How Much Does a Yacht Charter Cost in 2026–2027?

A luxury yacht charter is priced as a weekly base fee, and the advertised number is never what you actually pay. This guide sets out typical 2026–2027 base rates by size, the extras that sit on top, and three fully worked all-in budgets so you can see where the money goes.

All rates here are typical asking ranges drawn from current listings and published guides. They exclude APA, VAT and tips unless stated, and they move with season, yacht age, builder and crew reputation.

How much does a yacht charter cost per week?

A crewed motor yacht of about 30m typically asks around €51,000 a week in the Mediterranean, and each extra 10m of length roughly doubles the price. A 60m superyacht sits near €350,000, and the largest megayachts pass €1 million.

The table below shows the typical weekly base rate by size band. Mediterranean yachts are mostly priced in euros; yachts that winter in the Caribbean or Bahamas, or that market mainly to American clients, are often priced in US dollars.

Two things stand out. First, the ranges inside each band are wide: a 30m yacht can cost €14,000 or €155,000 depending on whether it is a 20-year-old charter workhorse or a new build from a top yard. Second, the French Riviera prices above the averages. Published 2026 guides put 30–40m motor yachts there at €65,000–€180,000 a week and 40–55m superyachts at €160,000–€350,000.

What extras do you pay on top of the charter fee?

Expect four costs on top of the base fee: the APA, VAT or local charter tax, crew gratuity and, sometimes, a delivery fee. Together they usually add 55–75% to the advertised rate.

APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)

The APA is a deposit you pay before the charter to cover running costs: fuel for the yacht, tenders and toys, food and drink, berthing and port fees, and communications. Under standard MYBA "plus expenses" terms it is typically 25–35% of the base fee on sailing yachts and catamarans and 35–40% on motor yachts, which burn far more fuel. Unspent APA is refunded at the end. Our full APA guide covers how it is spent and settled.

VAT and charter tax

VAT generally follows the country where the charter starts, not the yacht's flag. Indicative 2026 rates on the base fee:

• France and Monaco: 20%, reducible only in proportion to documented time outside EU waters; delivery fees are taxable too.
• Italy: 22%. The old flat-rate reductions ended in 2020; budget the full rate unless your broker can document time outside EU waters.
• Spain and the Balearics: 21%, with no reduction for time in international waters.
• Greece: standard 24%, but most crewed charters over 48 hours qualify for a reduced effective rate that brokers commonly quote at about 12–13%. Confirm your yacht's eligibility.
• Croatia: 13%.
• Montenegro, BVI, USVI: no charter VAT.
• Bahamas: a combined 14% charter levy since July 2025.

Greece also charges a monthly cruising fee (TEPAI) per metre of length, with discounts for professional charter vessels; the official schedule is in the Greek tax authority's TEPAI brochure. For a 30m charter yacht it works out to a modest €150 or so per month. Our yacht charter VAT guide covers every country in detail. Tax rules change; confirm the rate at booking.

Crew gratuity

Tips are discretionary but expected: about 10–15% of the base fee in the Mediterranean and 15–20% in the Caribbean and US. On a €200,000 week that is €20,000–€30,000, so it belongs in the budget from the start. See how much to tip a yacht crew.

Delivery and redelivery fees

If you want to start or finish somewhere other than the yacht's base, the owner charges a delivery fee to cover the positioning fuel and crew time. This can be a few thousand euros for a short Riviera hop or tens of thousands for a long repositioning. In France, delivery fees attract VAT.

What is the all-in formula for a yacht charter?

All-in cost = base fee + APA + VAT (or charter tax) + crew tip + any delivery fee. For a motor yacht, a working estimate is 1.6 to 1.75 times the base fee, before flights and hotels.

The multiplier is lower on sailing yachts and catamarans (smaller APA), lower again in zero-VAT waters, and higher in France, Italy and Spain. Remember that the APA is an advance: on a quiet week with short cruising legs, part of it comes back to you.

Worked examples: a 30m, 45m and 60m week

Here is the formula applied to three yacht sizes in three popular cruising grounds. The base fees are illustrative figures within each band's typical range, not quotes for specific yachts. Assumptions: motor yacht APA at 35%; VAT at about 12% effective in Greece, 20% in France and 14% in the Bahamas; tips at 12% in the Med and 15% in the Bahamas; no delivery fee except where noted.

30m in Greece

A 30m motor yacht sleeping 8–10 guests is the classic entry point for a crewed Greek charter. Starting in Athens and cruising the western Cyclades (Kea, Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos) keeps legs short, typically 20–35 nautical miles, which helps the fuel side of the APA. Greece's reduced effective VAT is a big advantage over France or Italy at this size: on a €55,000 base, the tax gap against the Riviera is several thousand euros. Expect a total close to €87,000.

45m on the French Riviera

At 45m you are in true superyacht territory: a crew of 8–12, a beach club or large swim platform, and a full toy list. The Riviera example includes a delivery fee because many clients want to embark in Monaco or Saint-Tropez when the yacht is based in Antibes or Cannes. France's 20% VAT on both the fee and the delivery is the main reason the Riviera multiplier runs higher than Greece. Expect about €340,000–€345,000.

