Cost of Living Comparison Between Male and Gan Cost of Living Comparison Between Male and Gan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,524 per month in Male vs $43.35 in Gan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,378 per month in Male vs $70.0 in Gan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,232 per month in Male vs $97.5 in Gan, rent included.

Male costs about 3415% more than Gan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Male sits 14% above the global median, while Gan is 97% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 MVR 85.0

$5.36 MVR 82.7

2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.17 MVR 450

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 MVR 152

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.44 MVR 68.5

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MVR 56.0

Cappuccino

$2.86 MVR 44.15

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

$1.28 MVR 19.76

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MVR 3.83

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MVR 27.55

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 MVR 23.96

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 MVR 20.89

Eggs

$1.80 MVR 27.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 MVR 128

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 MVR 97.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.12 MVR 141

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 MVR 63.8

Banana (1kg)

$3.78 MVR 58.3

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 MVR 66.8

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 MVR 49.24

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 MVR 22.98

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MVR 18.91

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 MVR 47.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MVR 7.83

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.30 MVR 190

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 MVR 41.50

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.51 MVR 162

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.33 MVR 128

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 MVR 10.18

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.81 MVR 444

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 MVR 29.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 MVR 29.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 MVR 154

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 MVR 14.17

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

$32.2K MVR 497.2K

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

$34.6K MVR 534.0K

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

$105 MVR 1,613

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

$41.62 MVR 642

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 MVR 1,182

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 MVR 1,242

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.50 MVR 671

Cinema Ticket

$9.81 MVR 151

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

$163 MVR 2,521

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,626 MVR 55.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.36 MVR 700

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 MVR 860

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 MVR 1,383

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.4 MVR 839

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 MVR 15.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 MVR 10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,701 MVR 26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 MVR 22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,300 MVR 35.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,905 MVR 29.4K

$569 MVR 8,768

235.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$857 MVR 13.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.4

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

Last update for Male: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gan: May 30, 2026

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

Male vs Gan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Male is pricier by about 3415%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,286 per month in Male and $65.0 in Gan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gan, where all-in costs run around $43.35, than in Male at $1,524. In Gan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Male it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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