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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $383 per month in Manakara vs $376 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $582 per month in Manakara vs $713 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $781 per month in Manakara vs $1,050 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Manakara costs about 2% 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

$2.27 MGA 9,395

$1.98 MGA 8,196

14.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.58 MGA 60.4K

$17.88 MGA 74.1K

-18.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 MGA 14.8K

Cappuccino

$1.15 MGA 4,770

$0.66 MGA 2,726

74.24%

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

$0.61 MGA 2,547

$0.88 MGA 3,626

-30.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,430

$0.92 MGA 3,802

-35.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 MGA 4,967

$1.03 MGA 4,265

16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,866

$1.60 MGA 6,613

-11.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MGA 7,244

$1.05 MGA 4,334

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,248

$0.59 MGA 2,462

74.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,822

$0.55 MGA 2,294

23.64%

Eggs

$2.33 MGA 9,633

$1.93 MGA 8,004

20.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 MGA 27.3K

$6.83 MGA 28.3K

-3.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 MGA 14.4K

$5.26 MGA 21.8K

-33.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.64 MGA 15.1K

$3.31 MGA 13.7K

9.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 MGA 4,193

$0.94 MGA 3,894

7.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,017

$0.54 MGA 2,228

35.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.37 MGA 1,537

$0.78 MGA 3,217

-52.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,808

$0.51 MGA 2,096

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,209

$0.49 MGA 2,032

8.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,117

$0.45 MGA 1,853

66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 MGA 1,310

$0.39 MGA 1,621

-17.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,901

$0.62 MGA 2,588

12.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,837

$1.14 MGA 4,728

23.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 MGA 20.2K

$9.58 MGA 39.7K

-49.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MGA 4,452

$0.84 MGA 3,461

27.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MGA 5,350

$1.03 MGA 4,253

25.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MGA 955

$0.13 MGA 521

76.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.61 MGA 72.9K

$8.86 MGA 36.7K

98.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MGA 4,719

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 MGA 8,603

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 MGA 13.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 MGA 4,866

$1.13 MGA 4,665

3.54%

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

$15.6K MGA 64.8M

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

$20.8K MGA 86.2M

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

$42.05 MGA 174.2K

$45.23 MGA 187.3K

-7.03%

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

$6.57 MGA 27.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 MGA 220.4K

$21.83 MGA 90.4K

143.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.52 MGA 47.7K

$17.68 MGA 73.2K

-34.84%

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

$22.46 MGA 93.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.14 MGA 66.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.18 MGA 83.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.11 MGA 191.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.31 MGA 183.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 MGA 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 MGA 454.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 MGA 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 MGA 1.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$126 MGA 520.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Manakara: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: April 27, 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: $133 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 2% 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 $575 per month in Manakara and $564 in Mahajanga. 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 $376 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 $383 in Manakara and $376 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.