60m in the Bahamas

A 60m yacht in the Exumas, flying into Nassau, is a common winter plan for US families. The 14% Bahamas levy sits between Greece and France, but US-market tipping at 15–20% adds weight. Long runs down the Exuma chain and heavy tender use can push fuel spending to the top of the APA. Expect close to $690,000.

Why do two yachts the same size cost so differently?

Length sets the band, but age, builder, interior volume, crew quality and demand set the price within it. Two 40m yachts can differ by €100,000 a week.

The main price drivers:

• Build and refit date. A yacht launched or fully refitted in the last few years commands a premium.
• Volume, not just length. A 40m yacht with a wide beam and a full-width main-deck owner's suite has far more living space than a slim older design.
• Crew and chef reputation. Yachts with long-serving crews and a strong chef book up first and hold their rates.
• Toys and features. Large tenders, multiple jet skis, seabobs, a gym or spa area, or zero-speed stabilizers all lift the rate.
• Season and event weeks. July–August rates run about 25–40% above shoulder season in places such as Montenegro, and event weeks such as the Monaco Grand Prix carry their own premiums.

How can you get the best value on a yacht charter?

The biggest savings come from timing, tax and positioning rather than haggling over the base fee. Shifting by a few weeks or choosing a different starting port can save more than a negotiated discount.

1. Go in the shoulder season. June and September in the Med offer warm water and a lower rate card than July and August. See the best time to charter a yacht.
2. Start in a lower-tax country. Montenegro (no charter VAT), Croatia (13%) and Greece (often about 12% effective) beat France, Italy and Spain on the tax line.
3. Embark at the yacht's base. Avoiding a delivery fee is a simple saving, especially in France, where delivery is taxed.
4. Plan shorter cruising legs. Fuel is the largest variable in the APA. An itinerary built around anchorages 20–40 nautical miles apart costs less than a dash across the Aegean.
5. Consider a catamaran or sailing yacht. Their APA runs lower, and Caribbean crewed catamarans are often sold on near-inclusive terms from about $18,000 to $55,000+ a week. See our crewed catamaran guide.
6. Book early for peak weeks, late for flexibility. The best yachts for July, August and the holidays sell first; short-notice availability in quieter weeks can come with a better rate.

Can you charter a yacht for less than a week?

Yes, but a week is the standard unit, and shorter charters are usually priced at a premium. Brokers commonly calculate them at the weekly rate divided by six, multiplied by the number of days.

Short charters are easiest to secure in low season or at short notice, when a yacht has a gap between bookings. Day charters are a separate market: on the Riviera a 30–40m yacht typically costs €12,000–€35,000 for a day, and 50m+ yachts €35,000–€80,000 or more.

Our view on budgeting

Take the advertised weekly rate, multiply by about 1.7 for a motor yacht in Europe or 1.6 in Greece or the Bahamas, and add flights and any pre-charter hotel nights. If that number works, shortlist yachts at the full base rate rather than stretching to the next size band and squeezing the APA. A well-run 35m yacht with an excellent crew usually delivers a better week than a 45m yacht chosen at the top of your budget.

For the full booking sequence, from shortlist to settlement, read how a yacht charter works.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charter a yacht for a week?

A crewed motor yacht of about 30m typically advertises around €51,000 a week in the Mediterranean, with listings ranging from about €14,000 to €155,000. Larger yachts climb steeply: about €95,000 for 40m, €165,000 for 50m and €350,000 for 60m. These base rates exclude APA, VAT and tips, which together usually add 55–75%.

What is included in a yacht charter price?

The base charter fee covers the yacht, its crew's wages and food, insurance and the yacht's standard equipment, usually including tenders and water toys. Fuel, food and drink, port fees and communications are paid separately from the APA, and VAT or charter tax and crew tips are on top. Caribbean inclusive terms bundle meals and some fuel into the price.

What is the cheapest way to charter a luxury yacht?

Charter in the shoulder season (May, June or late September in the Med; late April or November in the Caribbean), pick a smaller or slightly older yacht with a strong crew, and start in a low-tax jurisdiction such as Montenegro, the BVI or the USVI. Starting where the yacht is already based avoids delivery fees, and a crewed catamaran on inclusive Caribbean terms is often the lowest-cost crewed option.

Do you tip on a yacht charter, and how much?

Yes. Crews expect about 10–15% of the base charter fee in the Mediterranean and about 15–20% in the Caribbean and US waters. MYBA's own guideline is 5–15%, but US-based crews generally expect at least 15%. The tip is usually handed to the captain at the end of the charter for the whole crew.

Is the APA refundable?

Yes. The APA is an advance against running costs, not a fee. The captain keeps receipts and presents an account at the end of the charter; any unspent balance is refunded, and if you spend more than the APA, you pay the difference.

How much is a superyacht charter per week?

Yachts of 55–75m typically ask about €350,000 a week, with listings ranging from about €100,000 to €875,000. Megayachts over 70m usually run €700,000 to €1.5 million or more per week, and the very largest yachts ask about €2 million or more, all before APA, VAT and tips.

Charter rates, APA, VAT and fees quoted are approximate, vary by yacht and season, and change often. Confirm current figures with your broker at booking.