Charter cost reference · 2026
How much does it cost to charter a yacht?
A yacht charter costs between $1,500 and $150,000+ per week. Bareboat sailboats start near €1,500 per week in Greece. Crewed motor yachts in the Mediterranean run €20,000–€120,000 per week before APA, VAT and tip. Day rentals start at $200 in Miami.
Mediterranean — estimated total
€40,625
1 week · crewed catamaran · mid range
- Base €25,000 (62%)
- APA €7,500 (18%)
- Tax €5,000 (12%)
- Tip €3,125 (8%)
High season: Jun–Sep. Tax note: 20% France as representative; real range 12–22% by embarkation country.
Yacht charter cost: the four numbers that matter
Every crewed charter quote is built from the same four parts. The base rate is what brokers advertise. The other three arrive on the contract.
- Base rate. The boat and crew, per week. €1,500 to $150,000+ depending on size, type and destination.
- APA. 30–40% of the base rate, paid up front. Covers fuel, food, drinks and port fees. Unused funds are refunded.
- VAT. Charged by the embarkation country: 0% in the BVI, St Barths and the Grenadines, 5% in Dubai and French Polynesia, 12% in Greece, 13% in Croatia, 14% in the Bahamas, 16% in Mexico, 18–20% in Turkey, 20% in France and Monaco, 21% in Spain, 22% in Italy.
- Crew tip. 10–15% in the Mediterranean, 15–20% in the Caribbean and the US. Paid at the end, in cash or transfer.
Worked example: a mid-range crewed catamaran in the Mediterranean has a €25,000 weekly base. Add 30% APA (€7,500), 20% VAT (€5,000) and a 12.5% tip (€3,125). Real total: €40,625. The calculator above runs this math for 12 destinations.
Bareboat charters skip APA and tip entirely. You pay base rate plus VAT, and you run the boat yourself. That is why a €10,750 bareboat week in Greece totals €12,040 while a similar crewed booking would pass €17,000.
Charter yacht prices by destination (per week)
Weekly base rates from published listings, low to high. Low end: smaller, older boats in low season. High end: large, recent boats in high season.
| Destination | Sailing yacht | Catamaran | Motor yacht | VAT | High season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | €1,500–€20,000 | €7,000–€25,000 | €15,000–€100,000 | 12% | Jun–Sep |
| Croatia | €1,800–€8,000 | €4,000–€20,000 | €15,000–€100,000 | 13% | Jun–Sep |
| Mediterranean (France, Italy, Spain) | €10,000–€50,000 | €10,000–€40,000 | €20,000–€120,000 | 12–22% | Jun–Sep |
| British Virgin Islands | $5,000–$13,000 | $8,000–$40,000 | $15,000–$60,000 | 0% | Dec–Apr |
| Bahamas | $8,000–$30,000 | $10,000–$100,000 | $20,000–$150,000 | 14% | Dec–Apr |
| Caribbean (wider) | $10,000–$50,000 | $10,000–$100,000 | $20,000–$150,000 | 0% (varies) | Dec–Apr |
| Tahiti & French Polynesia | $3,000–$20,000 | $4,000–$45,000 | $45,000–$150,000 | 5% | May–Oct |
| Miami (weekly) | $10,000–$33,000 | $18,489–$40,000 | $29,000–$80,000 | ~7% | Dec–Apr |
Base rates only. Crewed bookings add 30–40% APA and a 10–20% tip.
How much to charter a yacht for a day
Day rentals work differently: one all-in rate, no APA. Miami starts at $200 for a full day and reaches $1,200 at the top of the range. Cabo San Lucas runs $1,200–$15,000 per day. New York City: $1,800–$10,000. Dubai: $500–$5,000. Add local tax and a 10–18% tip.
Miami · full day
$200
Entry rate, all-in before tax and tip.
Cabo · full day
$15,000
Top of range, large motor yacht.
Destination cost guides
Full price breakdowns — base rates, taxes, tips and the booking math — for the markets US charterers search most.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a yacht for a week?
A one-week yacht charter runs $1,500–$150,000+ in base rate. Bareboat sailing yachts in Greece start at €1,500 per week. Crewed catamarans run €7,000–$100,000 depending on destination. Crewed motor yachts top out at $150,000 per week in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Tahiti. Add APA, VAT and tip to the base rate for the real total.
What is APA on a yacht charter?
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a deposit of 30–40% of the base rate on crewed charters. It pays for fuel, food, drinks and port fees during the trip. Unused APA is refunded at the end. Bareboat charters have no APA.
Do you tip on a yacht charter?
Yes, on crewed charters. The standard crew tip is 10–15% of the base rate in the Mediterranean and 15–20% in the Caribbean and the US. On a $24,000 base rate in the BVI, that is $3,600–$4,800.
How much is a yacht charter in the Mediterranean?
Mediterranean charters run €10,000–€120,000 per week base. Sailing yachts: €10,000–€50,000. Catamarans: €10,000–€40,000. Motor yachts: €20,000–€120,000. Charter VAT depends on the embarkation country: Greece 12%, Croatia 13%, France and Monaco 20%, Spain 21%, Italy 22%.
What is the cheapest way to charter a yacht?
A bareboat sailing yacht in Greece, from €1,500 per week plus 12% VAT. You skip the APA (30–40%) and the crew tip (10–15%) because there is no crew. You need a sailing license or certification to take the boat out yourself.
What does the charter price include?
The base rate covers the boat and, on crewed charters, the crew. It does not cover running costs. Crewed charters add APA (30–40%) for fuel and provisioning, local VAT (0–22% by country), and crew tip (10–20%). A €25,000 base rate in the Mediterranean becomes roughly €40,600 all-in.