Should You Buy a Yacht in GTA Online? An In-Depth Analysis
As a GTA expert with over 2,000 hours played, I am often asked by my fellow crime lords in Los Santos: "should I buy one of those fancy yachts?"
With price tags ranging from $6-10 million GTA dollars, these floating luxury mansions don‘t come cheap. Many players balk at the idea of investing such a large chunk of their hard-earned cash into a non-essential, mostly cosmetic item.
But I‘m here to tell you that buying a yacht is 100% worth it if you have the funds readily available. Beyond serving as the ultimate flex of criminal affluence, owning one unlocks exclusive gameplay opportunities and serves as an excellent mobile base of operations.
Let‘s break down the pros, cons, and other nitty gritty details of owning a Superyacht in GTA Online:
Yacht Benefits and Usage Tips
Mobile Operations Center
The key benefit of the yacht is having a second apartment/garage hybrid that can sail around the coastal waters of Los Santos.
You can access all your wardrobe changes, weapon loadouts, and stored vehicles while onboard. I typically park a Buzzard helicopter for fast transport to land.
This allows you to setup shop anywhere along the Pacific coast. I often sail near my MC businesses in the city for quick resupplies.
Exclusive Missions and Activities
Rockstar added six exclusive Superyacht Life missions a few years ago. These missions unlock after buying a yacht and have crew members complete tasks like recovering cargo from shipwrecks, defending the yacht from pirates, and more.
Completing all six missions pays out a $1 million GTA dollar reward. This offsets some of the initial yacht purchase price.
The missions can be replayed for additional cash and RP gains. I‘ve grinded them for hours while aboard my yacht with crewmates.
Luxury Transport Network
Your captain (more on him later) can deliver a Swift Luxury Helicopter, Dinghy boat, or personal watercraft like a Seashark jet ski to you instantly.
I use my yacht‘s chopper for fast extracts after completing difficult heists and missions on land. The ability to instantly get airborne is clutch.
Party Hub
Your yacht has a hot tub, two party areas with dance floors, and a bar stocked with champagne. I regularly host yacht parties for my in-game Crew and charge new players an entrance fee.
Fun fact – you can activate colored floodlights and ground fireworks displays from the bridge captain‘s area! I put on quite the light show during my parties.
Respawn Point
Dying during difficult naval missions or from falling into the sea can be frustrating having to respawn miles inland.
With the yacht owned, your respawn point shifts to waking up in your bunk aboard the yacht. This has saved me tons of time recovering after sticky situations at sea.
Luxury Yacht Purchase Prices and Comparison
Let‘s breakdown the pricing and differences between the three available yacht models in GTA Online:
| Yacht Option | Cost | Unique Perks |
|---|---|---|
| The Orion | $6,000,000 | 2 hot tubs, 1 whirlpool |
| The Pisces (my recommendation) | $7,000,000 | 1 extra guest cabin |
| The Aquarius | $10,000,000 | Helipad for aircraft landing |
My personal yacht of choice is The Pisces model. For just $1 million more than the base Orion yacht, you get 50% more guest cabin room onboard to host larger groups of friends.
The Aquarius is the ultimate flex with its integrated helipad, but I don‘t think it justifies the $3 million premium. Your captain can still deliver a chopper to you on the less expensive models.
Estimated Yacht Operating Costs
Owning a yacht is not simply a one-time purchase. You need to budget for the ongoing costs associated with maintaining your aquatic mansion and keeping its crew paid.
Here are typical costs to expect:
Weekly Crew Fees: $5,620
Captain Alcohol Supply: $1,500
I recommend stopping by the liquor store to bring additional cases of the captain‘s favorite rum every few in-game days. Keeping him drunk and happy ensures he won‘t abandon ship!
On-Demand Boat Services: $750+
Requesting a Dinghy or Jetmax boat delivery costs about $850. Budget a few thousand for regularly using the delivery services.
Fast Travel Relocation: $25,000
While fast traveling your mobile base anywhere on the map is convenient, these nautical Ubers add up! I only relocate for specific missions.
All in, expect to spend around $300,000 per week maintaining your yacht‘s operation. Of course that‘s chump change once you own a thriving criminal empire in Los Santos!
Is Buying a Yacht Worth It? Final Verdict
While $6 million+ on a mostly cosmetic item seems excessive, when viewed as an end-game upgrade to consolidate your power in Los Santos, absolutely invest in a Superyacht.
The combo of having a flexible mobile operations center, access to special missions, and unlocking new transport options justifies the costs IF you play GTA Online regularly.
As an established game expert and content creator, I give buying one of these luxury yachts in Grand Theft Auto Online my absolute highest recommendation and endorse all criminal billionaires to upgrade!
Whether you‘re grinding solo or ruling the seas with crewmates, your yacht allows enjoying GTA with more style and function. I hope this guide helps assess if purchasing one supports your gameplay needs!
Let me know if you have any other questions about buying a GTA Online yacht. Happy sailing!
