The often-repeated rule of thumb in the industry is that a yacht costs around ten percent of its purchase price to run every year. It is a useful starting point for a budget conversation, but the real number depends heavily on size, whether the yacht is crewed, and how much it is actually used.
Where the money actually goes
- Crew salaries, if crewed, typically the single largest line item on a yacht above 24 metres
- Berthing and marina fees, which vary enormously by location and season
- Insurance, based on value, cruising area and crew experience
- Fuel, which scales quickly with both size and cruising style
- Routine maintenance and haul-outs, including antifouling and running gear
- Management fees, if the yacht is under third-party technical or crew management
Smaller, owner-operated yachts under roughly 15 metres can often run well below the ten percent benchmark, since there is no crew payroll and marina costs are proportionally lower. Larger, fully crewed yachts, particularly those cruising internationally across multiple flag states and tax jurisdictions, can run at or above that figure once management and compliance costs are included.
Plan for the irregular costs, not just the annual ones
Annual budgets tend to miss the large, infrequent costs: engine overhauls, major refits, new tenders and toys, or a haul-out that uncovers unexpected structural work. A sensible approach sets aside a separate reserve for these, rather than treating every year as though it will look like the last one. Yachts that skip this step often end up deferring necessary work, which tends to cost more in the long run than addressing it on schedule.
For buyers weighing ownership against chartering or fractional alternatives, running an honest full-cost budget, including the irregular items, is the only way to compare the options fairly.
Choosing the right yacht is ultimately about matching the vessel to how you actually intend to use it — and once that choice is clear, the next priority is execution. Timing matters, and at IST Yacht & Jet we know how to source, negotiate, and deliver the right yacht faster than the market standard, cutting through the usual delays and intermediaries.
To arrange a private consultation, reach out directly: