A trip to Timor-Leste costs from about US$20 a day for a hostel bed in Dili (plus food) to US$60–155 a day on Atauro Island with all meals included, plus a one-off US$30 visa on arrival for most nationalities. Accommodation is the biggest cost: Timor-Leste is more expensive than much of Southeast Asia because most goods are imported. Everything is priced and paid in US dollars, mostly in cash. Every price on this page comes from an official source or the operator’s own website, checked on 26 October 2026.
Quick answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Visa on arrival | US$30 cash, 30 days (Schengen, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean and Thai citizens are exempt) |
| Hostel bed in Dili | From about US$18 a night |
| Mid-range hotel in Dili | About US$65–105 a night for a double room |
| Upscale hotel in Dili | About US$120–220 a night |
| Atauro eco-lodge with all meals | From US$60 per person a night |
| Ferry Dili–Atauro | US$4 or US$5 each way |
| Taxi in Dili | US$3–6 a ride; at least US$15 from the airport |
| Mikrolet (minibus) in Dili | US$0.25 any distance |
| Two boat dives | From US$120 in Dili |
| Currency | US dollar; bring cash |
One-off costs
| Item | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa on arrival | US$30, cash only | Immigration Service |
| Visa extension (30 more days) | US$40 | Immigration Service |
| Airport taxi to the centre | At least US$15 each way | Official tourism site |
Flights are the other big one-off cost. Airlines do not publish standing fares, so check them directly: Qantas, Airnorth and Aero Dili fly from Darwin, Aero Dili and Citilink from Bali, and Batik Air and Aero Dili from Kuala Lumpur. See how to get to Timor-Leste for routes and schedules.
Accommodation in Dili
Most Dili hotels do not show rates on their own websites, so the prices below are listing prices observed on Booking.com on 26 October 2026 for one night in mid-November 2026, for a room for two unless stated. Rates change with dates and availability, and the listing did not say whether taxes were included.
| Level | Price per night | Examples (observed price) |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel and budget | US$18–20 | daTerra Vilaverde hostel, 1 person (US$18); Gama Apartments (US$20) |
| Mid-range | US$65–105 | Hotel Fortuna (US$65); Arbiru Beach Resort (US$85); Sunset Inn by Pro-Ema (US$90); Hotel Esplanada (US$105) |
| Upscale | US$120–220 | Hotel Timor (US$120); Timor Plaza Hotel & Apartments (US$145); Palm Springs Hotel Dili (US$220) |
For more places to stay, see our Dili accommodation guide, or accommodation in Timor-Leste for the other municipalities.
Accommodation on Atauro Island
Atauro lodges publish their rates, and most include all meals, which makes the island easier to budget than Dili.
| Lodge | Price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Barry’s Place | US$60 per adult a night; US$30 per child aged 4–12 | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea and coffee |
| Atauro Dive Resort | Garden rooms from US$50 a night (shared bathroom); bungalows from US$60–70 a night | Bungalows include breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Beloi Beach Hotel | US$95 per adult a night; “All Inclusive” package US$215 per adult | Three meals; the package adds the speedboat from Dili and back and the first night |
| Compass Atauro | Tent unit US$60 for two; villas US$190–220 for two | Tents include breakfast; villas include three meals; boat transfer not included |
See all places to stay on Atauro.
Getting around
| Transport | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mikrolet (shared minibus), Dili | US$0.25 flat | Any distance; carry coins |
| Taxi, Dili | US$3–6 a ride | No meters; agree the fare first |
| Taxi from the airport | At least US$15 | Agree the fare first |
| Ferry Dili–Atauro, Berlin Nakroma | US$4 each way | Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday |
| Ferry Dili–Atauro, Success | US$5 each way | Tuesday and Friday |
| Ferry Dili–Oecusse | US$8 (Berlin Ramelau) or US$10 (Success) each way | Overnight sailings |
| Beloi Beach Hotel water taxi, Dili–Atauro | US$70 per adult, US$35 per child aged 3–10 | Check whether the fare is one way when you book |
| Boat from Valu beach to Jaco Island | US$10 per person, return | Local fishing boats |
Ferry days and times are in our Dili to Atauro ferry guide, and buses, taxis and rentals are in getting around Timor-Leste. Car hire with a driver is common for trips outside Dili, but operators do not publish standard day rates: ask for a written quote that says whether fuel, the driver’s meals and accommodation are included.
