Journal · Yachting
How much does a yacht cost — to buy, and to keep?
Purchase price by size band
Length drives price, but builder pedigree, age, condition, refit history, and survey results move a specific vessel millions within these bands. Pre-owned anchors the low ends; new construction the high.
| Size band | Indicative range | What you're buying |
|---|---|---|
| 60–80 ft production | $1M – $6M | Owner-operated or small crew; Med/coastal cruising |
| 80–100 ft semi-custom | $5M – $15M | Professional crew begins; genuine liveaboard comfort |
| 100–130 ft | $8M – $30M | Full crew, transoceanic range, charter-capable |
| 130–180 ft custom | $25M – $80M | Custom builds, naval-architect territory, 8–12+ crew |
| 200 ft + | $100M+ new | Flagship territory; running costs to match |
Ranges frame the market; a specific vessel is priced by survey, classification status, refit record, and closed comparable sales — the core of a yacht acquisition mandate.
The 10% rule — and where the money goes
The working rule across the industry: a crewed yacht costs roughly 10% of its value per year to operate. A $10M boat budgets ~$1M annually; a $50M boat, ~$5M. Older vessels, heavy itineraries, and charter programs push the percentage up; simple, lightly used boats sit below it.
| Line item | Typical share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | ~30–45% | Salaries, rotation, training, crew insurance, provisioning — the largest line on almost every boat |
| Maintenance & shipyard | ~20–30% | Continuous upkeep plus lumpy yard periods; deferred work compounds |
| Dockage | ~10–20% | Home berth plus seasonal marinas; prime Mediterranean berths are scarce and priced accordingly |
| Insurance | ~5–10% | Hull and liability; rises with cruising grounds and charter use |
| Fuel & consumables | ~10–20% | Itinerary-driven; displacement speeds economize, deadlines don't |
Shares vary by vessel and program — the point is the shape: people first, steel second, everything else after.
The refit trap
The cheapest yacht on the brokerage market is frequently the most expensive one in the fleet: the discount is the deferred refit, priced optimistically by the seller. Survey-driven diligence quantifies that exposure before the offer — engine hours, classification status, paint, teak, interior systems — so the refit is negotiated off the price rather than discovered in the yard. That survey-first discipline is the core of our yacht acquisition mandates.
Does charter income change the math?
Partially, honestly: realistic charter activity offsets a portion of running costs — often meaningful, rarely a majority — while adding wear, scheduling constraints, and commercial-compliance overhead. Treat charter as a discipline on the operation and a partial offset, never as the business case for the purchase. Sellers' charter-revenue claims deserve the same skepticism as any other listing assertion: tested against records.
Frequently asked questions
Why do running costs matter at purchase?
Because the annual number determines who can comfortably own the boat — and therefore who will buy it from you. Vessels whose economics outgrew their owners flood the brokerage market at discounts; buying with the annual budget modeled keeps you off that list.
Do running costs differ by cruising region?
Meaningfully. Mediterranean summers concentrate the world's fleet into scarce berths at peak pricing; the Caribbean season shifts crew logistics and insurance zones; year-round tropical operation accelerates maintenance. The 10% rule is the planning anchor — the itinerary moves you around it.
How much does it cost to run a superyacht each year?
As a working rule, annual running costs are roughly 10% of a yacht's value — crew, dockage, fuel, insurance, classification, and refit reserves. A US$30 million yacht can cost US$2–4 million a year to operate. We model true cost of ownership before you commit, not just the asking price. Estimate your own with the yacht running cost calculator.
New build or brokerage?
Brokerage delivers most of the capability at a fraction of the price, with the depreciation absorbed — if the survey is clean. New build buys exactly what you want, years from now, at full price. The honest answer depends on how specific your requirements really are.
How reliable are these yacht cost estimates?
Indicative as of June 2026, stated to frame decisions. A specific vessel is priced by survey and closed comparables — which is the work of a mandate, not an article.
How much does it cost to charter a yacht?
Crewed superyacht charter is quoted as a weekly base rate plus expenses — the APA, typically 25–35% on top, covering fuel, food, and dockage. Expect roughly $50,000–150,000 a week for a 30–40 metre yacht, and several hundred thousand to over a million for the largest, before VAT and the customary crew gratuity.
Yachting
The range is public. Your number is surveyed.
Acquisition mandates price candidate vessels against survey findings and closed sales — before you fall in love.