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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $377 per month in Mahajanga vs $390 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $706 per month in Mahajanga vs $584 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,034 per month in Mahajanga vs $778 in Manakara, rent included.

Mahajanga is about 3% 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

$2.03 MGA 8,748

$2.28 MGA 9,821

-10.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.67 MGA 76.2K

$14.98 MGA 64.6K

17.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.57 MGA 15.4K

Cappuccino

$0.68 MGA 2,948

$1.16 MGA 5,023

-41.38%

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

$0.92 MGA 3,967

$0.57 MGA 2,450

61.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 MGA 3,746

$0.59 MGA 2,529

47.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 MGA 4,413

$1.20 MGA 5,179

-15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MGA 6,547

$1.47 MGA 6,346

3.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 MGA 4,486

$1.82 MGA 7,853

-42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 MGA 2,747

$1.03 MGA 4,426

-37.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.60 MGA 2,580

$0.68 MGA 2,934

-11.76%

Eggs

$1.96 MGA 8,463

$2.26 MGA 9,738

-13.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 MGA 28.6K

$6.66 MGA 28.7K

-0.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 MGA 22.7K

$3.45 MGA 14.9K

52.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.37 MGA 14.5K

$3.62 MGA 15.6K

-6.91%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 MGA 4,251

$0.97 MGA 4,175

2.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,351

$0.67 MGA 2,877

-17.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,295

$0.38 MGA 1,621

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,346

$0.69 MGA 2,969

-21.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 MGA 2,160

$0.58 MGA 2,519

-13.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 MGA 1,932

$0.73 MGA 3,147

-38.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 MGA 1,853

$0.34 MGA 1,484

26.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,543

$0.64 MGA 2,774

-7.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.13 MGA 4,880

$1.43 MGA 6,173

-20.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 MGA 39.7K

$4.52 MGA 19.5K

103.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 MGA 3,441

$1.02 MGA 4,408

-21.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,439

$1.24 MGA 5,367

-16.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 MGA 599

$0.21 MGA 902

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.85 MGA 38.2K

$18.03 MGA 77.8K

-50.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 MGA 4,689

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 MGA 9,205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MGA 13.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 4,873

$1.13 MGA 4,872

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

$15.8K MGA 68.3M

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

$20.3K MGA 87.4M

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

$44.93 MGA 193.7K

$43.00 MGA 185.4K

4.49%

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

$6.77 MGA 29.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.28 MGA 96.1K

$53.2 MGA 229.2K

-58.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.41 MGA 75.1K

$11.68 MGA 50.4K

49.06%

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

$22.48 MGA 96.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.24 MGA 70.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.24 MGA 87.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.87 MGA 197.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.81 MGA 193.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 MGA 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 MGA 463.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 MGA 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 MGA 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 MGA 527.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mahajanga: July 26, 2026

Last update for Manakara: July 26, 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: $133 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

Mahajanga vs Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manakara costs about 3% 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 $566 per month in Mahajanga 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 $377 in Mahajanga and $390 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 $377 in Mahajanga and $390 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.