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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,501 per month in Male vs $44.54 in Gan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,377 per month in Male vs $73.0 in Gan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Male vs $101 in Gan, rent included.

Male costs about 3271% more than Gan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Male sits 12% above the global median, while Gan is 97% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 MVR 82.8

$5.55 MVR 85.6

-3.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.25 MVR 451

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 MVR 147

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.65 MVR 71.7

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 MVR 56.3

Cappuccino

$2.96 MVR 45.72

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

$1.34 MVR 20.62

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MVR 4.20

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MVR 28.72

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 MVR 24.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MVR 20.23

Eggs

$1.80 MVR 27.71

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 MVR 127

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 MVR 97.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.04 MVR 139

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 MVR 61.7

Banana (1kg)

$3.76 MVR 58.0

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 MVR 65.4

Tomato (1kg)

$3.27 MVR 50.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 MVR 23.89

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MVR 18.73

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 MVR 47.69

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MVR 8.18

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.46 MVR 192

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 MVR 42.41

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.52 MVR 162

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.14 MVR 126

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 MVR 9.57

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.26 MVR 451

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 MVR 29.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 MVR 29.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.79 MVR 151

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 MVR 14.77

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

$31.9K MVR 492.0K

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

$34.7K MVR 535.8K

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

$105 MVR 1,612

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

$41.36 MVR 638

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 MVR 1,168

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.9 MVR 1,263

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.07 MVR 679

Cinema Ticket

$9.48 MVR 146

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

$164 MVR 2,524

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,553 MVR 54.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.31 MVR 699

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MVR 864

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 MVR 1,407

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.3 MVR 823

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$972 MVR 15.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 MVR 10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,665 MVR 25.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,442 MVR 22.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,263 MVR 34.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,886 MVR 29.1K

$567 MVR 8,748

232.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$866 MVR 13.4K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Gan: July 13, 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 3271%, 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 $2,252 per month in Male and $66.8 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 $44.54, than in Male at $1,501. 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.