Understanding Your True Timeshare Costs in 2026

A timeshare is an investment that can potentially be life-long. Some people even inherit timeshares to their loved ones after they pass, or maybe that’s how you got a timeshare contract. Having all this in mind, this means that there are costs and fees that can be almost endless, and these continue rising year after year.

Some people tell stories of acquiring a timeshare 40 years back and paying affordable fees of around $550 a month, only for these ballooning up to $1,874 in the last years. (Forbes, 2025)

Annual Maintenance Fees: The Foundation Cost

According to the State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry, 2025 edition report by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the average cost of timeshare ownership is around $23,160, and $1,480 on maintenance fees per weekly interval equivalent. Both prices have kept rising year by year ever since 2020, which has made some owners balk at the idea of keeping up payments for their vacation homes or resort which they acquired years ago.

Not only that, the timeshare ownership has risen 32% since 2020, and many people do not pay the $23,160 out of pocket. Instead, people get timeshare loans by their provider, and failing to make these payments can trigger a foreclosure.

Special assessments and hidden charges

Special assessments are the charges that might come once in a while. Like a repair fee to a property, or an upgrade. These might be somewhat scheduled or can come after a major incident such as natural disaster. They are common in both properties and resorts. 

Exchange and Usage Fees

In some timeshare contracts there is a points system in which owners may exchange locations for some others of similar value. A lot of the times, owners might go to timeshares of higher value which usually have a cost. 

Besides that, even if the timeshare is paid off, there are some usage fees, such as reservation and booking fees, property taxes, utility surcharges, and travel costs.

If you want to explore more of these hidden costs, read our article on the true cost of a timeshare.

How to Calculate Your Total Timeshare Expenses

Knowing exactly how much you spend on your timeshare is essential to know exactly how much your timeshare is costing you. You can manually calculate the expenses yourself, or you can use our timeshare calculator for free and calculate the lifetime cost of ownership.

Disclaimer: This calculator is just an approximate cost. You can help us improve it by submitting your information. 

If you'd rather do it manually, follow our instructions to get a breakdown of your timeshare expenses.

Step 1: Gather Your Annual Statements

Having your documentation is essential to ensure that everything is up to speed. So, if you have the paper or email trail, sit down and go over all of it. Errors happen, so ensure that all your data is okay, and then look at the costs of it and add them up.

Step 2: Factor in Travel and Opportunity Costs

If your timeshare is on another state or if you need to travel in any way, these costs add up, especially if you’re going with family. Ignoring these amounts can cost you more when you’re factoring in the total costs of ownership, as well as utilities, or housekeeping. 

Step 3: Project Future Liability

Future liability can be the special assessments, or any other costs that might hit you unexpectedly, such as the yearly property causes.

Your options when the numbers don't add up

If you find yourself paying more than you thought or even considered ever paying, maybe you should look into other options. Paying for a vacation out of pocket can be cheaper for some. For example, according to Expedia.com, a vacation in Mexico can cost from $900 to $5,000 dollars for just a week. (Expedia, 2026)

So, if you’d like to get rid of your timeshare, what are your options?

Developer take-back and deed-back programs

A  developer take-back or deed-back program is when owners return the product to the developer. These programs are the second fastest way to get out of a timeshare, right after the rescission period, but qualifying for them can be tough and many owners end up exploring other options. Their requirements are varied as each company might have different requisites.

Legitimate timeshare exit companies

Timeshare exit companies or teams have cropped up in the last few years to get owners’ financial relief on track. These coach their clients on what they need, step-by-step, and help them deal with their provider. Look for companies with to ensure that you’re not falling for a scam.

If you'd like to go over your timeshare with some experts, book a free consultation today!

Frequently asked questions about the timeshare calculator

How much do timeshare maintenance fees increase each year?

The average cost of maintenance fees increased by 17% in 2024, but this is an oddity. In average, the rise year by year is closer to 5%. According to ARDA’s latest report, the increase could be because of the delayed impact of overall inflation and the change of the pool in some resorts. 

What happens if I stop paying timeshare maintenance fees?

You should never stop paying your maintenance fees. If you do, you will trigger a foreclosure process that could damage your credit and lose from 100 to 200 credit points, just like a regular real estate foreclosure. This applies even if you’re on an ongoing timeshare exit process. 

Can I write off timeshare maintenance fees on my taxes?

No, maintenance fees are not deductible. In fact, if you took out a loan with the timeshare company or paid it with a credit card, your timeshare cannot be written off your taxes.

Are special assessments included in maintenance fees?

No, special assessments are only reserved for things that are not scheduled, such as a natural disaster, a repair, or an upgrade. These can crop up on owners and surprise them, so they can be considered hidden fees. Special assessments happen on both, private property and resorts, so you should keep them in mind.

What is the average cost of timeshare ownership per year?

The average cost of timeshare ownership is 1,480 on maintenance fees per weekly interval equivalent. This is separate from the average $23,160 buy-in cost for a timeshare in 2024, according to the latest ARDA report. (ARDA, 2025) If the buy-in wasn’t paid upfront and was acquired through a loan, the cost might be greater, and special assessments might apply.