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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $390 per month in Manakara vs $578 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $584 per month in Manakara vs $1,023 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $778 per month in Manakara vs $1,469 in Antananarivo, rent included.

Manakara is about 33% cheaper than Antananarivo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.28 MGA 9,821

$3.40 MGA 14.7K

-32.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.98 MGA 64.6K

$18.51 MGA 79.8K

-19.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.57 MGA 15.4K

$4.76 MGA 20.5K

-25.00%

Cappuccino

$1.16 MGA 5,023

$1.31 MGA 5,648

-11.45%

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

$0.57 MGA 2,450

$1.06 MGA 4,561

-46.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,529

$0.57 MGA 2,455

3.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 MGA 5,179

$0.81 MGA 3,490

48.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MGA 6,346

$1.64 MGA 7,074

-10.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MGA 7,853

$1.17 MGA 5,051

55.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,426

$1.05 MGA 4,527

-1.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,934

$0.79 MGA 3,425

-13.92%

Eggs

$2.26 MGA 9,738

$1.99 MGA 8,595

13.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.66 MGA 28.7K

$10.44 MGA 45.0K

-36.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.45 MGA 14.9K

$4.75 MGA 20.5K

-27.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.62 MGA 15.6K

$4.51 MGA 19.4K

-19.73%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 MGA 4,175

$1.34 MGA 5,780

-27.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,877

$0.58 MGA 2,512

15.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.38 MGA 1,621

$1.08 MGA 4,654

-64.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,969

$1.03 MGA 4,455

-33.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MGA 2,519

$0.70 MGA 3,000

-17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,147

$1.01 MGA 4,369

-27.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,484

$0.35 MGA 1,506

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MGA 2,774

$0.69 MGA 2,978

-7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.43 MGA 6,173

$2.60 MGA 11.2K

-45.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.52 MGA 19.5K

$5.18 MGA 22.3K

-12.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MGA 4,408

$0.82 MGA 3,539

24.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 MGA 5,367

$1.26 MGA 5,442

-1.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 902

$0.14 MGA 598

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.03 MGA 77.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 MGA 4,689

$2.86 MGA 12.3K

-61.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 MGA 9,205

$1.68 MGA 7,222

26.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MGA 13.9K

$4.32 MGA 18.6K

-25.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 4,872

$1.28 MGA 5,524

-11.72%

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

$15.8K MGA 68.3M

$12.2K MGA 52.6M

29.95%

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

$20.3K MGA 87.4M

$24.4K MGA 105.2M

-16.91%

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

$43.00 MGA 185.4K

$57.6 MGA 248.3K

-25.32%

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

$15.27 MGA 65.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 MGA 229.2K

$46.83 MGA 201.9K

13.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.68 MGA 50.4K

$36.40 MGA 157.0K

-67.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.51 MGA 28.1K

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 MGA 29.3K

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

$22.48 MGA 96.9K

$72.2 MGA 311.2K

-68.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K MGA 50.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.24 MGA 70.0K

$30.51 MGA 131.5K

-46.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.24 MGA 87.3K

$29.43 MGA 126.9K

-31.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.87 MGA 197.8K

$76.2 MGA 328.6K

-39.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.81 MGA 193.2K

$75.5 MGA 325.3K

-40.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MGA 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.8 MGA 343.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MGA 2.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 MGA 1.9M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$682 MGA 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 MGA 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 MGA 527.3K

$135 MGA 581.0K

-9.23%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 10% higher in Antananarivo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Manakara versus $19.00 in Antananarivo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $131 vs $152 – 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 48%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $584 per month in Manakara and $868 in Antananarivo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $390 in Manakara and $578 in Antananarivo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $22.48 per month in Manakara and $72.2 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 $390 in Manakara and $578 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.