Malé itself can be visited affordably: guesthouse rooms run roughly $25-60/night, local food is inexpensive ($3-8 per meal), and public ferries cost a few dollars or less. The country's reputation for expense comes mainly from overwater resorts, which can run $300-1,500+/night including transfers. Budget travelers can experience the Maldives affordably by basing themselves in Malé/Hulhumalé and taking day trips or a short stay on a local island like Maafushi instead of booking a private resort.