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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $581 per month in Antananarivo vs $389 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,036 per month in Antananarivo vs $587 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,491 per month in Antananarivo vs $784 in Manakara, rent included.

Antananarivo costs about 49% 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

$3.28 MGA 13.8K

$2.25 MGA 9,442

45.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.19 MGA 80.5K

$14.81 MGA 62.1K

29.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 MGA 20.9K

$3.60 MGA 15.1K

38.06%

Cappuccino

$1.34 MGA 5,629

$1.20 MGA 5,028

11.67%

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

$1.05 MGA 4,399

$0.58 MGA 2,418

81.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 MGA 2,545

$0.58 MGA 2,449

5.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 MGA 3,388

$1.14 MGA 4,766

-28.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 MGA 6,884

$1.42 MGA 5,966

15.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 MGA 4,661

$1.80 MGA 7,540

-38.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MGA 4,364

$1.02 MGA 4,299

1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,179

$0.74 MGA 3,108

2.70%

Eggs

$2.07 MGA 8,683

$2.25 MGA 9,449

-8.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.39 MGA 43.6K

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

64.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.50 MGA 18.9K

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

33.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.51 MGA 18.9K

$3.60 MGA 15.1K

25.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 MGA 5,462

$0.94 MGA 3,962

38.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 MGA 2,475

$0.68 MGA 2,856

-13.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.11 MGA 4,671

$0.35 MGA 1,454

217.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,214

$0.72 MGA 3,007

38.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 MGA 3,104

$0.55 MGA 2,298

34.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 MGA 4,120

$0.77 MGA 3,241

27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 MGA 1,558

$0.34 MGA 1,429

8.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MGA 2,968

$0.70 MGA 2,933

1.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 MGA 11.0K

$1.41 MGA 5,910

85.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.43 MGA 22.8K

$4.73 MGA 19.8K

14.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 MGA 3,453

$1.03 MGA 4,311

-20.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 MGA 5,123

$1.30 MGA 5,459

-6.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 MGA 623

$0.21 MGA 879

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.89 MGA 75.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 MGA 11.8K

$1.10 MGA 4,595

156.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 MGA 6,919

$2.07 MGA 8,680

-20.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 MGA 18.9K

$3.30 MGA 13.9K

36.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 MGA 5,179

$1.19 MGA 5,008

3.36%

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

$12.3K MGA 51.4M

$15.6K MGA 65.6M

-21.57%

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

$23.7K MGA 99.4M

$20.6K MGA 86.4M

14.96%

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

$58.2 MGA 244.2K

$42.75 MGA 179.4K

36.12%

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

$15.58 MGA 65.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.10 MGA 197.6K

$54.4 MGA 228.3K

-13.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.96 MGA 155.1K

$11.44 MGA 48.0K

223.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 MGA 27.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 MGA 27.9K

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

$71.9 MGA 301.9K

$22.15 MGA 92.9K

224.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K MGA 48.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.54 MGA 128.1K

$16.74 MGA 70.3K

82.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.00 MGA 125.9K

$20.87 MGA 87.6K

43.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 MGA 327.1K

$45.39 MGA 190.5K

71.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.2 MGA 311.4K

$44.88 MGA 188.3K

65.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MGA 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.7 MGA 330.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MGA 2.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 MGA 1.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$677 MGA 2.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 MGA 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 MGA 502.8K

$127 MGA 531.0K

-5.30%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Manakara: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 6% 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: $151 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 49%, 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 $871 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 $581 in Antananarivo and $389 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 $22.15 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 $581 in Antananarivo and $389 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.