Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Mahajanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Mahajanga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $390 per month in Manakara vs $377 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $584 per month in Manakara vs $706 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $778 per month in Manakara vs $1,034 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Manakara costs about 3% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manakara and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Manakara 71% lower, Mahajanga 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.28 MGA 9,821

$2.03 MGA 8,748

12.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.98 MGA 64.6K

$17.67 MGA 76.2K

-15.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.57 MGA 15.4K

Cappuccino

$1.16 MGA 5,023

$0.68 MGA 2,948

70.59%

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

$0.57 MGA 2,450

$0.92 MGA 3,967

-38.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,529

$0.87 MGA 3,746

-32.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 MGA 5,179

$1.02 MGA 4,413

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MGA 6,346

$1.52 MGA 6,547

-3.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MGA 7,853

$1.04 MGA 4,486

75.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,426

$0.64 MGA 2,747

60.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,934

$0.60 MGA 2,580

13.33%

Eggs

$2.26 MGA 9,738

$1.96 MGA 8,463

15.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.66 MGA 28.7K

$6.64 MGA 28.6K

0.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.45 MGA 14.9K

$5.26 MGA 22.7K

-34.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.62 MGA 15.6K

$3.37 MGA 14.5K

7.42%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 MGA 4,175

$0.99 MGA 4,251

-2.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,877

$0.55 MGA 2,351

21.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.38 MGA 1,621

$0.76 MGA 3,295

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,969

$0.54 MGA 2,346

27.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MGA 2,519

$0.50 MGA 2,160

16.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,147

$0.45 MGA 1,932

62.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,484

$0.43 MGA 1,853

-20.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MGA 2,774

$0.59 MGA 2,543

8.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.43 MGA 6,173

$1.13 MGA 4,880

26.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.52 MGA 19.5K

$9.20 MGA 39.7K

-50.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 MGA 4,408

$0.80 MGA 3,441

27.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 MGA 5,367

$1.03 MGA 4,439

20.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 902

$0.14 MGA 599

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.03 MGA 77.8K

$8.85 MGA 38.2K

103.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 MGA 4,689

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 MGA 9,205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MGA 13.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 4,872

$1.13 MGA 4,873

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

$15.8K MGA 68.3M

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

$20.3K MGA 87.4M

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

$43.00 MGA 185.4K

$44.93 MGA 193.7K

-4.30%

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

$6.77 MGA 29.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 MGA 229.2K

$22.28 MGA 96.1K

138.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.68 MGA 50.4K

$17.41 MGA 75.1K

-32.91%

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

$22.48 MGA 96.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.24 MGA 70.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.24 MGA 87.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.87 MGA 197.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.81 MGA 193.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 MGA 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 MGA 463.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 MGA 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 MGA 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 MGA 527.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Manakara: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Manakara versus $18.00 in Mahajanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $131 vs $133 – 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 Mahajanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manakara costs about 3% more than Mahajanga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $584 per month in Manakara and $566 in Mahajanga. 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 $377 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Manakara and $18.00 in Mahajanga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $390 in Manakara and $377 in Mahajanga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mahajanga – 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 Mahajanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manakara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.