The headline charter price you see is only the starting point—plan for the real total to land 50-65% higher once you factor in everything [1].
Greece applies reduced VAT rates to yacht charters (5.2-13% depending on the yacht's certification), not the standard 24% [2]. The exact rate depends on whether your yacht is certified for unlimited navigation versus restricted waters. Your broker should tell you which applies to your boat.
This is the big one that catches people off guard. APA typically runs 30-40% of your charter fee [1] and covers fuel, food, beverages, marina fees, and local port taxes. So a €30,000/week charter could have €9,000-€12,000 in APA alone [3].
For motor yachts, fuel is the shock: a 30m yacht cruising 4-5 hours daily burns €600-€800 per day [3]. That's why anchoring and swimming over long daily transits is smart if you want to keep APA reasonable—fuel is genuinely the biggest cost surprise for first-timers.
- Marina fees: €100-€800 per night depending on the port [1]. Mykonos and Hydra are at the top end
- Port taxes and local fees: €50-€200 per port call [1]
If you're chartering a crewed yacht, add gratuity—typically 10-15% of the charter fee, split among crew [2].
If your yacht uses Greece's 28-day charter license (common for larger yachts over 115 feet), the TEPADAH cruising tax applies—it's calculated on the yacht's size and number of days in Greek waters [3]. Your operator should handle this, but it's worth asking about upfront.
A €30,000/week charter realistically costs €45,000-€49,000 all-in when you include APA, VAT, and gratuity [3].
- Yacht type matters: Sailing catamarans burn €500-€1,200/week in fuel versus €2,000-€4,000 for motor yachts [1]—a massive difference in APA
- Timing: June and September run 10-20% cheaper than peak season while still having decent weather [1]
50-65%
total price increase
€600-€800
daily fuel burn (30m motor)
30-40%
APA as % of charter fee
