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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,500 per month in Male vs $44.84 in Gan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,446 per month in Male vs $71.0 in Gan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,393 per month in Male vs $97.1 in Gan, rent included.

Male costs about 3246% more than Gan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Male sits 9% above the global median, while Gan is 97% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 MVR 95.0

$5.59 MVR 86.3

10.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.53 MVR 594

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.94 MVR 153

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 MVR 75.6

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 MVR 74.3

Cappuccino

$3.55 MVR 54.8

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

$1.59 MVR 24.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 MVR 4.84

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 MVR 32.20

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 MVR 25.81

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MVR 19.35

Eggs

$1.87 MVR 28.82

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 MVR 161

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 MVR 96.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.46 MVR 146

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 MVR 60.4

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 MVR 48.29

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 MVR 63.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 MVR 40.96

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 MVR 31.32

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 MVR 28.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 MVR 32.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MVR 9.63

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.57 MVR 194

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 MVR 41.09

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 MVR 30.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.85 MVR 229

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 MVR 10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.42 MVR 469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 MVR 29.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 MVR 30.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.97 MVR 154

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 MVR 14.89

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

$31.7K MVR 489.2K

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

$28.8K MVR 444.6K

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

$120 MVR 1,843

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

$30.58 MVR 472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 MVR 1,101

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.1 MVR 1,082

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.42 MVR 515

Cinema Ticket

$9.55 MVR 147

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

$187 MVR 2,882

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,960 MVR 45.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.33 MVR 606

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.68 MVR 751

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 MVR 1,356

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.6 MVR 796

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 MVR 14.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$696 MVR 10.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,064 MVR 31.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 MVR 23.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,266 MVR 34.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,376 MVR 21.2K

$567 MVR 8,750

142.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$813 MVR 12.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Male: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gan: August 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 3246%, 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 $2,250 per month in Male and $67.3 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 $44.84, than in Male at $1,500. 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.