Budget
Honeymoon Cost by Destination: What 15 Top Spots Really Run for 7 Nights
A side-by-side, all-in cost comparison of the most popular honeymoon destinations for a seven-night trip for two — from the sub-$3,000 Dominican Republic to the $15,000-plus Maldives.
"How much does a honeymoon cost?" is the wrong question. The right one is: how much does a honeymoon cost where? The destination you choose swings the total more than any other decision — a seven-night trip for two ranges from under $3,000 to well past $15,000, and almost all of that spread is explained by three levers: how far you fly, what kind of room you sleep in, and how much the destination adds in taxes and transfers on top of the headline rate.
Industry data from The Knot and Zola converges on an average near $5,000–$5,300, but averages are treacherous for planning. Below is an all-in comparison — flights, lodging, food, excursions, transfers, insurance, and tips for two people over seven nights — so you can anchor to a real number for the destination you actually want.
How much does each top destination really cost for 7 nights?
The figures below are all-in estimates for two travelers, in US dollars, assuming economy airfare and mid-range lodging in shoulder or standard season. Ultra-luxury configurations at any destination can run far higher.
| Destination | Lodging model | All-in, 7 nights, 2 pax | Main cost driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) | All-inclusive | $2,600–$3,200 | Nothing high — best value |
| Mexico (Riviera Maya) | All-inclusive | $2,800–$3,600 | Per-person AI rates |
| Costa Rica | Eco-lodges | $2,855–$4,540 | Excursions + transfers |
| Sedona / Asheville (domestic US) | Boutique / rental | $1,800–$3,880 | Peak-season hotel rates |
| Portugal (Lisbon + Algarve) | 4-star boutique | $3,980–$6,520 | Airfare + season |
| Costa Rica (luxury circuit) | Luxury eco-lodges | $5,000–$7,000 | Nayara-tier lodges |
| Hawaii (Big Island) | Mid-range resort | $3,525–$6,480 | Lodging + car rental |
| Hawaii (Maui) | 4-star resort | $5,500–$8,000 | Resort rates + fees |
| Greece (Santorini / Athens) | Boutique / cave suite | $5,500–$9,000 | Airfare + summer peak |
| Bali (mid-luxury) | Private-pool villas | $6,500–$9,000 | Long-haul airfare |
| Amalfi Coast (Italy) | 4-star cliffside | $9,500–$15,000 | Airfare + peak rates |
| Bali (top-tier) | Capella / Bulgari | $10,000–$14,000 | Suite rates + airfare |
| Bora Bora (Le Moana) | Overwater bungalow | $13,450–$15,450 | Airfare + villa rate |
| Maldives (mid-range) | Overwater villa | $13,191–$16,291 | Airfare + villa + 27% tax |
| Maldives / Bora Bora (ultra-luxury) | Premium overwater | $25,000–$35,000+ | $1,500–$3,000/night villas |
Ranges are compiled from itemized dossiers and cross-checked against public 2026 pricing; the Maldives figures follow Prince of Travel's transfer-and-villa breakdown.
What actually drives the gap between $3,000 and $15,000?
Three factors explain nearly the entire spread.
Airfare distance. Flights account for roughly a third of honeymoon spend, per The Knot. Caribbean flights from the US run $500–$900 for two; Maldives and Bora Bora flights run $3,600–$7,000. That single line item is the biggest reason a beach honeymoon can cost five times another beach honeymoon.
Lodging model. An all-inclusive fixes food and drink into one prepaid rate — the reason the Dominican Republic and Mexico dominate the value tier. Overwater villas, by contrast, run $300–$3,000-plus per night and rarely include meals; on-island dining alone can add $200 per day.
Hidden taxes and transfers. This is where budgets quietly break. The Maldives stacks a 17 percent GST, a 10 percent service charge, and a $12 per-person, per-night Green Tax — roughly 27 percent above the base rate, per the official Maldives tax guidance. Seaplane transfers add $400–$745 per adult. Italy levies a city tax; US resorts average $42 per night in resort fees. Honeymoon Edit notes budgets routinely run 20–30 percent over initial estimates for exactly this reason.
How should you use this comparison to pick a destination?
Work backward from your number, not forward from a dream. If your ceiling is $3,500, the table points cleanly to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, or mid-range Costa Rica — and any of the three can feel genuinely luxurious. At $5,000, Portugal, Hawaii's Big Island, and Greece's shoulder season come into range. Above $10,000, the overwater destinations become realistic, especially if you cover flights with points to shave $4,000–$7,000 off the cash total.
