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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $421 per month in Manakara vs $566 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $646 per month in Manakara vs $841 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $870 per month in Manakara vs $1,116 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Manakara is about 26% cheaper than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manakara and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Manakara 69% lower, Mahajanga 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.28 MGA 9,954

$2.12 MGA 9,256

7.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.11 MGA 65.9K

$18.29 MGA 79.8K

-17.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.80 MGA 16.6K

Cappuccino

$1.27 MGA 5,537

$0.70 MGA 3,066

81.43%

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

$0.65 MGA 2,820

$0.96 MGA 4,192

-32.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,592

$0.91 MGA 3,974

-35.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 MGA 5,454

$1.02 MGA 4,458

22.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 MGA 6,488

$1.60 MGA 6,985

-6.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MGA 7,983

$1.42 MGA 6,209

28.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MGA 4,646

$0.84 MGA 3,680

26.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 MGA 3,347

$0.67 MGA 2,902

14.93%

Eggs

$2.42 MGA 10.5K

$2.20 MGA 9,595

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.65 MGA 29.0K

$6.75 MGA 29.5K

-1.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.52 MGA 15.4K

$6.79 MGA 29.6K

-48.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.77 MGA 16.4K

$3.64 MGA 15.9K

3.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.05 MGA 4,564

$1.13 MGA 4,937

-7.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,049

$0.62 MGA 2,694

12.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.39 MGA 1,717

$0.70 MGA 3,066

-44.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,064

$0.71 MGA 3,109

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,697

$0.54 MGA 2,375

14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MGA 3,458

$0.56 MGA 2,447

41.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 MGA 1,593

$0.36 MGA 1,584

2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 MGA 2,943

$0.57 MGA 2,477

17.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 MGA 6,427

Wine (Bottle)

$4.50 MGA 19.6K

$9.22 MGA 40.2K

-51.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MGA 4,709

$0.80 MGA 3,474

35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 MGA 5,652

$0.90 MGA 3,912

44.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 MGA 1,048

$0.25 MGA 1,091

-4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.60 MGA 164.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MGA 5,009

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 MGA 10.2K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 MGA 14.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 MGA 5,416

$1.42 MGA 6,212

-12.68%

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

$16.0K MGA 69.9M

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

$21.0K MGA 91.8M

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

$44.25 MGA 193.0K

$46.40 MGA 202.4K

-4.63%

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

$7.01 MGA 30.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 MGA 245.5K

$22.85 MGA 99.7K

146.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.24 MGA 53.4K

$18.54 MGA 80.9K

-33.98%

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

$23.00 MGA 100.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.85 MGA 73.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.24 MGA 92.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.16 MGA 205.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.70 MGA 208.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 MGA 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 MGA 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 MGA 3.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 MGA 2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$124 MGA 539.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Manakara: September 12, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: September 12, 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: $135 vs $150 – 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

Mahajanga costs about 35% more than Manakara, 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 $631 per month in Manakara and $849 in Mahajanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $421 in Manakara and $566 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Mahajanga, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $421 in Manakara and $566 in Mahajanga, 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, Mahajanga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.