Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Manakara Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Manakara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $566 per month in Mahajanga vs $421 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $841 per month in Mahajanga vs $646 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,116 per month in Mahajanga vs $870 in Manakara, rent included.

Mahajanga costs about 35% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mahajanga and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Mahajanga 59% lower, Manakara 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 MGA 9,256

$2.28 MGA 9,954

-7.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.29 MGA 79.8K

$15.11 MGA 65.9K

21.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.80 MGA 16.6K

Cappuccino

$0.70 MGA 3,066

$1.27 MGA 5,537

-44.88%

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

$0.96 MGA 4,192

$0.65 MGA 2,820

47.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MGA 3,974

$0.59 MGA 2,592

54.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 MGA 4,458

$1.25 MGA 5,454

-18.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 MGA 6,985

$1.49 MGA 6,488

7.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MGA 6,209

$1.83 MGA 7,983

-22.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MGA 3,680

$1.06 MGA 4,646

-20.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,902

$0.77 MGA 3,347

-12.99%

Eggs

$2.20 MGA 9,595

$2.42 MGA 10.5K

-9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.75 MGA 29.5K

$6.65 MGA 29.0K

1.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 MGA 29.6K

$3.52 MGA 15.4K

92.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 MGA 15.9K

$3.77 MGA 16.4K

-3.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 MGA 4,937

$1.05 MGA 4,564

7.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,694

$0.70 MGA 3,049

-11.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,066

$0.39 MGA 1,717

79.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 MGA 3,109

$0.70 MGA 3,064

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,375

$0.62 MGA 2,697

-12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 MGA 2,447

$0.79 MGA 3,458

-29.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MGA 1,584

$0.37 MGA 1,593

-2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MGA 2,477

$0.67 MGA 2,943

-14.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 MGA 6,427

Wine (Bottle)

$9.22 MGA 40.2K

$4.50 MGA 19.6K

104.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 MGA 3,474

$1.08 MGA 4,709

-25.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 MGA 3,912

$1.30 MGA 5,652

-30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MGA 1,091

$0.24 MGA 1,048

4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.60 MGA 164.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MGA 5,009

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 MGA 10.2K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 MGA 14.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 MGA 6,212

$1.24 MGA 5,416

14.52%

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

$16.0K MGA 69.9M

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

$21.0K MGA 91.8M

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

$46.40 MGA 202.4K

$44.25 MGA 193.0K

4.86%

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

$7.01 MGA 30.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.85 MGA 99.7K

$56.3 MGA 245.5K

-59.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.54 MGA 80.9K

$12.24 MGA 53.4K

51.47%

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

$23.00 MGA 100.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.85 MGA 73.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.24 MGA 92.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.16 MGA 205.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.70 MGA 208.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 MGA 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 MGA 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 MGA 3.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 MGA 2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$124 MGA 539.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mahajanga: September 12, 2026

Last update for Manakara: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $135 – 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

Mahajanga vs Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mahajanga costs about 35% more than Manakara, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $849 per month in Mahajanga and $631 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $566 in Mahajanga and $421 in Manakara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Mahajanga, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $566 in Mahajanga and $421 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, Mahajanga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.