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The same 45m motor yacht that charters at $185K base in Cap d'Antibes in August charters at $165K base in St Barths in February. Once you finish the math (VAT, APA, gratuity, dockage averages, fuel), the gap widens. The Caribbean week comes in roughly 14% to 22% lower all-in. That gap is small enough that no one books a charter for the saving. But it is consistent enough that anyone choosing between the two regions for the same group should see the actual numbers, not the brochure rate.
This is the cost teardown at four yacht sizes, in each region, in peak season. All numbers are 2026 forward bookings, cross-checked against 2024 and 2025 delivered invoices. Where data thins, we flag the assumption.
What is actually different between the regions
The base charter fee is the smallest part of the difference. Most large yachts cross the Atlantic twice a year (May to Caribbean, October-November to Med), and the same boat with the same crew charters in both regions. Owners set the rate by region to reflect demand. Caribbean peak demand is comparable to Med peak demand, but the Caribbean rate is typically 5% to 12% lower on the base fee, because Caribbean charters tend to be shorter (5 to 10 days versus 7 to 14) and shoulder demand thins faster.
The bigger gaps are in the surrounding costs. Med VAT is the largest single difference. Mediterranean dockage averages are higher than Caribbean (Monaco at Grand Prix is $12K to $18K per night against a Caribbean peak of $2K to $5K at the most expensive marinas). Fuel burn is similar per yacht class, but cruising distances in the Med tend to be longer on a Saint-Tropez-Capri-Sardinia loop than on a St Barths-Anguilla loop. Crew gratuities are slightly higher in the Caribbean (15% versus 12% norm), which closes part of the gap.
We work the math at four sizes: 35m, 50m, 70m, and 90m.
35m motor yacht: the entry size
Mediterranean, July or August. A clean, well-run 35m motor yacht built post-2015 with 8 to 10 crew, 4 cabins for 8 guests, refit current. Base $95K to $130K per week. APA at 30% adds $29K to $39K. French commercial-exemption effective VAT at roughly 10% adds $10K to $13K. Gratuity 12% adds $11K to $16K. All-in $145K to $198K.
Caribbean, January to March. Same yacht class, often the same boat that ran the Med in August. Base $85K to $115K. APA at 25% adds $21K to $29K. No VAT. Gratuity 15% adds $13K to $17K. All-in $119K to $161K.
The Caribbean week lands 18% to 19% lower all-in. The base fee gap is roughly $10K to $15K. APA at 25% Caribbean vs 30% Med saves another $5K to $10K. VAT removal saves $10K to $13K. Gratuity rises slightly. Net Caribbean saving on this size class: $26K to $37K per week.
50m motor yacht: the midpoint
Med peak. A 50m yacht, 12 crew, 5 to 6 cabins, twin masters, beach club, touch-and-go helideck. Base $290K to $390K. APA at 30% adds $87K to $117K. VAT at the effective rate adds $25K to $35K. Gratuity 12% adds $35K to $47K. All-in $437K to $589K.
Caribbean peak. Same yacht class. Base $250K to $340K. APA at 25% adds $63K to $85K. No VAT. Gratuity 15% adds $38K to $51K. All-in $351K to $476K.
The Caribbean delta is 19% to 20% on the all-in. On a 50m yacht the absolute saving is $86K to $113K per week. That is meaningful at any income level. The trade-off is the cruising radius. A 50m can cover Antigua, St Barths, Anguilla, Saba, and St Maarten in a Caribbean week. The same boat in a Med week covers Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Porto Cervo, and Bonifacio. The Caribbean week has more island variety; the Med week has more shoreside density.
70m motor yacht: the heavy size
Med peak. A 70m motor yacht, 18 to 22 crew, 7 to 8 cabins for 12 guests, beach club, certified helipad, full stabilizer system. Base $600K to $850K. APA at 30% adds $180K to $255K. VAT at effective rate adds $48K to $70K. Gratuity 12% adds $72K to $102K. All-in $900K to $1.28M.
Caribbean peak. Same yacht class. Base $525K to $750K. APA at 25% adds $131K to $188K. No VAT. Gratuity 15% adds $79K to $113K. All-in $735K to $1.05M.
Caribbean delta: 18% to 22% on the all-in. The absolute saving is $165K to $230K per week. At this size class the math starts being noticed by the family office. The 70m yacht is the size where Caribbean cruising starts to feel constrained, because the deep-water anchorages thin out and the marinas that can take a 70m are limited (St Maarten Yacht Club, IGY Yacht Haven Grande in St Thomas, Falmouth Harbour in Antigua, Port Louis in Grenada). The Med has more 70m-capable infrastructure.
90m motor yacht: the apex
Med peak. A 90m yacht, 24 to 30 crew, 8 to 10 cabins. Base $1.2M to $1.7M. APA at 35% adds $420K to $595K. VAT at effective rate adds $96K to $140K. Gratuity 12% adds $144K to $204K. All-in $1.86M to $2.64M.
Caribbean peak. Same yacht class. Base $1.05M to $1.5M. APA at 30% adds $315K to $450K. No VAT. Gratuity 15% adds $158K to $225K. All-in $1.52M to $2.18M.
