How much is the average timeshare per month? Real costs

Last updated 2026-07-24

How much is a timeshare per month, on average?

The trade group ARDA (American Resort Development Association) has reported average annual maintenance fees of about $1,260 in its 2023 State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry data, which works out to roughly $105 a month. That number is an average across a huge range of resorts, unit sizes, and locations, so plenty of owners pay less and plenty pay a lot more. That $105-a-month figure is just the recurring maintenance fee. It doesn't include the loan payment if you financed the purchase. It doesn't include special assessments for storm damage or roof replacement. It doesn't include exchange company fees if you use RCI or Interval International to trade your week. Once you add those in, a lot of owners are effectively paying $200 to $400 a month when everything is counted. Fees also vary a ton by property type. A studio-sized fixed week at a modest drive-to resort might run $600 a year. A three-bedroom fixed week at a beachfront or ski resort can run $2,500 to $3,000 or more. Points-based systems (Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, Bluegreen) charge fees per point owned, so your monthly cost scales with how big a vacation package you bought. If you're trying to figure out whether your fee is normal or high, compare it against the ARDA average and against what a hotel week at a comparable destination would cost per year. If your annual fee alone would cover four or five nights at a nice hotel in the same location every year, you're paying resort-level costs without getting resort-level flexibility.

How much does a timeshare cost to buy?

ARDA's 2023 data put the average purchase price for a timeshare interval at about $24,140. Prices range enormously, from a few thousand dollars for an older week-based deed at a budget resort, up to $40,000, $50,000, or more for a large points package at a luxury brand. Most buyers don't pay cash. Developers routinely offer financing, and that financing is expensive. Interest rates on timeshare loans commonly run in the 12 to 18 percent range, sometimes higher, which is well above a typical auto loan or even most credit cards for people with decent credit. A $20,000 purchase financed at 15 percent over 10 years adds up to serious money in interest alone, often more than the original purchase price. Here's the part that surprises new owners most: the resale value of a timeshare is usually a small fraction of what you paid, often close to zero on the open market. Timeshares are not an investment and they don't appreciate. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's guidance on timeshare ownership walks through how these financing structures work and why resale prices routinely land far below what owners originally paid ^[1]. If you're shopping the resale market instead of buying from a developer, you'll usually find identical properties listed for $1 or a few hundred dollars, because sellers just want out.

How much do timeshares cost each year including special assessments?

Maintenance fees are the baseline, but special assessments are the wildcard that catches owners off guard. These are one-time (or recurring) charges on top of your regular fee, billed when the resort needs to cover something the regular budget didn't: hurricane damage, a lawsuit settlement, an aging HVAC system, a full unit renovation cycle. Special assessments of $500 to $2,000 in a single year are common after a major storm hits a coastal resort. Some owners have reported assessments running several thousand dollars when a property needs a full refurbishment. There's no federal cap on how much a resort can assess, and your obligation to pay is typically spelled out in the CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions) you agreed to when you bought. The honest answer to 'how much does a timeshare really cost per year' is: your quoted maintenance fee, plus whatever assessment shows up that year, plus exchange fees if you swap weeks, plus travel costs to actually use it. Budget for the fee to rise annually too. Maintenance fees have historically increased faster than general inflation in many resort systems, though the exact rate varies by resort and isn't tracked in a single national dataset. If your HOA or resort management discloses a fee history, ask for the last 5 to 10 years of numbers before you buy or before you decide whether to keep fighting to stay in.

Are timeshares scams?

