The 10% rule
The most widely cited rule in superyacht ownership is the 10% rule: expect to spend approximately 10% of the vessel's purchase price each year to operate it. A €10 million yacht costs roughly €1 million per year. A €50 million yacht costs €4–6 million annually. These figures are rough — actual costs vary significantly by vessel size, usage, crew size, cruising region, and maintenance standards — but the order of magnitude is right.
First-time buyers consistently underestimate this figure. The purchase feels like the major financial commitment; in reality, it is the entry fee. The ongoing cost of ownership is the sustained financial relationship.
Crew costs
Crew is typically the largest single operating cost, representing 30–40% of annual expenditure. A full crew for a 50-metre motor yacht — captain, first officer, two engineers, two stewardesses, and two deckhands — costs approximately €600,000–900,000 in salaries, benefits, insurance, training, flights, and accommodation when ashore.
Crew costs scale with vessel size. A 30-metre yacht with three crew costs €150,000–250,000 annually. A 100-metre flagship with a crew of 30 costs €3–5 million. Crew contracts follow MYBA or MLC 2006 standards and include provisions for repatriation, medical coverage, and termination that add to the base cost.
Fuel
Fuel is typically the second largest cost after crew. A 50-metre motor yacht cruising at 12 knots burns 200–400 litres per hour depending on hull efficiency and engine configuration. At €1.20–1.50 per litre (current European marina pricing), a week of active cruising costs €25,000–60,000 in fuel. A heavily used vessel covering 5,000 nautical miles per season can spend €300,000–600,000 on fuel annually.
Explorer yachts and sailing yachts have significantly better fuel efficiency. A sailing yacht of comparable size might spend 20–30% of the fuel cost of an equivalent motor yacht.
Insurance
Marine insurance for a superyacht costs approximately 0.5–1.5% of the vessel's insured value annually. A €10 million yacht costs €50,000–150,000 per year to insure; a €50 million vessel, €250,000–750,000. Premiums are affected by: cruising area (Arctic and Pacific routes attract higher rates than Mediterranean), owner and crew experience, vessel age and condition, and the presence or absence of a class certificate. The Lloyd's market underwrites the majority of large superyacht risk.
Maintenance and refit
Annual maintenance — antifouling, paintwork, mechanical servicing, equipment replacement — costs 1–3% of vessel value. For a €10 million vessel, this is €100,000–300,000 per year before any major work. A five-yearly refit — structural work, machinery overhaul, interior refresh, classification renewal survey — can cost 10–30% of vessel value, meaning a €20 million refit on a vessel worth €70 million is not unusual.
Marina and berthing
Marina fees are one of the most overlooked costs. A 50-metre vessel berthed at a premium Monaco or Antibes marina in summer pays €2,000–5,000 per night. For a three-month Mediterranean season plus winter berthing, annual marina costs of €200,000–500,000 are realistic for a vessel of this size. Home port winter berthing in northern Europe is less expensive but still significant.
Management fees
Most superyacht owners appoint a management company to handle day-to-day operational, financial, and regulatory matters: crew payroll, flag state compliance, insurance renewals, maintenance scheduling, and financial reporting. Management fees are typically 10–15% of annual running costs, or €50,000–200,000 per year depending on vessel size and service scope. For a detailed breakdown of charter economics, see our superyacht management guide.
The decision to buy a superyacht is a decision to spend 10% of its value every year. Make that decision with the full picture in view.