Caribbean delta: 18% on the all-in. The absolute saving is $340K to $460K per week. At this size class the family office is doing the math whether you ask them to or not. The 90m yacht is also the size where Caribbean cruising becomes harder logistically. The 90m anchors but rarely docks in the Caribbean. The Med has more marinas that can accommodate at LOA. Both regions have the cruising-radius limits at this size, but the Caribbean's lower infrastructure density is more visible.
The summary table
| Size | Med all-in (low) | Med all-in (high) | Caribbean all-in (low) | Caribbean all-in (high) | Caribbean delta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35m | $145K | $198K | $119K | $161K | -18% to -19% |
| 50m | $437K | $589K | $351K | $476K | -19% to -20% |
| 70m | $900K | $1.28M | $735K | $1.05M | -18% to -22% |
| 90m | $1.86M | $2.64M | $1.52M | $2.18M | -18% |
The delta is remarkably stable across size classes. The Caribbean is roughly 18% to 20% cheaper than the Med all-in at every yacht size. That stability is meaningful. It means the choice is not actually cost-driven for any client who has decided which region they want.
Why the gap holds at 18% to 20%
Three forces hold it stable.
First, the VAT differential alone is roughly 8% to 11% of the base fee in the Med. That is the largest single component of the delta.
Second, Med APA standards are higher (30% to 35%) than Caribbean (25% to 30%). The standard reflects the higher per-day operating cost in the Med (dockage, port fees, marina overage). On a $400K base the 5-point APA difference is $20K, which doesn't reverse direction by yacht size.
Third, dockage averages are higher in the Med. A typical Med charter week spends 3 to 5 nights at a marina; a Caribbean week typically spends 1 to 2. The Med marina rates are 2x to 4x the Caribbean equivalents.
Working against the Caribbean side, gratuity is conventionally 3 to 5 points higher (15% Caribbean versus 12% Med), and crew transit costs (flights to and from St Maarten, St Thomas, or Antigua) are higher than to Med home ports (Cannes, Antibes, Naples, Palma). Those work to partially close the gap.
What the cost gap is not
It is not a reason to charter the Caribbean instead of the Med. The two regions are different products. The Med is a cruise of cities (Saint-Tropez, Capri, Portofino, Dubrovnik, Mykonos), with shoreside dinners and busy port nights. The Caribbean is a cruise of beaches and anchorages (Anguilla's Shoal Bay, St Barths's Colombier, the Tobago Cays). The Caribbean is quieter on land and busier on the water. The Med is the inverse. Anyone who picks the Caribbean to save 18% on a Med trip they actually wanted is going to be disappointed at anchor in Tintamare on day three.
It is a reason to be honest about which region the family actually wants. Some families want the Med and are paying the Med tax (VAT, dockage, social calendar). Some families want the Caribbean and the lower running cost is a bonus. The cost data should inform, not dictate.
Where the math flips harder
Three scenarios push the delta past 22%.
First, French and Italian charters where the offset structure does not apply. A French charter booked without the commercial exemption (less than 70% of cruising time outside French territorial waters) pays the full 20% French VAT. A Caribbean charter pays zero. The delta widens to 26% to 30%.
Second, charters that include the Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, or Saint-Tropez August Saturday dockage. Those add $10K to $40K of marina overage on the Med side. The Caribbean has no analogous calendar.
Third, sailing yacht charters. The Caribbean sailing market has more inventory in the 24m to 35m catamaran and monohull range than the Med, and the Caribbean catamaran charter pricing is more competitive. The delta on a 28m catamaran can hit 30% Caribbean vs Med.
What we passed on
We would not book a Mediterranean charter without confirming the VAT treatment in writing from the broker before contract signature. The largest single delta in this comparison is the VAT line, and the in-waters offset structure changes meaningfully based on routing. Brokers who hand-wave VAT at quote stage are not doing the math the client deserves.
We would not book a Caribbean charter in peak season expecting Med-style marina infrastructure. A 70m yacht in the Caribbean in February will anchor most nights. If the family wants to walk to dinner in St Tropez every night, the Med is the answer.
We would not book a charter in either region based on the 18% cost delta alone. The two products are different. Pick by what the family wants, then negotiate within the region.
FAQ
Is the Caribbean always cheaper than the Med? On the all-in, yes, by 18% to 22% in peak season. On the base fee alone, the gap is 5% to 12%.
What is the cheapest cruising region? Atlantic crossing weeks (transatlantic positioning) are the cheapest weeks per nautical mile, but they are not charter products in the conventional sense. Inside the standard regions, the Caribbean in shoulder season (April or November) is the cheapest. See our Caribbean April charter piece.
Does APA differ between regions? Yes. Med APA standards are 30% to 35%; Caribbean standards are 25% to 30%. The reason is operational cost (dockage, port fees, fuel in the Med).
Is the Caribbean cheaper because the boats are older? No. Most large yachts cross the Atlantic each season. The Caribbean fleet in February is largely the same fleet that was in the Med in August.
Do you have to choose one or the other? No. Some families do a Med charter in August and a Caribbean charter in February. The yacht's positioning in May and November makes the dual-season pattern work for clients who can afford it.