Notice the shape of the table: there are really three clusters. The value tier (roughly $2,600–$4,500) is dominated by short-haul Caribbean and Central American destinations with all-inclusive or eco-lodge lodging. The mid tier ($5,000–$9,000) is where Europe and Hawaii sit, where a longer flight or a stronger currency pushes the total up but the room still costs hundreds, not thousands, per night. The premium tier ($13,000-plus) belongs almost entirely to the overwater destinations, where a single villa night can equal three nights of a Caribbean all-inclusive. Knowing which cluster your budget lands in narrows fifteen choices to four or five in seconds, which is the whole point of pricing them side by side.
What is the honest caveat with any honeymoon cost estimate?
Every figure here is a mid-range planning range, not a quote. Season swings lodging by 25–50 percent; a summer Santorini or a December Maldives will sit at the top of its range, a shoulder-season booking near the bottom. The estimates assume economy airfare and standard rooms — upgrade either and the total climbs fast. And every trip should carry the 15–25 percent buffer for the hidden layer. Treat the table as a map of the terrain, then get a real quote for your exact dates before you commit deposits.
Frequently asked
What is the average cost of a honeymoon in 2026?
Two credible industry sources bracket the figure. The Knot's survey of hundreds of US couples and Zola's 2025 cost study both point to an average near $5,000–$5,300 for a roughly seven-night trip for two. That average, however, hides enormous variation: a well-planned Dominican Republic all-inclusive can come in under $3,000, while a mid-range Maldives overwater trip routinely exceeds $13,000. The average is most useful as a planning anchor, not a target — most couples should decide their number first, then match a destination to it, because the destination itself is the single largest driver of total cost.
Why is the Maldives so much more expensive than other beach honeymoons?
Three compounding factors. First, long-haul airfare: US flights to Malé via Dubai, Doha, or Singapore run $1,800–$3,500 per person, so $3,600–$7,000 for two before you sleep anywhere. Second, transfers: seaplane transfers cost $400–$745 per adult round-trip, and overwater villas run $300 to $3,000-plus per night. Third, mandatory taxes: a 17 percent Tourism GST (effective July 1, 2025), a 10 percent service charge, and a $12 per-person, per-night Green Tax stack to roughly 27 percent above the base rate. Together these push a mid-range seven-night trip for two to $13,000–$16,000, per Prince of Travel's cost breakdown.
Which popular honeymoon destination offers the best value?
For all-in value on a seven-night trip for two, the Dominican Republic and mid-range Costa Rica are the clear leaders. The Dominican Republic's adults-only all-inclusives in Punta Cana bundle lodging, meals, and drinks so tightly that a full week for two can land near $2,600–$3,200. Costa Rica delivers a different kind of value — eco-lodges, wildlife, and adventure at roughly $2,855–$4,540 all-in for a week. Both avoid the two most expensive line items: ultra-long-haul airfare and $1,000-plus nightly villa rates. Portugal and Hawaii's Big Island are the next tier, both achievable within $5,000 with careful timing.
Do these honeymoon cost estimates include flights?
Yes — every figure in the comparison table is an all-in estimate for two people that includes round-trip economy airfare, lodging for seven nights, food and drink, excursions, local transport or transfers, travel insurance, and tips or incidentals. Flights are frequently the largest single component; The Knot found flights account for about a third of total honeymoon spend. That is why long-haul destinations like the Maldives and Bora Bora cost multiples of a Caribbean trip even when the room rate is similar. The one common exclusion travelers forget is the 15–25 percent hidden-cost buffer for resort fees, bag charges, and foreign-transaction fees.
How can I reduce the cost of an expensive destination like Bora Bora or the Maldives?
The most powerful lever is covering flights with points and miles, which removes $4,000–$7,000 of cash outlay on a long-haul trip. Beyond that: choose a speedboat-accessible resort in the Maldives' North Malé Atoll to avoid $400–$1,000 in seaplane fees; travel in shoulder or low season, when villa rates fall 25–35 percent; and split accommodation, pairing two overwater nights with several garden or beach nights. In Bora Bora, the InterContinental Le Moana offers the most accessible entry point at $750–$1,500 per night versus $2,000-plus at the Four Seasons. These moves can bring a $15,000 trip closer to $10,000.
Should I book a package or book flights and hotels separately?
It depends on the destination. All-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean are frequently 10–20 percent cheaper through package platforms like Costco Travel or Apple Vacations than booking flights and hotels independently. Costco Travel in particular prices Bora Bora packages well below rack rates. For branded hotels (Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton), booking direct earns loyalty points and preserves elite benefits, which third-party sites forfeit. For non-branded boutique hotels common in Portugal, Greece, and the Amalfi Coast, Expedia and Hotels.com often deliver lower rates with equal cancellation terms. Compare both before committing on any trip over $5,000.