The timeshare product itself is legal in every US state, so no, owning one isn't inherently a scam. But the industry has a well-documented reputation for high-pressure sales tactics, and a separate, very real scam problem has grown up around owners trying to exit. The FTC has published consumer alerts specifically warning about 'timeshare resale and exit scams,' describing a pattern where a company cold-calls an owner, claims to have a buyer lined up or promises to eliminate the contract fast, and demands an upfront fee before doing anything. The money disappears, the promised sale or cancellation never happens, and the owner is out both the fee and still stuck with the timeshare. Several state attorneys general have sued or issued warnings against exit companies for exactly this pattern. If a company promises a specific outcome no matter what, asks for a large payment before any work is done, or pressures you to act today, treat that as a red flag, not reassurance. Legitimate resources will tell you plainly that no one can promise a particular result, because it depends on your contract, your state, and your resort's own deed-back or cancellation policies. The sales side deserves scrutiny too. High-pressure presentations, artificial urgency ('this price is only good today'), and vague answers about total lifetime cost are common complaints. If you're currently sitting through a presentation and feeling pushed, that pressure itself is a signal to slow down, not a sign of a good deal.

How do you get out of a timeshare?

There are basically four legitimate paths: rescission, deed-back, resale, or working with a legitimate exit process. The right one depends entirely on how recently you bought and what your resort allows. Rescission is the fastest and cleanest option, but it only works in a short window right after signing. Every state sets its own rescission period for timeshare purchases, ranging from as short as three days to as long as fifteen days depending on the state, so confirm your state's rescission window with your state attorney general's office or the contract itself before assuming you've missed it ^[2]. If you're still inside that window, send your cancellation notice in writing, by certified mail, following the exact instructions in your contract or state statute. Don't rely on a phone call. If you're past rescission, ask the resort directly about a deed-back or surrender program. A growing number of resorts and points systems, including several large branded operators, now run their own deed-back programs that let owners hand back the deed, usually for a fee, sometimes for free, if the owner is current on payments and the property doesn't have a big loan balance attached. This is worth asking about even if it isn't advertised. Resale is an option if your ownership actually has some market value (rare, but it happens with prime weeks at desirable resorts). List it honestly, price it near what similar units are actually selling for on established timeshare resale marketplaces, and expect it to take a while. For everything else, an exit company or a self-directed process can help you organize the paperwork, but be selective. For a full walkthrough of rescission timing and deed-back mechanics, see how to get out of a timeshare and how do you get out of a timeshare.

How do you sell a timeshare?

Selling is legal and sometimes possible, but the resale market is brutal. Most timeshares resell for a tiny fraction of the original price, and a large share never sell at all. Start by checking what your specific unit type and week actually sells for on established resale marketplaces (search recently sold or currently listed comparable units, not asking prices from years ago). Be realistic: many owners end up listing for $1 to a few hundred dollars just to transfer the deed to someone willing to take over the fees. Never pay a large upfront fee to a company that claims it has a buyer ready to go, or that promises your unit will sell fast no matter what. That's the exact pattern the FTC warns about. A legitimate broker or marketplace typically earns a commission on a completed sale, not a big fee collected before anything happens. If your resort has a right of first refusal clause, they may need to approve or waive the sale before it can close, so read your contract before you invest time marketing it. For state-specific cancellation rules if you'd rather cancel than sell, see timeshare cancellation.

How do you get rid of a timeshare if it won't sell?

If resale isn't realistic, your remaining options are deed-back, donation, or working through your resort's own release program, in that order of preference. Ask your resort's owner services department directly whether they offer a deed-back, surrender, or 'exit' program. Some major systems, including large points-based operators, have formalized these programs in the last several years specifically because they'd rather take a unit back than deal with defaults and foreclosures. There's usually a processing fee, and you generally need to be current on maintenance fees and have no outstanding loan balance to qualify. Donation to a charity is sometimes floated as an option, but many charities won't accept timeshares because they come with ongoing fee obligations, and donating doesn't erase your legal responsibility unless the deed is actually transferred and recorded. Be wary of any group that charges you a large fee to 'accept' a donation. If none of that works and you stop paying, expect the same consequences as defaulting on any other debt secured by property: late fees, collections calls, a ding to your credit report, and potentially foreclosure on the timeshare interest. Don't stop paying as a strategy without first understanding what your specific contract and state law say about the consequences. If you're weighing your options, how to get out of timeshare covers the sequence to try before you consider walking away.

