Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Manakara Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Manakara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $580 per month in Antananarivo vs $383 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,030 per month in Antananarivo vs $582 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,480 per month in Antananarivo vs $781 in Manakara, rent included.

Antananarivo costs about 51% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Antananarivo and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Antananarivo 57% lower, Manakara 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.27 MGA 13.6K

$2.27 MGA 9,410

44.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.03 MGA 79.0K

$14.58 MGA 60.5K

30.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 MGA 20.7K

$3.56 MGA 14.8K

40.45%

Cappuccino

$1.32 MGA 5,465

$1.15 MGA 4,778

14.78%

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

$1.09 MGA 4,523

$0.61 MGA 2,552

78.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 MGA 2,316

$0.59 MGA 2,434

-5.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.80 MGA 3,301

$1.20 MGA 4,975

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 MGA 6,604

$1.42 MGA 5,876

11.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 MGA 4,781

$1.75 MGA 7,256

-34.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MGA 4,467

$1.03 MGA 4,255

4.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 MGA 3,183

$0.68 MGA 2,826

13.24%

Eggs

$2.03 MGA 8,438

$2.33 MGA 9,648

-12.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 MGA 42.1K

$6.60 MGA 27.4K

53.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 MGA 18.9K

$3.48 MGA 14.5K

30.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 MGA 18.0K

$3.64 MGA 15.1K

19.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MGA 5,437

$1.01 MGA 4,200

29.70%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,575

$0.73 MGA 3,022

-15.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 MGA 4,405

$0.37 MGA 1,539

186.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 MGA 4,287

$0.68 MGA 2,813

51.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 2,895

$0.53 MGA 2,213

32.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 MGA 3,933

$0.75 MGA 3,122

26.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,431

$0.32 MGA 1,312

6.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 MGA 2,726

$0.70 MGA 2,906

-5.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 MGA 10.8K

$1.41 MGA 5,846

84.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.38 MGA 22.3K

$4.87 MGA 20.2K

10.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 MGA 3,698

$1.07 MGA 4,460

-16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 MGA 5,002

$1.29 MGA 5,359

-6.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 MGA 618

$0.23 MGA 956

-34.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.61 MGA 73.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 MGA 12.0K

$1.14 MGA 4,726

154.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 MGA 6,888

$2.08 MGA 8,617

-20.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 MGA 17.9K

$3.36 MGA 13.9K

28.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 MGA 5,142

$1.17 MGA 4,874

5.98%

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

$12.0K MGA 49.7M

$15.6K MGA 64.9M

-23.33%

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

$24.4K MGA 101.1M

$20.8K MGA 86.3M

17.09%

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

$58.1 MGA 241.1K

$42.05 MGA 174.5K

38.19%

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

$15.62 MGA 64.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.37 MGA 196.5K

$53.2 MGA 220.8K

-10.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.58 MGA 147.6K

$11.52 MGA 47.8K

208.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.26 MGA 26.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 MGA 28.1K

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

$71.9 MGA 298.4K

$22.46 MGA 93.2K

220.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K MGA 49.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.50 MGA 130.7K

$16.14 MGA 67.0K

95.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.89 MGA 124.0K

$20.18 MGA 83.7K

48.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 MGA 314.4K

$46.11 MGA 191.3K

64.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 MGA 305.4K

$44.31 MGA 183.9K

66.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MGA 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.1 MGA 323.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MGA 2.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 MGA 1.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$689 MGA 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 MGA 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 MGA 504.9K

$126 MGA 521.6K

-3.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Antananarivo: April 27, 2026

Last update for Manakara: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 3% higher in Manakara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Antananarivo versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $133 – making Manakara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Antananarivo vs Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Antananarivo is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $871 per month in Antananarivo and $575 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $580 in Antananarivo and $383 in Manakara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $71.9 per month in Antananarivo and $22.46 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $580 in Antananarivo and $383 in Manakara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Manakara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Manakara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Antananarivo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.