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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $376 per month in Mahajanga vs $383 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $713 per month in Mahajanga vs $582 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,050 per month in Mahajanga vs $781 in Manakara, rent included.

Mahajanga is about 2% cheaper than Manakara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mahajanga and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Mahajanga 72% lower, Manakara 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 MGA 8,209

$2.27 MGA 9,410

-12.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.88 MGA 74.2K

$14.58 MGA 60.5K

22.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 MGA 14.8K

Cappuccino

$0.66 MGA 2,730

$1.15 MGA 4,778

-42.61%

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

$0.88 MGA 3,632

$0.61 MGA 2,552

44.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MGA 3,809

$0.59 MGA 2,434

55.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 MGA 4,272

$1.20 MGA 4,975

-14.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 MGA 6,623

$1.42 MGA 5,876

12.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 MGA 4,341

$1.75 MGA 7,256

-40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 MGA 2,466

$1.03 MGA 4,255

-42.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,298

$0.68 MGA 2,826

-19.12%

Eggs

$1.93 MGA 8,017

$2.33 MGA 9,648

-17.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 MGA 28.3K

$6.60 MGA 27.4K

3.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 MGA 21.8K

$3.48 MGA 14.5K

51.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.31 MGA 13.7K

$3.64 MGA 15.1K

-9.07%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 MGA 3,900

$1.01 MGA 4,200

-6.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,232

$0.73 MGA 3,022

-26.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 MGA 3,222

$0.37 MGA 1,539

110.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 MGA 2,100

$0.68 MGA 2,813

-25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 MGA 2,035

$0.53 MGA 2,213

-7.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 MGA 1,856

$0.75 MGA 3,122

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MGA 1,623

$0.32 MGA 1,312

21.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MGA 2,592

$0.70 MGA 2,906

-11.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.14 MGA 4,736

$1.41 MGA 5,846

-19.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.58 MGA 39.7K

$4.87 MGA 20.2K

96.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MGA 3,466

$1.07 MGA 4,460

-21.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,260

$1.29 MGA 5,359

-20.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 MGA 521

$0.23 MGA 956

-43.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 MGA 36.8K

$17.61 MGA 73.1K

-49.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MGA 4,726

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 MGA 8,617

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 MGA 13.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 4,673

$1.17 MGA 4,874

-3.42%

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

$15.6K MGA 64.9M

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

$20.8K MGA 86.3M

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

$45.23 MGA 187.6K

$42.05 MGA 174.5K

7.56%

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

$6.57 MGA 27.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.83 MGA 90.6K

$53.2 MGA 220.8K

-58.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.68 MGA 73.3K

$11.52 MGA 47.8K

53.47%

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

$22.46 MGA 93.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.14 MGA 67.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.18 MGA 83.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.11 MGA 191.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.31 MGA 183.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 MGA 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 MGA 455.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 MGA 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 MGA 1.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$126 MGA 521.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mahajanga: April 27, 2026

Last update for Manakara: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga versus $15.00 in Manakara. Groceries tell a different story – $133 in Mahajanga vs $133 in Manakara – so Mahajanga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Manakara costs about 2% more than Mahajanga, 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 $564 per month in Mahajanga 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 $376 in Mahajanga and $383 in Manakara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga and $15.00 in Manakara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $376 in Mahajanga and $383 in Manakara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mahajanga – 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 Mahajanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manakara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.