How much does it cost to run a 30 m yacht a year?

At a glance


Breeze Yachting, private use	€300,000–€500,000 a year
Ocean Independence, year one	US$670,000–$1.2 million a year
Largest line	Crew: €180,000–€250,000 (Breeze); US$300,000–$500,000 (Ocean Independence)
Not included	Depreciation, financing, purchase taxes
The one thing to ask	Three years of the yacht's actual running accounts

Two published budgets, side by side

A 30 m yacht is around the size where a professional crew becomes normal. Two brokers publish line-by-line figures for this size, each in its own currency:

Cost line	Breeze Yachting, 30 m private	Ocean Independence, 30 m year one
Crew	€180,000–€250,000	US$300,000–$500,000
Fuel	€20,000–€40,000	US$80,000–$150,000
Maintenance (and refit)	€40,000–€70,000	US$200,000–$350,000
Insurance	€15,000–€30,000	US$20,000–$50,000
Berthing	€30,000–€60,000	US$40,000–$100,000
Tenders and toys	not listed	US$30,000–$80,000
Published total	€300,000–€500,000	US$670,000–$1.2 million

Breeze's listed lines add up to €285,000–€450,000; its €300,000–€500,000 total is a separate overall allowance that includes items it does not list. Ocean Independence's lines add up to US$670,000–$1.23 million, which it rounds to US$1.2 million.

Why the two budgets differ

What they include. Ocean Independence counts refit work in maintenance and lists tenders and toys; Breeze does not list tenders.
The year. Ocean Independence's figures are for year one. Fraser Yachts says a major refit comes every five to seven years, so quiet years cost less and refit years much more.
Use. Breeze's budget is for private use. Longer cruising, or charter, raises fuel, wear and crew costs.

Crew on a 30 m yacht

YachtBuyer gives two to five crew for 24–30 m and six to ten for 30–40 m. Its base-salary ranges for a 30 m yacht include a captain at $118,000–$197,000, a chef at $60,000–$108,000, a chief stew or chief engineer at $72,000–$96,000 each and a deckhand at $42,000–$58,000. Its 30 m example, with five crew (captain, steward, engineer and two deckhands), comes to about $390,000 a year in base salaries. That is one example crew; many 30 m owners add a chef.

YPI Crew's 2026 captain guide is lower: €5,000–€6,000 a month below 30 m and €6,000–€9,000 a month for 30–40 m. Flights, medical cover, training, uniforms and recruitment fees come on top. See what a yacht crew costs.

Berthing

Where she is kept can change the budget by tens of thousands a year.

Seattle, Shilshole Bay Marina. The 2026 tariff for private slips of 75–110 ft is $27.85 per foot per month, plus 12.84% tax. For a 24–30 m (79–98 ft) yacht that is about $26,315–$32,894 a year before tax, or $29,694–$37,118 with it. The actual charge depends on the slip length billed and availability.
Astir Marina, Vouliagmeni, near Athens. A 2023 Greek press report put the price of a 30-year right to a 30 m berth at about €2 million. That is the price of a long-term right at a top-end marina, not an annual rent.

The percentage check

Fraser puts yearly running costs at 10–15% of purchase value. Ocean Independence lists 24–40 m yachts at US$2–$10 million pre-owned. On an illustrative US$5 million yacht, 10–15% is US$500,000–$750,000 a year. Use this as a rough cross-check only. Depreciation is extra: A fall of 10% in year one, then 6–8% a year of the remaining value for four years, works out as 0.90 × 0.94⁴ to 0.90 × 0.92⁴ of the price: a loss of about 29.7% to 35.5% over five years.

Can charter income help?

Some 30 m yachts are registered for charter. Our Charter Price Index shows Mediterranean motor yachts of 20–30 m at €23,000–€68,000 a week (two Boatbookings listings, read 29 October 2026). Charter needs the right registration and approvals for the yacht and the places she works, and it adds commission, crew, wear and compliance costs. How much of the budget it covers depends on the yacht and the weeks booked; there is no fixed number of weeks that makes ownership pay.

What to ask your broker

Can I see three years of real running accounts for this yacht?
Which crew stay with the sale, and on what contracts?
What did the last refit cover, and what is due next?
Is a berth included, and on what terms?
Is she registered for charter, and how many weeks did she charter last year?

When this is not the right choice

You will be aboard only a few weeks a year. Compare the full yearly cost with chartering a similar yacht for the same weeks.
You would rather run the yacht yourself. A smaller yacht may suit: Breeze budgets an owner-run 20 m yacht at €40,000–€70,000 a year.

Talking to a broker

If you are weighing up a purchase, one of our partner yacht sales brokers can go through real listings and real running accounts with you. You can send an enquiry or try the ownership cost calculator first.

Questions people ask

How many crew does a 30 m yacht need?

Usually four to six. Breeze Yachting's 30 m example has four to five crew, and YachtBuyer's 30 m example uses five. A chef or a second stew is often added, especially for charter.

How much does a 30 m yacht cost to buy?

Ocean Independence's 2026 guide lists 24–40 m yachts at roughly US$2–$10 million pre-owned and US$5–$15 million new. Age, builder, refit history and charter readiness move the price within that range.

Is fuel a big part of the budget for a 30 m yacht?

Usually less than crew or maintenance. Breeze Yachting budgets €20,000–€40,000 a year for private use, while Ocean Independence's 30 m example uses US$80,000–$150,000. The difference is mostly how far and how often she cruises.

Does a 30 m yacht cost the same to run every year?

No. Years with a refit, a yard period or a crew change cost noticeably more. Fraser Yachts says a major refit comes every five to seven years, so look at several years of accounts.