Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $566 per month in Mahajanga vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $841 per month in Mahajanga vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,116 per month in Mahajanga vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Mahajanga is about 66% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Mahajanga sits 59% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 MGA 9,256

$8.02 COP 25.3K

-73.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.29 MGA 79.8K

$47.87 COP 151.0K

-61.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.2K

Cappuccino

$0.70 MGA 3,066

$3.13 COP 9,873

-77.64%

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

$0.96 MGA 4,192

$1.91 COP 6,019

-49.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MGA 3,974

$1.51 COP 4,763

-39.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 MGA 4,458

$3.12 COP 9,853

-67.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 MGA 6,985

$5.75 COP 18.1K

-72.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MGA 6,209

$1.44 COP 4,558

-1.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MGA 3,680

$2.49 COP 7,843

-66.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,902

$1.77 COP 5,595

-62.15%

Eggs

$2.20 MGA 9,595

$2.96 COP 9,336

-25.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.75 MGA 29.5K

$10.07 COP 31.8K

-32.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 MGA 29.6K

$10.12 COP 31.9K

-32.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 MGA 15.9K

$14.30 COP 45.1K

-74.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 MGA 4,937

$4.14 COP 13.0K

-72.71%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,694

$1.61 COP 5,073

-61.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,066

$2.25 COP 7,083

-68.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 MGA 3,109

$2.25 COP 7,104

-68.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,375

$2.04 COP 6,444

-73.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 MGA 2,447

$1.54 COP 4,842

-63.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MGA 1,584

$1.17 COP 3,691

-69.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MGA 2,477

$1.31 COP 4,121

-56.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$9.22 MGA 40.2K

$14.01 COP 44.2K

-34.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 MGA 3,474

$1.74 COP 5,498

-54.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 MGA 3,912

$2.87 COP 9,053

-68.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MGA 1,091

$1.22 COP 3,834

-79.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 253.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,899

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 MGA 6,212

$1.37 COP 4,306

3.65%

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

$27.8K COP 87.8M

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

$35.8K COP 112.8M

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

$46.40 MGA 202.4K

$177 COP 559.3K

-73.83%

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

$7.01 MGA 30.6K

$13.88 COP 43.8K

-49.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.85 MGA 99.7K

$29.72 COP 93.8K

-23.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.54 MGA 80.9K

$44.88 COP 141.6K

-58.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.0K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 282.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 186.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 435.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 322.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 MGA 1.5M

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-66.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 MGA 1.2M

$663 COP 2.1M

-57.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 MGA 3.1M

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-62.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 MGA 2.0M

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-55.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Mahajanga: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $351 in Mahajanga versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $305 – making Mahajanga 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 197% 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 $849 per month in Mahajanga and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahajanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $566 in Mahajanga and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 103% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahajanga, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Mahajanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahajanga costs $566 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Mahajanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.