Is Seychelles Expensive? Our Real 12-Day Costs for Two
Before we arrived, I had Seychelles filed in my head as one of those destinations where every day would quietly cost a fortune. It is Africa's richest country per person, the search results are full of luxury resorts and we had booked our accommodation only two days before flying in during peak season. Honestly, I thought we might have made a very expensive mistake.
Seychelles is expensive, but not in the way I expected. The bed and the boat did most of the damage. Local takeaways, groceries, beaches and several of our favourite days were surprisingly manageable.
We recorded every accommodation payment, ferry, hire car and TravelSpend transaction from our twelve days across Mahé, Praslin and La Digue in August 2026. These are our actual totals for two people, not estimated daily-budget bands.
Is Seychelles Expensive? My Quick Answer
Yes, Seychelles is an expensive destination. Our twelve-day trip cost A$3,994.33 in-country for two people, which is approximately A$166 per person per day. Including our international flights, the complete total was A$6,722.87.
Scroll to see the full table →
| Cost | For two people | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, 11 nights | A$2,256.57 | A$1,128.29 |
| Three ferry crossings | A$472.18 | A$236.09 |
| Everything else on the ground | A$1,265.58 | A$632.79 |
| Total in Seychelles | A$3,994.33 | A$1,997.17 |
| Flights in and out | A$2,728.54 | A$1,364.27 |
| Complete trip total | A$6,722.87 | A$3,361.44 |
The flight figure needs context. We flew from Dar es Salaam to Seychelles and then onward to Mauritius, so it is not a realistic return-flight estimate for somebody leaving Australia, Europe or the United States. The in-country total is the useful number.
Our 12-Day Seychelles Cost Breakdown
Accommodation was 56 per cent of our in-country spending and ferries were another 12 per cent. Together, sleeping and moving between islands accounted for roughly 68 per cent of the trip.
Everything else came to A$1,265.58:
Scroll to see the full table →
| Ground category | Spend for two | Share of ground spend |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | A$467.20 | 37% |
| Cars and fuel | A$355.65 | 28% |
| Activities, including gym entries | A$185.15 | 15% |
| Cash withdrawals not itemised later | A$150.56 | 12% |
| Groceries | A$87.41 | 7% |
| Coffee | A$19.61 | 2% |
That A$150.56 cash line matters. It was withdrawn from ATMs and not itemised afterwards, so I am leaving it visible rather than pretending I know exactly where every rupee went.
How Much Does Accommodation Cost in Seychelles?
We spent A$2,256.57 across eleven nights, averaging approximately A$205 a night for two. That average is inflated by La Digue, where we paid A$351 a night because we booked only two days out in August and had almost no options.
Scroll to see the full table →
| Island | Property | Nights | Total | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahé | D&M Holiday Apartment | 3 | A$483.46 | A$161.15 |
| Praslin | Chez Rona | 3 | A$569.00 | A$189.67 |
| La Digue | MAZU Apartments | 2 | A$701.11 | A$350.56 |
| Mahé | Peponi SelfCatering Apartments | 3 | A$503.00 | A$167.67 |
We had never booked an international trip that late before. Daniel said it plainly at the time: we had no options and everything was expensive. The lovely part is that the places we ended up with were actually really good!
Peponi SelfCatering Apartments
Our final three nights cost A$503. Beau Vallon gave us an easy swim, sunset, groceries and casual dinners close together.
Chez Rona
Three nights cost A$569. Our host thought of everything and cooked us a complimentary Creole dinner on our final night.
MAZU Apartments
Two nights cost A$701.11. It was our biggest apartment and had a pool, but our last-minute price was far above what I would normally recommend.
For the island and area decision rather than just the prices, read where to stay in Seychelles across Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
How Much Do Seychelles Ferries Cost?
Our three ferry crossings cost A$472.18 for two people. Praslin to La Digue was only fifteen minutes and the cheapest leg. Anything involving Mahé was longer and more expensive.
Scroll to see the full table →
| Ferry | Cost for two |
|---|---|
| Mahé to Praslin | A$190.33 |
| Praslin to La Digue | A$52.44 |
| La Digue to Mahé | A$229.41 |
We booked directly through seyferry.com. The Mahé to Praslin crossing took about one hour and fifteen minutes and was rough enough that people around us were getting sick. The short Praslin to La Digue crossing was completely fine.
How Much Does Car Hire Cost in Seychelles?
Three hire-car periods plus fuel cost A$355.65. We used K Rent for both Mahé stays and OLA on Praslin.
- First Mahé car: A$106.15
- Praslin car: A$110.00
- Second Mahé car: A$110.62
- Fuel: A$28.88
Mahé is where I would not try to save this money. The island is spread out, and being able to drive between Beau Vallon, Copolia, Takamaka and the southern beaches changed the trip. Praslin is smaller but still much easier with a car. La Digue needs bikes instead, which cost us SCR100 a day through our accommodation.