What should you do before hiring a timeshare exit company?

Check them out before you pay them anything. Search the company name plus your state attorney general's office, plus the FTC's consumer complaint database, plus general web searches for lawsuits or complaints. The FTC has taken enforcement action against timeshare exit and relief companies before, and state AGs regularly publish consumer alerts naming specific bad actors. Ask exactly what you're paying for, in writing, before any money changes hands. A legitimate service should be able to describe the specific steps they'll take (drafting a rescission letter, negotiating a deed-back, preparing paperwork for you to send yourself) rather than a vague promise to 'get you out.' Never pay large sums for a promise of a specific outcome. No company, including ours, can promise that a resort will accept a deed-back or that a specific legal strategy will work, because that depends on your contract, your resort, and your state. Be skeptical of anyone who says otherwise. Our own product at ExitHonest is a $149 one-time Timeshare Exit Kit that gives you the letter templates, state-specific rescission information, and step-by-step instructions to handle a rescission or deed-back request yourself, without paying a percentage-based fee or an upfront retainer to a third party. You can build one at /exit-kit-builder. We don't contact the resort or developer for you and we don't promise a specific outcome; the kit is a set of tools, not a shortcut around the actual process.

How much do exchange and travel costs add to the monthly total?

If you're in an exchange system like RCI or Interval International, add another layer of cost on top of your maintenance fee. Annual membership dues for these exchange companies typically run somewhere in the $100 to $200 range, and each individual exchange (trading your week for a different resort) usually carries its own fee, commonly in the $150 to $300 range depending on the company and the exchange type. Then there's the travel itself. Airfare, food, and incidentals for the vacation you're supposedly locking in each year aren't part of the ownership cost technically, but they're real money you're committing to spend, and they don't go away just because you already paid a maintenance fee. Some owners find they skip using their week some years because the total cost of the trip (fees plus travel) exceeds what a comparable hotel stay would have cost. When you add maintenance fees, financing, occasional special assessments, and exchange costs together, a lot of owners are realistically carrying an all-in cost well above the ARDA average maintenance fee alone. That's the number to run before deciding whether keeping the timeshare still makes financial sense for your family.

How does timeshare cost compare to renting a similar vacation?

Recurring fee	~$1,260 maintenance fee	$0 (pay only when you go)
Occasional special assessment	$0 to $2,000+ in a bad year	N/A
Exchange fee (if trading week)	~$150 to $300 per exchange	N/A
Flexibility	Fixed week/unit or points system rules	Choose any week, any year
Resale value	Often near $0 [1]	N/A	The honest takeaway: a timeshare can make sense if you'll reliably use the same destination every year for decades and you got in cheap on the resale market. For most owners paying developer prices and financing the purchase, renting comparable weeks on the open market, with no long-term obligation, often costs less over time and comes with zero exit hassle.

This is the comparison that convinces a lot of owners to look for the exit door. Below is a rough, illustrative comparison based on the ARDA average maintenance fee and typical hotel/rental pricing for a comparable week; actual numbers vary widely by destination and season. | Cost category | Average timeshare (per year) | Renting the same style of week |

What are red flags of a timeshare exit scam?

Watch for these together, because scam operators tend to use several at once: an unsolicited call claiming to have a 'buyer' already lined up for your unit, pressure to decide or pay within 24 to 48 hours, a request for payment by wire transfer or gift card, and a promise that your timeshare will be cancelled or sold no matter what. The FTC's alert on this pattern warns owners to be suspicious of upfront fees tied to a promised sale, and to verify any company's standing before paying anything. Real deed-back programs run through your actual resort. Real rescission rights run through your actual state law and your actual contract deadline. Neither requires a stranger cold-calling you with a too-good offer. If you get one of these calls, hang up, then check the company against your state attorney general's consumer protection page and the FTC's complaint system before doing anything else. For a curated list of who to actually call when you're ready to pursue a legitimate exit, see timeshare call list, and to compare exit company options generally, see timeshare exit companies.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the average timeshare per month?

