Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Mahajanga: $557 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Cebu
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Cebu Living Index

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Mahajanga

🇲🇬 Madagascar

$557

/mo nomad

Cebu

🇵🇭 Philippines

$934

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mahajanga and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mahajanga and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $557 in Mahajanga versus $934 in Cebu.

Mahajanga $557
Cebu $934

Estimated couple costs with rent: $813 in Mahajanga versus $1,415 in Cebu.

Mahajanga $813
Cebu $1,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Mahajanga versus $1,896 in Cebu.

Mahajanga $1,069
Cebu $1,896

Living in Mahajanga costs roughly 40% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mahajanga 58% lower, Cebu 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 MGA 9,027

$3.03 ₱190

-33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.34 MGA 82.0K

$23.48 ₱1,473

-21.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 ₱256

Cappuccino

$0.69 MGA 3,104

$2.52 ₱158

-72.62%

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

$0.93 MGA 4,169

$1.54 ₱96.9

-39.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 MGA 4,013

$0.49 ₱30.98

83.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 MGA 4,710

$1.79 ₱112

-41.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MGA 7,211

$2.26 ₱142

-28.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 MGA 6,053

$1.95 ₱122

-30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 MGA 3,900

$1.43 ₱89.7

-39.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 MGA 2,880

$1.02 ₱63.8

-37.25%

Eggs

$2.23 MGA 9,963

$2.06 ₱129

8.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.91 MGA 30.9K

$9.81 ₱615

-29.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 MGA 30.6K

$4.61 ₱289

48.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.75 MGA 16.8K

$7.70 ₱483

-51.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 MGA 4,990

$3.31 ₱207

-66.16%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,765

$1.45 ₱90.9

-57.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,109

$2.36 ₱148

-70.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,146

$1.54 ₱96.4

-54.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,382

$2.36 ₱148

-77.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 MGA 2,333

$1.99 ₱125

-73.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 MGA 1,574

$1.15 ₱72.1

-69.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,657

$0.67 ₱42.15

-11.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

Wine (Bottle)

$9.30 MGA 41.6K

$6.35 ₱398

46.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 MGA 3,518

$1.31 ₱81.9

-39.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MGA 4,245

$1.73 ₱108

-45.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MGA 1,020

$0.25 ₱15.78

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.65 ₱793

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.32

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.11

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 ₱271

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MGA 5,996

$1.33 ₱83.5

0.75%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

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

$44.71 MGA 199.8K

$121 ₱7,563

-62.92%

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

$6.69 MGA 29.9K

$14.45 ₱907

-53.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.67 MGA 101.3K

$28.29 ₱1,774

-19.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.07 MGA 80.8K

$32.68 ₱2,050

-44.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.39 ₱401

Cinema Ticket

$5.46 ₱342

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

$273 ₱17.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,156 ₱511.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.57 ₱3,109

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.87 ₱1,560

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.6 ₱4,804

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 ₱3,717

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 MGA 1.5M

$506 ₱31.7K

-33.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 MGA 1.2M

$309 ₱19.4K

-11.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 MGA 3.1M

$1,052 ₱66.0K

-34.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 MGA 2.0M

$619 ₱38.8K

-27.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,915 ₱182.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,867 ₱117.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$341 ₱21.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

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

Last update for Mahajanga: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mahajanga

–

Cebu

$309 33.5%

Groceries & Markets

Mahajanga

–

Cebu

$210 22.7%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mahajanga

–

Cebu

$163 17.7%

Clothing & Footwear

Mahajanga

–

Cebu

$95 10.2%

Eating Out

Mahajanga

–

Cebu

$88 9.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Mahajanga

–

Cebu

$44 4.7%

Getting Around

Mahajanga

–

Cebu

$15 1.7%

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Mahajanga and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Mahajanga vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $210 per month, with Mahajanga cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇲🇬 Mahajanga

🇵🇭 Cebu

🕒 Local time

11:23 11:23 AM

16:23 4:23 PM

5 h ahead of Mahajanga

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

246,022

964,169

💱 Currency

Malagasy Ariary MGA Ar

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 MGA = 2.24 USD

10,000 MGA = 1.99 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to MGA – Malagasy Ariary Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇬 Malagasy Ariary (Ar)

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4,470 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.24 USD). 1 EUR = 5,013 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.99 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

USD to MGA in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Mahajanga Cebu 9,010 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Mahajanga
Cebu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Mahajanga vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mahajanga is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $835 in Mahajanga and $1,401 in Cebu 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $337 in Mahajanga versus $506 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Mahajanga – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $23.00 in Cebu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mahajanga gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Mahajanga is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Mahajanga and Cebu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mahajanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.