Prices of essential goods in Malé edged up slightly in January 2026, but the overall picture points to relative stability rather than rising cost-of-living pressure, according to the latest Essential Commodities Price Index released by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics.
The overall ECPI for Malé stood at 114.34 in January. This figure by itself does not mean prices are “114 percent higher”. Instead, it reflects how prices today compare with a base period set at November 2022. What matters more for households is how prices are changing over time.
Compared with December 2025, essential commodity prices rose by 0.45 percent. This month-on-month increase suggests that the cost of everyday items such as food, beverages and personal care products crept up slightly at the start of the year. However, when compared with January last year, prices were marginally lower, with the year-on-year rate falling by 0.08 percent. In practical terms, this means that essentials in Malé are, on average, no more expensive than they were a year ago.
Food prices, which carry the largest weight in the index, increased by 0.49 percent from December to January. Several commonly purchased items became more expensive, particularly fruits, which rose by 2.65 percent, and milk, dairy products and eggs, which increased by 1.38 percent. Prices of sugar, confectionery, oils and fats also recorded noticeable monthly increases. These rises were partly offset by a sharp fall in vegetable prices, which dropped by 3.90 percent, helping to keep overall food inflation in check.
Looking at food prices over a longer period gives a different picture. Compared with January 2025, food prices were lower by 0.96 percent. This decline was driven mainly by a significant reduction in vegetable prices, which fell by 14.01 percent over the year. Fruit prices were also slightly lower on an annual basis. These decreases helped counter price increases seen in items such as sugar and confectionery, which rose by just over six percent year-on-year.
Beverage prices increased by 0.44 percent in January compared with the previous month, largely due to higher prices for coffee and tea. On a yearly basis, beverages were more expensive, rising by 2.44 percent compared with January last year. For regular consumers, this suggests that drinks-related costs are rising gradually even if monthly changes remain modest.
Prices of gas and other fuels were unchanged from December, indicating short-term stability in household fuel costs. Over the year, however, fuel prices declined by just over one percent, offering some relief compared with early 2025 levels.
Personal care products also saw a monthly increase of 0.44 percent in January. Unlike food, this category showed a stronger annual rise, with prices up by 4.35 percent compared with a year earlier. This suggests that items such as toiletries and hygiene products are experiencing more sustained price pressures.
Taken together, the January figures point to a mixed but generally stable price environment in Malé. While some categories continue to see gradual increases, especially personal care products and beverages, these are being balanced by falling prices in vegetables and fuel. For households, this means that the cost of living has not risen sharply over the past year, even though month-to-month fluctuations remain visible in specific items.