Roughly $105 a month, based on ARDA's 2023 average annual maintenance fee of about $1,260. That figure only covers the recurring fee; it doesn't include financing payments, special assessments, or exchange fees, which can push the real monthly cost significantly higher for many owners.

How much is a timeshare to buy upfront?

ARDA's 2023 data puts the average purchase price at about $24,140, though prices range from a few thousand dollars for older resale weeks to $40,000 or more for large points packages at luxury resorts. Financing terms are often 12 to 18 percent interest, which adds substantially to the true cost.

Are timeshares scams?

Owning a timeshare is legal and not inherently a scam, but the industry has a documented history of high-pressure sales tactics. Separately, the FTC warns about a real scam pattern in the exit and resale market, where companies charge upfront fees for promised sales or cancellations that never happen.

How do you get out of a timeshare?

Check first whether you're still inside your state's rescission window, which can be as short as three days or as long as about fifteen depending on the state; confirm your specific state's rule. If that window has passed, ask your resort about a deed-back or surrender program, or look into resale.

How do you sell a timeshare?

List it on an established timeshare resale marketplace at a realistic price, which for most units is a small fraction of the original purchase price, sometimes just a few hundred dollars. Check your contract for a right of first refusal clause, and never pay a large upfront fee to anyone claiming they already have a buyer lined up.

How do you get rid of a timeshare you no longer want?

In order of preference: try rescission if you're still in the window, ask your resort about a deed-back program, attempt a realistic resale, or look into donation (rare, since most charities won't accept the fee obligation). Don't simply stop paying without understanding the default and foreclosure consequences first.

How much do timeshares cost per year including fees?

Budget for the average maintenance fee of about $1,260 a year, plus any special assessment (which can add $500 to several thousand dollars in a bad year), plus exchange fees of roughly $150 to $300 per trade if you use RCI or Interval International.

Do timeshare maintenance fees go up every year?

Most resorts raise maintenance fees annually to keep pace with rising operating and repair costs, and fee increases have often outpaced general inflation at many properties, though there's no single national tracking dataset for the exact rate. Ask your resort for a 5 to 10 year fee history before buying or before deciding whether to keep your unit.

What is a timeshare special assessment?

A special assessment is an extra charge beyond your regular maintenance fee, billed when the resort needs money for something the annual budget didn't cover, like storm damage, a lawsuit, or a major renovation. These can run from a few hundred dollars to several thousand in a bad year, and owners are typically obligated to pay under the CC&Rs they signed.

Can you cancel a timeshare after the rescission period ends?

Rescission rights generally expire once your state's statutory window closes, and after that there's no automatic legal right to cancel. Your remaining options are a resort deed-back program, resale, or working through the exit process carefully; there's no assured cancellation path once rescission has passed.

How do you know if a timeshare exit company is legitimate?

Check the company name against your state attorney general's consumer protection page and FTC complaint records before paying anything. Legitimate services explain specific steps in writing and never promise a specific outcome; be very cautious of anyone demanding a large upfront fee or claiming they can promise a particular cancellation or sale result.

Is it worth financing a timeshare purchase?

Generally no. Timeshare loans commonly carry interest rates of 12 to 18 percent, well above typical auto or personal loan rates, and timeshares themselves have little to no resale value, so you're financing a depreciating obligation rather than an appreciating asset.

Sources

1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 'What is a timeshare?': Federal consumer finance guidance describing timeshare ownership structures and why resale value is typically very low
2. Florida Statutes Section 721.10, Cancellation of timeshare contract: State law example setting a specific rescission period (Florida's 10-day cancellation window) for timeshare purchases
3. Internal Revenue Service: Tax treatment of timeshare property relevant to ownership costs
4. U.S. Department of Justice: Prosecution of a timeshare exit company owner for fraud, illustrating exit scam risks
5. U.S. Congress: Legislative proposal related to timeshare consumer protections