What Raja Ampat really costs in 2026: homestay vs liveaboard prices, the park fee, boat costs, and a realistic daily budget for the world’s best reefs.
By Asik Travel Editorial6/5/20268 мин чтенияRaja Ampat is expensive when you price it like a remote marine park, not like a beach stop. Flights to Sorong, entry-related fees, and boats between islands add up before you even choose a bed. The good news is that village homestays keep the island stay far more attainable than liveaboard brochures suggest.
This is the money companion to our complete Raja Ampat guide. For the journey itself, see how to get to Raja Ampat.
Five things make up a realistic Raja Ampat budget: flights, ferry and transfers, entry fees, bed and meals, and boats. The flights to Sorong are usually the biggest fixed line. Once you arrive, accommodation is often charged per person with meals included, while boat hire is the variable that can make a “budget” trip stop being budget.
As of the latest official pages checked on June 11, 2026, the Raja Ampat marine park entry card lists IDR 700,000 for international visitors and IDR 425,000 for Indonesian citizens, valid for 12 months. SIPARI separately lists a Raja Ampat visitor levy of IDR 1,000,000 for international tourists. Recheck before travel because local fee rules are volatile.
The reason Raja Ampat is possible without a luxury budget is the homestay network. Simple village-run stays on islands such as Arborek, Kri, Mansuar, Gam, and Friwen usually price per person and include three meals because restaurant choice is limited or nonexistent. Rooms can be basic, sometimes with shared bathrooms and limited power, so compare the reef and boat access as carefully as the room. The best budget decision is often a modest homestay with excellent snorkeling from shore.
| Style | Roughly (per person/night) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Village homestay | Lowest | Basic room, meals, local hosts |
| Mid-range / eco-resort | Moderate to high | More comfort, easier dive/snorkel logistics |
| Liveaboard | Highest | Remote sites, multiple dives, no daily transfers |
The line that surprises people is boats. Raja Ampat looks compact on a map until you start moving between islands, viewpoints, manta sites, and sandbars. A private day boat can cost more than your room, while the same boat shared with three or four travelers becomes reasonable. Ask your homestay which trips can be combined, then group them by direction rather than doing one-off charters every day.
Share boats to cut costs
Boat hire is priced per trip, not per person, so a day boat shared between four costs a quarter each. Ask your homestay to pair you with other guests heading the same way; it is the easiest big saving in Raja Ampat.
It comes down to how you dive and what you can spend. A homestay base is far cheaper, keeps you close to the villages and the reefs you can reach by day boat, and suits snorkelers and casual divers. A liveaboard costs many times more but reaches the remote dive sites a homestay never will, with several dives a day and no transfers. If you are a serious diver chasing the best sites and the budget allows, a liveaboard earns its price. For everyone else, homestays make Raja Ampat genuinely attainable.
For a homestay trip, think in layers: fixed fees and transport first, then your nightly room-and-meals cost, then a deliberate boat budget. Spend more if you charter privately or move islands often; spend less if you choose a strong house reef and share day trips. For where to stay and what to do, see the full guide, and plan a trip with us.
Written by
Asik Travel Editorial
Local travel editors
We write from the islands we sell, with first-hand notes from our guides and operators.