If you want to compare prices before booking, use this to compare car rental prices. The companies above are the ones we personally used.
How Much Does Food Cost in Seychelles?
Restaurants cost us A$467.20, groceries cost A$87.41 and coffee cost A$19.61. The trip did not feel like twelve days of denying ourselves either. We ate at local takeaways, had a few beautiful sit-down meals and cooked whenever we wanted something familiar.
Our cheapest named meal was Village Take Away on Praslin at A$13.27. Our most expensive was Les Rochers at A$86.88, where the curries arrived with multiple salads, rice and coconut chips. At Beach Shak in Beau Vallon, two main meals cost A$45.44 and we went back to Ô Saveurs des Iles twice for ice cream.
Cooking gave us some home normality because we travel full time. We love going out, but we also genuinely enjoy buying vegetables, making pasta and having a quiet evening in an apartment. Every place had a kitchen, and that is the main reason groceries were only seven per cent of the ground spending.
How Much Do Activities Cost in Seychelles?
Activities, including two gym visits, cost A$185.15. Beaches made many of our favourite days free, so we chose one major paid trip rather than booking a tour every day.
The Curieuse and St Pierre tour we booked cost A$111 each and included hotel pickup, drop-off, the boat and a Creole barbecue lunch. The separate protected-area fee was SCR150 per person when we visited.
Copolia Trail cost SCR100 each. Takamaka Rum Distillery was about A$15 each for the tasting. Petite Anse through the Four Seasons cost nothing because the beach is public, and we packed breakfast from the apartment.
What Made Seychelles So Expensive?
Last-minute accommodation and inter-island transport made Seychelles expensive for us. Food was not the main problem, especially once we used local takeaways and kitchens.
The A$351 La Digue nightly rate is not a normal price I would use to plan somebody else's budget. It is what happens when you book one of the smallest islands two days before arriving in peak August. Booking that island early is the single biggest saving I would make.
Flights can also completely change the answer. Our routing through Tanzania and onward to Mauritius cost A$2,728.54 for two. Compare your own realistic route separately instead of copying our all-in figure.
What Was Surprisingly Affordable?
Many of the best Seychelles experiences cost little or nothing. Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio, Grand Anse and the smaller beach past Anse Lazio were free. Petite Anse was free to access through the Four Seasons. Bikes on La Digue were SCR100 a day, and local takeaway meals could come in under A$15 for two.
That is why I would not describe Seychelles as a destination only for luxury travellers. The accommodation requires a real budget, but you do not need a resort restaurant and organised excursion every day to enjoy the islands.
How I Would Spend Less Next Time
- Book La Digue first and book months earlier.
- Keep self-catering kitchens on all three islands.
- Use local takeaways for ordinary dinners and choose one special restaurant.
- Keep the cars because they replaced taxis and gave us freedom.
- Book one excellent tour, then build the rest around beaches, bikes and hikes.
- Compare the complete ferry total before deciding whether all three islands fit the budget.
I used the Wise card I use for travel for clearer conversions while paying in Seychellois rupees. I would also organise the eSIM I use before arriving rather than solving mobile data at the airport.
For the full route, ferry order and what needs booking first, read my guide to planning a trip to Seychelles.
Want our complete 8 day Seychelles route?
The itinerary includes the island order, private map, beaches, restaurants, stays and every practical note we would use again.
See the 8 day Seychelles itinerary →Watch Our Seychelles Vlog
The vlog follows the entire trip and includes the costs, accommodation, ferries and the honest moments that do not fit neatly into a spreadsheet.
Watch our Seychelles vlog on YouTube
Still planning? Here is our complete first-timer planning guide and whether Seychelles was worth the cost and all four places we stayed and what they cost and what August weather was really like.
FAQs About Seychelles Travel Costs
Is Seychelles expensive for tourists?
Yes. Accommodation and inter-island ferries make Seychelles expensive, but local takeaways, groceries, public beaches and self-catering can keep daily spending much more manageable.
How much did twelve days in Seychelles cost?
Our twelve-day trip cost A$3,994.33 in-country for two people. Including flights from Dar es Salaam and onward to Mauritius, the complete total was A$6,722.87.
How much should a couple budget per day in Seychelles?
Our real in-country average was approximately A$333 per couple per day, or A$166 per person. We booked accommodation very late in peak season, so booking earlier could materially reduce that figure.
Is food expensive in Seychelles?
It can be, but the range is wide. Our cheapest named takeaway meal was A$13.27 for two and our most expensive restaurant meal was A$86.88. Kitchens and local takeaways kept the total sensible.
Are Seychelles beaches free?
Most beaches we visited were free, including Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio, Petite Anse and Grand Anse. Anse Source d'Argent required entry through L'Union Estate.
What is the cheapest way to visit Seychelles?
Book accommodation early, choose self-catering apartments, use local takeaways, reserve only one or two paid tours and spend the remaining days on beaches, hikes and bikes.
