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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $389 per month in Manakara vs $581 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A couple spends around $587 per month in Manakara vs $1,036 in Antananarivo, rent included.

A family of three spends $784 per month in Manakara vs $1,491 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

$2.25 MGA 9,442

$3.28 MGA 13.8K

-31.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.81 MGA 62.1K

$19.19 MGA 80.5K

-22.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.60 MGA 15.1K

$4.97 MGA 20.9K

-27.57%

Cappuccino

$1.20 MGA 5,028

$1.34 MGA 5,629

-10.45%

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

$0.58 MGA 2,418

$1.05 MGA 4,399

-44.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MGA 2,449

$0.61 MGA 2,545

-4.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 MGA 4,766

$0.81 MGA 3,388

40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,966

$1.64 MGA 6,884

-13.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MGA 7,540

$1.11 MGA 4,661

62.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MGA 4,299

$1.04 MGA 4,364

-1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 MGA 3,108

$0.76 MGA 3,179

-2.63%

Eggs

$2.25 MGA 9,449

$2.07 MGA 8,683

8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

$10.39 MGA 43.6K

-39.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

$4.50 MGA 18.9K

-25.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.1K

$4.51 MGA 18.9K

-20.18%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 MGA 3,962

$1.30 MGA 5,462

-27.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,856

$0.59 MGA 2,475

15.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.35 MGA 1,454

$1.11 MGA 4,671

-68.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,007

$1.00 MGA 4,214

-28.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,298

$0.74 MGA 3,104

-25.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 MGA 3,241

$0.98 MGA 4,120

-21.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,429

$0.37 MGA 1,558

-8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,933

$0.71 MGA 2,968

-1.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,910

$2.61 MGA 11.0K

-45.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.73 MGA 19.8K

$5.43 MGA 22.8K

-12.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,311

$0.82 MGA 3,453

25.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 MGA 5,459

$1.22 MGA 5,123

6.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 879

$0.15 MGA 623

40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.89 MGA 75.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 MGA 4,595

$2.82 MGA 11.8K

-60.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 MGA 8,680

$1.65 MGA 6,919

25.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 MGA 13.9K

$4.51 MGA 18.9K

-26.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 5,008

$1.23 MGA 5,179

-3.25%

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

$15.6K MGA 65.6M

$12.3K MGA 51.4M

27.51%

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

$20.6K MGA 86.4M

$23.7K MGA 99.4M

-13.02%

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

$42.75 MGA 179.4K

$58.2 MGA 244.2K

-26.53%

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

$15.58 MGA 65.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 MGA 228.3K

$47.10 MGA 197.6K

15.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.44 MGA 48.0K

$36.96 MGA 155.1K

-69.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 MGA 27.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 MGA 27.9K

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

$22.15 MGA 92.9K

$71.9 MGA 301.9K

-69.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K MGA 48.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.74 MGA 70.3K

$30.54 MGA 128.1K

-45.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.87 MGA 87.6K

$30.00 MGA 125.9K

-30.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.39 MGA 190.5K

$78.0 MGA 327.1K

-41.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.88 MGA 188.3K

$74.2 MGA 311.4K

-39.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MGA 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.7 MGA 330.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MGA 2.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 MGA 1.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$677 MGA 2.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$582 MGA 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$127 MGA 531.0K

$120 MGA 502.8K

5.60%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Antananarivo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 6% 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: $131 vs $151 – 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 49%, 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 $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 $389 in Manakara and $581 in Antananarivo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $22.15 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 $389 in Manakara and $581 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.