Diving and tours
| Activity | Price | Operator |
|---|---|---|
| Shore dive in Dili | From US$50 | Dive Timor Lorosae |
| Two boat dives off Dili | US$120 | Dive Timor Lorosae |
| Two boat dives at Atauro (from Dili) | US$210 (minimum 5 divers) | Dive Timor Lorosae |
| Discover Scuba (first dive) | US$120 | Dive Timor Lorosae |
| PADI Open Water course | US$400–460 | Compass Diving; Dive Timor Lorosae |
| Shore dive on Atauro | US$50 | Atauro Dive Resort |
| Half-day or full-day guided tour (including Dili city tour) | US$75 per person (minimum 3) | Manny Timor Tours |
| 5-day Jaco Island tour | US$975 per person (minimum 3) | Manny Timor Tours |
| 7-day Mount Ramelau and Atauro tour | US$1,275 per person (minimum 3) | Manny Timor Tours |
Dive Timor Lorosae adds a high-season surcharge from mid-September to November; ask for the amount when you book. For more operators, see our guides to diving in and around Dili and tour operators in Timor-Leste.
Sample daily budgets
These budgets use only the prices above, per person per day. Meals in Dili are not included, because Dili restaurants do not publish their prices; add your own estimate.
| Style | How it adds up | Per person per day |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker in Dili | Hostel US$18 + four mikrolet rides US$1 | About US$19 + food |
| Comfortable in Dili (two sharing) | Hotel Timor US$120 ÷ 2 = US$60 + two taxi rides US$6–12 ÷ 2 | About US$63–66 + food |
| Atauro on a budget (two nights) | Barry’s Place 2 × US$60 + Nakroma ferry return US$8 = US$128 over two days | About US$64, meals included |
| Atauro all-inclusive (two nights) | Beloi package US$215 + extra night US$95 = US$310 over two days | About US$155, meals and boat included |
| Add a dive day in Dili | Two boat dives | + US$120 |
On top of this, budget US$30 for the visa (if you need one) and at least US$30 for airport taxis there and back, unless your hotel includes a transfer.
How to keep costs down
- Ride mikrolets in Dili instead of taxis: US$0.25 against US$3–6.
- Take the APORTIL ferry to Atauro (US$4–5) rather than a private boat (US$70).
- Stay at Atauro lodges where meals are included, so you know the full cost in advance.
- Bring US dollars in small notes from home: ATMs are only in Dili and charge for each withdrawal (see money and currency).
Frequently asked questions
Is Timor-Leste expensive to visit?
More than much of Southeast Asia. Most goods are imported, and accommodation in Dili starts at about US$18 for a hostel bed and US$65–105 for a mid-range double room. Atauro lodges with all meals start at US$60 per person a night.
How much money do I need for a week in Timor-Leste?
It depends on where you stay. Using the published prices on this page, a week with five nights in a comfortable Dili hotel (two sharing, about US$315–330) and two nights on Atauro at Barry’s Place with the ferry (US$128) comes to roughly US$500–520 per person, including the US$30 visa and at least US$30 in airport taxis, but before food in Dili, flights and activities.
Can I pay by card in Timor-Leste?
Rarely. Cards work mainly in larger Dili hotels, dive operators and some tour companies. Plan to pay in US dollar cash, including the US$30 visa fee.
How much is the ferry to Atauro?
US$4 on the Berlin Nakroma and US$5 on the Success, each way, paid in cash. Private water taxis cost about US$70 per adult.
How much does diving cost in Timor-Leste?
From US$50 for a shore dive and US$120 for two boat dives off Dili. Two boat dives at Atauro from Dili cost US$210, and a PADI Open Water course costs US$400–460.
Related Guides
Sources
- Immigration Service of Timor-Leste: Tourist Visa (US$30, extension US$40)
- Timor-Leste official tourism site: Transport (taxis, airport taxi, Jaco boat, flights; last verified 17 October 2026)
- Timor-Leste official tourism site: Dili microlets
- Timor-Leste official tourism site: Ferries (verified 30 August 2026)
- Booking.com listings for Dili, observed 26 October 2026 (night of 14–15 November 2026)
- Barry’s Place: Guest information (rates as of 1 January 2026)
- Atauro Dive Resort: Accommodation
- Beloi Beach Hotel: Accommodation
- Beloi Beach Hotel: Water taxi
- Compass Diving: Atauro accommodation
- Compass Diving: PADI Open Water
- Dive Timor Lorosae: Dive trips
- Dive Timor Lorosae: Dive courses
- Manny Timor Tours: Half-day and full-day tours
- Manny Timor Tours: 5-day Jaco Island tour
- Manny Timor Tours: 7-day Mount Ramelau and Atauro tour