How Much Does a Meditation Retreat Cost?
Meditation retreat prices can vary widely depending on length, quality of the accommodation, and destination. We’ve compiled all of these details and more from 300+ meditation retreats, and put them into a price comparison table.
My weekend yoga and meditation classes are longer and have some time built in towards the end for any questions and discussions.
Students often want to find out about meditation retreats. One of the most common questions that always comes up is how much does a meditation retreat cost.
Meditation retreats come in all price ranges. There are retreats that are free and run only on voluntary donations. There are retreats at the complete opposite end of the spectrum that give a more luxurious experience and are hence, very expensive.
The price of a meditation retreat in 2021 will vary depending on the duration, the location, and the quality of accommodation. A 1-week meditation retreat with standard private accommodation and all meals included can cost anywhere between US$ 600 to US$ 1350 per person.
In this article we help you with the specifics.
We break down the cost of the retreat on all of the factors it depends on, which are:
- The type of accommodation
- The location
- And the extras, if you need to pay any.
This should help you get a fair idea on what you can expect to pay for, where, and for whatThr
How much should you expect to pay on average for a meditation retreat in 2021?
We did an intensive research on the many, many meditation retreats being hosted around the world. We looked at the shorter ones and the longer ones, the simpler ones and the luxurious ones.
We then used the data from all of these retreats to come to an average price range.
These numbers that you see below are the result of this process.
Meditation retreats average cost in ASIA
Up to 4 days
Shared room
U$D 350
Private room
U$D 420
Luxury room
U$D 480
7 days
Shared room
U$D 510
Private room
U$D 615
Luxury room
U$D 880
14 days
Shared room
U$D 960
Private room
U$D 1060
Luxury room
U$D 1250
Extras
All meals (if not included)
+U$D 7/day
Extras activities
+U$D 25/unit
Massages & treatments
+U$D 20/unit
Meditation retreats average cost in EUROPE
Up to 4 days
Shared room
U$D 555
Private room
U$D 610
Luxury room
U$D 735
7 days
Shared room
U$D 950
Private room
U$D 1110
Luxury room
U$D 1290
14 days
Shared room
U$D 1410
Private room
U$D 2200
Luxury room
U$D 2970
Extras
All meals (if not included)
+U$D 17/day
Extras activities
+U$D 60/unit
Massages & treatments
+U$D 50/unit
Meditation retreats average cost in NORTH AMERICA
Up to 4 days
Shared room
U$D 575
Private room
U$D 870
Luxury room
U$D 1010
7 days
Shared room
U$D 1200
Private room
U$D 1320
Luxury room
U$D 1550
14 days
Shared room
U$D 1810
Private room
U$D 2430
Luxury room
U$D 3480
Extras
All meals (if not included)
+U$D 15/day
Extras activities
+U$D 55/unit
Massages & treatments
+U$D 45/unit
Meditation retreats average cost in SOUTH AMERICA
Up to 4 days
Shared room
U$D 390
Private room
U$D 460
Luxury room
U$D 560
7 days
Shared room
U$D 690
Private room
U$D 810
Luxury room
U$D 995
14 days
Shared room
U$D 1180
Private room
U$D 1595
Luxury room
U$D 2015
Extras
All meals (if not included)
+U$D 6/day
Extras activities
+U$D 30/unit
Massages & treatments
+U$D 30/unit
What’s typically included in a meditation retreat?
Most meditation retreats include all 3 meals and accommodation.
They also include basic facilities like the internet and use of their space.
If the meditation retreat that you are choosing includes other activities, these activities are also priced into the package.
Examples of such activities are:
- Yoga
- Healing sessions
- Detox diets
- And naturopathy.
Some retreats offer complimentary massage or spa sessions but they usually charge you extra for these things as well as for specialized treatments.
It helps to remember that what’s typically not included is the cost of travel and associated costs.
Now that we’ve discussed all the expenses, let us see if there are any budget friendly destinations for meditation retreats.
What are the cheapest destinations to attend a silent meditation retreat?
The cheapest destinations to attend a meditation stage are all in Asia.
India, for instance, offers some of the cheapest silent meditation retreats.
Then there is Nepal.
And then, there are all the other destinations like Thailand, Cambodge and Indonesia.
In India and Nepal specifically, there are ashrams that provide meditation retreats at very nominal prices. These can be humbling experiences.
If you are wondering whether meditation retreats are worth the price, continue reading…
Are meditation retreats worth the price?
If your objective is to build and develop a strong meditation practice, a meditation retreat can do wonders towards that goal.
The good news is that retreats are available in all price ranges. It is easy to find options that do not cost an arm and a leg.
If there are constraints of location and time, and you are looking for something closer to home, it is possible that the ones available are on the expensive side.
In such a scenario, it is important to choose your meditation retreat well.
👉 On this blog post, you can read this article which explains everything you need to know about choosing a meditation retreat.
Once you have made sure that you have ticked all the boxes and done your due diligence, the retreat that you then choose will be the one that speaks to you directly.
Spending your time in such a retreat can be transformative. The person who walks out is often different from the one who walked in.
If the discussion on price feels overwhelming, what comes next will comfort you…
Are there FREE meditation retreats?
If a silent meditation retreat is what you are seeking, Vipassana offers its 10 day courses free of cost.
This includes the price of the accommodation and the food.
Vipassana centers run through donations.
At the end of the course, if you wish to donate, you are welcome to do that. However, there are no suggested minimum donations.
Another option is joining a virtual retreat.
There are schools of meditation that are running free courses and retreats virtually.
Though virtual retreats do not provide the same experience, they are good enough to help you with your practice and find a pause.
Volunteer work exchange meditation retreats
While some retreats are free, there are also other options.
You can work at a retreat in exchange for attending their program.
There are meditation retreats that allow you to stay and practice in exchange for working at their center.
The work usually involves housekeeping and cooking. Your time is essentially split between you being in the program of the retreat and helping out.
This is a really good option for those who have some experience with meditation and feel confident in splitting their time between providing support to the center and doing their own meditation practice.
Here are 2 ashrams that offer a special meditation and volunteer program:
The ashram is located in India, in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, near Rishikesh.
As, his owner, Yogacharya Sandeep, mention:
The ashram is the traditional place for learning yoga, and in line with our commitment to following tradition, we felt that an ashram would be the best place for people to both LEARN and LIVE YOGA.
Spirit Rock, an insight meditation center.
This center is located in California (US), in the secluded hills of West Marin County.
You may also like 👉 How Much Does a Yoga Retreat Cost?
Conclusion
If a meditation retreat is what you feel you need for your practice or for your mind, pick one that best suits you and go.
Costs, as we’ve discussed above will typically put you in the $600 to $1350 range, but this can be reduced if your accommodation pick is a dorm instead of a private bedroom, and if your destination is Asia rather than Europe or North America.
As we’ve talked, there are also free or donation based options that will reduce your costs. And you can also volunteer in exchange for food , accommodation and courses.
Perhaps there never will be an ideal time or an ideal location or an ideal retreat. We don’t want to wait forever. We discover and we learn and we grow.
In case you have any doubts about how meditation retreats can help you, read this wonderful article on the benefits of meditation retreats for beginners.
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