Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Antananarivo Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Antananarivo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $383 per month in Manakara vs $580 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $582 per month in Manakara vs $1,030 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $781 per month in Manakara vs $1,480 in Antananarivo, rent included.

Manakara is about 34% cheaper than Antananarivo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manakara and Antananarivo are more affordable than the global median – Manakara 71% lower, Antananarivo 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 MGA 9,395

$3.27 MGA 13.6K

-30.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.58 MGA 60.4K

$19.03 MGA 78.8K

-23.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 MGA 14.8K

$5.00 MGA 20.7K

-28.80%

Cappuccino

$1.15 MGA 4,770

$1.32 MGA 5,456

-12.88%

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

$0.61 MGA 2,547

$1.09 MGA 4,515

-44.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,430

$0.56 MGA 2,313

5.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 MGA 4,967

$0.80 MGA 3,296

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,866

$1.59 MGA 6,593

-10.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MGA 7,244

$1.15 MGA 4,773

52.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,248

$1.08 MGA 4,460

-4.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,822

$0.77 MGA 3,178

-11.69%

Eggs

$2.33 MGA 9,633

$2.03 MGA 8,424

14.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 MGA 27.3K

$10.16 MGA 42.1K

-35.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 MGA 14.4K

$4.55 MGA 18.8K

-23.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 MGA 15.1K

$4.35 MGA 18.0K

-16.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MGA 4,193

$1.31 MGA 5,428

-22.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,017

$0.62 MGA 2,571

17.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.37 MGA 1,537

$1.06 MGA 4,397

-65.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,808

$1.03 MGA 4,280

-33.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,209

$0.70 MGA 2,890

-24.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,117

$0.95 MGA 3,926

-21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 MGA 1,310

$0.34 MGA 1,429

-5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,901

$0.66 MGA 2,722

6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,837

$2.60 MGA 10.8K

-45.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 MGA 20.2K

$5.38 MGA 22.3K

-9.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MGA 4,452

$0.89 MGA 3,692

20.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MGA 5,350

$1.21 MGA 4,994

6.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MGA 955

$0.15 MGA 617

53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.61 MGA 72.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MGA 4,719

$2.90 MGA 12.0K

-60.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 MGA 8,603

$1.66 MGA 6,876

25.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 MGA 13.9K

$4.32 MGA 17.9K

-22.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 MGA 4,866

$1.24 MGA 5,133

-5.65%

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

$15.6K MGA 64.8M

$12.0K MGA 49.7M

30.43%

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

$20.8K MGA 86.2M

$24.4K MGA 100.9M

-14.60%

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

$42.05 MGA 174.2K

$58.1 MGA 240.7K

-27.64%

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

$15.62 MGA 64.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 MGA 220.4K

$47.37 MGA 196.2K

12.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.52 MGA 47.7K

$35.58 MGA 147.4K

-67.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.26 MGA 25.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 MGA 28.0K

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

$22.46 MGA 93.0K

$71.9 MGA 297.9K

-68.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K MGA 49.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.14 MGA 66.9K

$31.50 MGA 130.5K

-48.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.18 MGA 83.6K

$29.89 MGA 123.8K

-32.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.11 MGA 191.0K

$75.8 MGA 313.9K

-39.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.31 MGA 183.6K

$73.6 MGA 304.9K

-39.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MGA 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.1 MGA 323.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MGA 2.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 MGA 1.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$689 MGA 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 MGA 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$126 MGA 520.8K

$122 MGA 504.1K

3.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

60.00%

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

Last update for Manakara: April 26, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 3% higher in Manakara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Manakara versus $19.00 in Antananarivo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $133 vs $150 – making Manakara 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

Manakara vs Antananarivo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Antananarivo is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $575 per month in Manakara and $871 in Antananarivo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $383 in Manakara and $580 in Antananarivo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $22.46 per month in Manakara and $71.9 in Antananarivo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $383 in Manakara and $580 in Antananarivo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

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