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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $578 per month in Antananarivo vs $390 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,023 per month in Antananarivo vs $584 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,469 per month in Antananarivo vs $778 in Manakara, rent included.

Antananarivo costs about 48% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MGA 14.7K

$2.28 MGA 9,821

49.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.51 MGA 79.8K

$14.98 MGA 64.6K

23.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MGA 20.5K

$3.57 MGA 15.4K

33.33%

Cappuccino

$1.31 MGA 5,648

$1.16 MGA 5,023

12.93%

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

$1.06 MGA 4,561

$0.57 MGA 2,450

85.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 MGA 2,455

$0.59 MGA 2,529

-3.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 MGA 3,490

$1.20 MGA 5,179

-32.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 MGA 7,074

$1.47 MGA 6,346

11.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 MGA 5,051

$1.82 MGA 7,853

-35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MGA 4,527

$1.03 MGA 4,426

1.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 MGA 3,425

$0.68 MGA 2,934

16.18%

Eggs

$1.99 MGA 8,595

$2.26 MGA 9,738

-11.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 MGA 45.0K

$6.66 MGA 28.7K

56.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 MGA 20.5K

$3.45 MGA 14.9K

37.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.51 MGA 19.4K

$3.62 MGA 15.6K

24.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 MGA 5,780

$0.97 MGA 4,175

38.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 MGA 2,512

$0.67 MGA 2,877

-13.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 MGA 4,654

$0.38 MGA 1,621

184.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 MGA 4,455

$0.69 MGA 2,969

49.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,000

$0.58 MGA 2,519

20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MGA 4,369

$0.73 MGA 3,147

38.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 MGA 1,506

$0.34 MGA 1,484

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 MGA 2,978

$0.64 MGA 2,774

7.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 MGA 11.2K

$1.43 MGA 6,173

81.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.18 MGA 22.3K

$4.52 MGA 19.5K

14.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 MGA 3,539

$1.02 MGA 4,408

-19.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 MGA 5,442

$1.24 MGA 5,367

1.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 MGA 598

$0.21 MGA 902

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.03 MGA 77.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 MGA 12.3K

$1.09 MGA 4,689

162.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.68 MGA 7,222

$2.13 MGA 9,205

-21.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 MGA 18.6K

$3.23 MGA 13.9K

33.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MGA 5,524

$1.13 MGA 4,872

13.27%

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

$12.2K MGA 52.6M

$15.8K MGA 68.3M

-23.05%

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

$24.4K MGA 105.2M

$20.3K MGA 87.4M

20.35%

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

$57.6 MGA 248.3K

$43.00 MGA 185.4K

33.91%

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

$15.27 MGA 65.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.83 MGA 201.9K

$53.2 MGA 229.2K

-11.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.40 MGA 157.0K

$11.68 MGA 50.4K

211.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.51 MGA 28.1K

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 MGA 29.3K

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

$72.2 MGA 311.2K

$22.48 MGA 96.9K

221.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K MGA 50.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.51 MGA 131.5K

$16.24 MGA 70.0K

87.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.43 MGA 126.9K

$20.24 MGA 87.3K

45.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 MGA 328.6K

$45.87 MGA 197.8K

66.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.5 MGA 325.3K

$44.81 MGA 193.2K

68.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MGA 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.8 MGA 343.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MGA 2.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 MGA 1.9M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$682 MGA 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 MGA 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 MGA 581.0K

$122 MGA 527.3K

10.17%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Manakara: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 10% higher in Antananarivo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Antananarivo versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $131 – 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 48%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $868 per month in Antananarivo and $584 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $578 in Antananarivo and $390 in Manakara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $72.2 per month in Antananarivo and $22.48 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 $578 in Antananarivo and $390 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.