🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $389 in Manakara versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $583 in Manakara versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $776 in Manakara versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Manakara costs roughly 82% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Manakara is 71% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16MGA 9,041
$15.91€13.69
-86.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.90MGA 62.5K
$64.8€55.7
-77.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.53MGA 14.8K
$10.51€9.04
-66.41%
Cappuccino
$1.19MGA 5,009
$2.87€2.47
-58.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MGA 2,571
$2.24€1.93
-72.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55MGA 2,286
$1.50€1.29
-63.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.19MGA 5,001
$3.49€3.00
-65.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MGA 5,963
$3.88€3.34
-63.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82MGA 7,611
$1.14€0.98
59.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98MGA 4,123
$1.75€1.51
-44.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.73MGA 3,075
$1.76€1.51
-58.52%
Eggs
$2.23MGA 9,330
$3.22€2.77
-30.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.32MGA 26.5K
$13.49€11.61
-53.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.36MGA 14.1K
$7.91€6.81
-57.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.52MGA 14.8K
$15.87€13.65
-77.82%
Apples(1kg)
$0.95MGA 3,977
$2.31€1.99
-58.87%
Banana(1kg)
$0.73MGA 3,075
$1.70€1.46
-57.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.35MGA 1,453
$2.01€1.73
-82.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73MGA 3,064
$2.46€2.12
-70.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54MGA 2,266
$1.84€1.59
-70.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MGA 3,191
$2.00€1.72
-62.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31MGA 1,315
$1.93€1.66
-83.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70MGA 2,915
$0.79€0.68
-11.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.41MGA 5,900
$6.61€5.68
-78.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.71MGA 19.8K
$5.72€4.92
-17.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MGA 4,468
$1.37€1.17
-21.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32MGA 5,517
$2.97€2.56
-55.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21MGA 877
$2.37€2.04
-91.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.46MGA 73.2K
$45.56€39.19
-61.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13MGA 4,720
$4.29€3.69
-73.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18MGA 9,140
$0.82€0.70
165.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.42MGA 14.3K
$18.30€15.74
-81.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19MGA 4,992
$2.06€1.78
-42.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.4KMGA 64.6M
$34.3K€29.5K
-55.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KMGA 85.6M
$39.3K€33.8K
-48.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.44MGA 177.9K
$148€127
-71.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$20.52€17.65
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1MGA 222.8K
$39.61€34.08
34.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.41MGA 47.8K
$47.85€41.16
-76.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.18€7.90
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$21.80MGA 91.4K
$614€528
-96.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$16.0K€13.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.48MGA 69.1K
$105€90.0
-84.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.25MGA 84.9K
$42.06€36.18
-51.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.64MGA 191.4K
$94.0€80.8
-51.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.89MGA 188.2K
$120€103
-62.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,628€1,400
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,255€1,080
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,030€2,607
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,020€1,738
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manakara
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$125MGA 525.4K
$1,603€1,379
-92.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24
3.81
529.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manakara: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Lisbon pays 1179% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $15.00 in Manakara vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $130 vs $269 per month, with Manakara cheaper across the board.
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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Manakara and Lisbon?
Manakara and Lisbon differ by about 468% in total monthly costs ($389 vs $2,210 including rent). Manakara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 1179% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Manakara and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $21.80 in Manakara versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 107% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $389 in Manakara versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Manakara but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Manakara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Manakara and Lisbon?
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.
Is Manakara or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Manakara and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Manakara or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Manakara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 468% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.