Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Ambatolampy Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Ambatolampy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $421 in Manakara versus $482 in Ambatolampy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $646 in Manakara versus $712 in Ambatolampy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $870 in Manakara versus $943 in Ambatolampy.

Living in Manakara costs roughly 13% less than in Ambatolampy, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manakara 69% lower, Ambatolampy 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.28 MGA 9,954

$2.71 MGA 11.8K

-15.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.11 MGA 65.9K

$10.57 MGA 46.1K

42.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.80 MGA 16.6K

$5.77 MGA 25.2K

-34.14%

Cappuccino

$1.27 MGA 5,537

$1.73 MGA 7,526

-26.59%

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

$0.65 MGA 2,820

$0.79 MGA 3,429

-17.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,592

$0.47 MGA 2,030

25.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 MGA 5,454

$1.06 MGA 4,627

17.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 MGA 6,488

$2.38 MGA 10.4K

-37.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MGA 7,983

$0.90 MGA 3,935

103.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MGA 4,646

$1.03 MGA 4,483

2.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 MGA 3,347

$0.72 MGA 3,163

6.94%

Eggs

$2.42 MGA 10.5K

$2.07 MGA 9,024

16.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.65 MGA 29.0K

$8.75 MGA 38.2K

-24.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.52 MGA 15.4K

$4.71 MGA 20.5K

-25.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.77 MGA 16.4K

$4.93 MGA 21.5K

-23.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 MGA 4,564

$1.14 MGA 4,957

-7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,049

$0.61 MGA 2,649

14.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.39 MGA 1,717

$1.04 MGA 4,536

-62.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,064

$0.90 MGA 3,938

-22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,697

$0.58 MGA 2,512

6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MGA 3,458

$0.95 MGA 4,154

-16.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 MGA 1,593

$0.33 MGA 1,428

12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 MGA 2,943

$0.70 MGA 3,038

-4.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 MGA 6,427

$1.59 MGA 6,943

-7.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.50 MGA 19.6K

$5.10 MGA 22.2K

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MGA 4,709

$1.03 MGA 4,485

4.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 MGA 5,652

$1.84 MGA 8,038

-29.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 MGA 1,048

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.60 MGA 164.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MGA 5,009

$3.45 MGA 15.0K

-66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 MGA 10.2K

$2.14 MGA 9,322

9.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 MGA 14.8K

$4.69 MGA 20.5K

-27.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 MGA 5,416

$0.90 MGA 3,936

37.78%

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

$16.0K MGA 69.9M

$12.4K MGA 54.3M

28.90%

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

$21.0K MGA 91.8M

$26.0K MGA 113.4M

-19.03%

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

$44.25 MGA 193.0K

$75.7 MGA 330.1K

-41.52%

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

$17.45 MGA 76.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 MGA 245.5K

$59.0 MGA 257.4K

-4.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.24 MGA 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 MGA 25.7K

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

$23.00 MGA 100.3K

$25.60 MGA 111.7K

-10.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K MGA 66.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.85 MGA 73.5K

$30.25 MGA 132.0K

-44.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.24 MGA 92.7K

$28.45 MGA 124.1K

-25.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.16 MGA 205.8K

$78.8 MGA 343.9K

-40.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.70 MGA 208.1K

$71.0 MGA 309.8K

-32.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$124 MGA 539.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.75

52.38%

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

Last update for Manakara: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ambatolampy: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $15.00 in Manakara vs $11.00 in Ambatolampy. Groceries flip the comparison at $135 vs $145, with Manakara cheaper for home cooking.

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

Manakara vs Ambatolampy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manakara wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Ambatolampy. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manakara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $631 in Manakara and $723 in Ambatolampy to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $23.00 in Manakara versus $25.60 in Ambatolampy. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Manakara – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $11.00 in Ambatolampy. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Manakara gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Manakara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Ambatolampy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.