our APA guide.

How much VAT do you pay on a yacht charter?

VAT is charged on the charter fee. The rate and the rules depend mainly on where the charter takes place: BOAT International says it depends on where you board and leave the yacht, and the agency confirms it in the contract. The standard VAT rates published by the European Commission (checked in July 2026) are:

The standard rate is not always the rate you pay. IYC’s tax summary, updated in May 2026, gives 13% for qualifying multi-day charters in Croatia and an effective rate of 5.2% to 13% for eligible charters in Greece. In France and Monaco, it says, the VAT may be reduced in proportion to the time spent outside EU waters, with documentation, and in Italy the final figure can depend on the time spent in non-EU waters. Outside the EU, rules differ by country: BOAT International notes that a few Caribbean islands add VAT, so ask the broker what applies to your itinerary.

These rules change, and the details depend on the yacht’s tax set-up. The agency states the VAT that applies in the contract, and you confirm it before you sign. Our yacht charter VAT guide by country gives the rules and official sources for each destination, with the year of the information.

How much do you tip the crew?

The tip, or crew gratuity, is voluntary and not in the contract price. MYBA’s guidance for captains says brokers generally suggest between 5% and 15% of the charter fee, if the crew gave excellent service, and that a tip must never be requested. In practice, other industry sources such as BOAT International quote a wider 5-20% band.

On a €200,000 week, 10% is €20,000. That is a real line in the budget, so plan for it from the start rather than discovering it on the last evening. Our crew tipping guide covers how much, how it is handed over and how it is shared.

What other costs can appear?

Beyond the charter fee, VAT, APA and tip, the bill can grow with four things: delivery fees if you start away from the yacht’s base, berths in busy harbours, special requests and any damage caused by guests.

Delivery and redelivery fees

If you want to start or finish somewhere other than the yacht’s base for that week, the owner charges the cost of bringing it there: fuel, crew time and sometimes berths. MYBA’s guidance asks the captain to explain the fuel and the agreed delivery costs clearly at the start. Choosing a yacht already based where you want to start avoids most of this.

Berths in busy harbours

Berthing is paid from the APA, and in peak weeks the price is the least of the problems: in places like Saint-Tropez, Capri, Portofino or the Costa Smeralda, berths often have to be booked months in advance. Event weeks such as the Monaco Grand Prix carry their own, much higher, costs.

Special requests

Extra crew (a masseur, a nanny, a dive instructor), a chase boat, hired toys, helicopter transfers, guided excursions or a specific wine list are all extra. They are paid from the APA or invoiced separately, and you should ask for an estimate before the charter.

Damage

Under MYBA guidance, if guests cause damage and it is decided that you must pay for it, the captain shows it to you during the charter, sets a realistic repair amount and withholds it from the APA, with a note you sign before leaving. Damage not raised with you on board should not be charged later, and normal wear and tear is not charged.

Worked example: what does a week really cost?

About 1.6 times the charter fee: €112,700 in total for a week on a 35-metre motor yacht from Mallorca, and €352,000 for a 55-metre motor yacht from the French Riviera, in the two illustrative cases below with round numbers. They are not quotes for any real yacht: they only show how the lines add up. The APA is taken at 30%, the tip at 10%, and VAT at the standard rate of the starting country, with no reductions.

Example 1: 35-metre motor yacht, one week from Mallorca

Example 2: 55-metre motor yacht, one week from the French Riviera

In both cases part of the APA may come back at the end of the week, and the VAT can be lower if a reduced regime or time outside EU waters applies. It can also be higher if you ask the captain to cover long distances every day.

When do you pay?

Half the charter fee on signing, and the rest with the APA about one month before the charter. The usual sequence on a MYBA contract is:

1. On signing: 50% of the charter fee. The yacht is only confirmed once the contract is signed and this first payment arrives by the date stated.
2. About one month before the charter: the remaining 50%, plus the APA and any agreed extras such as delivery fees.
3. On board, at the end: the APA statement is settled, any balance is refunded or topped up, and you leave the tip if you wish.

The exact dates are in the contract. If something goes wrong, the cancellation rules depend on the contract version and its clauses. Our guide to the MYBA charter agreement explains payments, cancellation and what to check before you sign.

How to keep the budget under control

• Ask for the full figure, not the base rate. A good proposal shows charter fee, VAT, APA percentage and any delivery fee. If it only shows the weekly rate, ask for the rest in writing.
• Pick the itinerary with the fuel bill in mind. A route with short legs and nights at anchor costs far less than crossing to a different island group every day. The captain can estimate fuel for the route you want.
• Compare like with like. A yacht on “all-inclusive” terms and one on “plus all expenses” cannot be compared on the headline rate alone.
• Watch the season. Outside July and August, Edmiston says you may be able to negotiate a lower price, but IYC finds shoulder weeks usually priced the same as high season, so ask. See when to book a yacht charter.
• Check the APA account during the week. The captain must keep you informed. Ask for an update mid-week so there are no surprises.
• Read the VAT line. Make sure the contract says which rate applies and on what basis.

What a proposal should show you

When an agency sends you options, each one should let you rebuild the total yourself. Look for:

• The charter fee for your exact dates, and whether it is a high-season or low-season rate.
• The VAT rate applied and the country it comes from.
• The APA, as a percentage or an amount.
• Any delivery or redelivery fee, and how it is calculated.
• The maximum number of guests and the cabin layout.
• Whether the yacht is offered on MYBA “plus all expenses” terms or all-inclusive.

If two proposals are built differently, put them in the same format before comparing. A yacht that looks €10,000 cheaper on the headline rate can end up more expensive once the APA, a delivery fee and a higher VAT rate are added.

Is a yacht charter cheaper than owning one?

Edmiston calls chartering a good alternative to buying, with no maintenance fees. If you only use a yacht a few weeks a year, it spares you the costs owners carry: they pay for crew, berth, insurance, maintenance and depreciation all year round. A charter turns that into a known weekly cost, with no commitment after you step off.

To see the same bill divided per guest and per night, read what a crewed yacht charter costs per person.

Ask for a costed proposal

Rates move with the season, the yacht’s calendar and how far it has to travel to meet you, so a real figure needs your dates, the number of guests, the port where you would like to start and whether you lean towards a motor or a sailing yacht. With that, a charter specialist will reply with options that show the charter fee, VAT, APA and any delivery fee line by line. The charter itself is contracted with the yacht’s owner through a licensed charter agency, normally under the MYBA contract, with the full price and the VAT clear before you sign. Tell us your dates.