Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambatolampy and Manakara Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambatolampy and Manakara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $482 in Ambatolampy versus $421 in Manakara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $712 in Ambatolampy versus $646 in Manakara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $943 in Ambatolampy versus $870 in Manakara.

Living in Ambatolampy is roughly 15% more expensive than in Manakara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ambatolampy 65% lower, Manakara 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 MGA 11.8K

$2.28 MGA 9,954

18.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.57 MGA 46.1K

$15.11 MGA 65.9K

-30.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 MGA 25.2K

$3.80 MGA 16.6K

51.84%

Cappuccino

$1.73 MGA 7,526

$1.27 MGA 5,537

36.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 MGA 3,429

$0.65 MGA 2,820

21.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 MGA 2,030

$0.59 MGA 2,592

-20.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 MGA 4,627

$1.25 MGA 5,454

-15.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 MGA 10.4K

$1.49 MGA 6,488

59.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MGA 3,935

$1.83 MGA 7,983

-50.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,483

$1.06 MGA 4,646

-2.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,163

$0.77 MGA 3,347

-6.49%

Eggs

$2.07 MGA 9,024

$2.42 MGA 10.5K

-14.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 MGA 38.2K

$6.65 MGA 29.0K

31.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 MGA 20.5K

$3.52 MGA 15.4K

33.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.93 MGA 21.5K

$3.77 MGA 16.4K

30.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 MGA 4,957

$1.05 MGA 4,564

8.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 MGA 2,649

$0.70 MGA 3,049

-12.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 MGA 4,536

$0.39 MGA 1,717

166.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 MGA 3,938

$0.70 MGA 3,064

28.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MGA 2,512

$0.62 MGA 2,697

-6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 MGA 4,154

$0.79 MGA 3,458

20.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 MGA 1,428

$0.37 MGA 1,593

-10.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 3,038

$0.67 MGA 2,943

4.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 MGA 6,943

$1.47 MGA 6,427

8.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.10 MGA 22.2K

$4.50 MGA 19.6K

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,485

$1.08 MGA 4,709

-4.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 MGA 8,038

$1.30 MGA 5,652

41.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 MGA 1,048

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.60 MGA 164.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 MGA 15.0K

$1.15 MGA 5,009

200.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 MGA 9,322

$2.34 MGA 10.2K

-8.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.69 MGA 20.5K

$3.38 MGA 14.8K

38.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 MGA 3,936

$1.24 MGA 5,416

-27.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$12.4K MGA 54.3M

$16.0K MGA 69.9M

-22.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K MGA 113.4M

$21.0K MGA 91.8M

23.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$75.7 MGA 330.1K

$44.25 MGA 193.0K

71.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.45 MGA 76.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.0 MGA 257.4K

$56.3 MGA 245.5K

4.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.24 MGA 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 MGA 25.7K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$25.60 MGA 111.7K

$23.00 MGA 100.3K

11.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K MGA 66.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.25 MGA 132.0K

$16.85 MGA 73.5K

79.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.45 MGA 124.1K

$21.24 MGA 92.7K

33.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MGA 343.9K

$47.16 MGA 205.8K

67.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 MGA 309.8K

$47.70 MGA 208.1K

48.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$124 MGA 539.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.75

-34.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ambatolampy: September 14, 2026

Last update for Manakara: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $11.00 in Ambatolampy vs $15.00 in Manakara. Groceries flip the comparison at $145 vs $135, with Manakara cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ambatolampy vs Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manakara wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Ambatolampy. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manakara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $723 in Ambatolampy and $631 in Manakara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $25.60 in Ambatolampy versus $23.00 in Manakara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Manakara – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $11.00 in Ambatolampy. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Manakara gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Manakara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Ambatolampy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.