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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $389 per month in Manakara vs $383 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $587 per month in Manakara vs $704 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $784 per month in Manakara vs $1,025 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 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 MGA 9,442

$1.95 MGA 8,196

15.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.81 MGA 62.1K

$17.57 MGA 73.7K

-15.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.60 MGA 15.1K

Cappuccino

$1.20 MGA 5,028

$0.70 MGA 2,947

71.43%

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

$0.58 MGA 2,418

$0.93 MGA 3,895

-37.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MGA 2,449

$0.91 MGA 3,806

-36.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 MGA 4,766

$1.03 MGA 4,304

10.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,966

$1.52 MGA 6,368

-6.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MGA 7,540

$1.06 MGA 4,433

69.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MGA 4,299

$0.64 MGA 2,684

59.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 MGA 3,108

$0.56 MGA 2,344

32.14%

Eggs

$2.25 MGA 9,449

$1.94 MGA 8,125

15.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

$6.80 MGA 28.5K

-7.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

$5.40 MGA 22.7K

-37.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.1K

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 MGA 3,962

$0.97 MGA 4,070

-3.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,856

$0.58 MGA 2,455

17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.35 MGA 1,454

$0.77 MGA 3,236

-54.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,007

$0.50 MGA 2,111

44.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,298

$0.49 MGA 2,063

12.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 MGA 3,241

$0.45 MGA 1,869

71.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,429

$0.39 MGA 1,650

-12.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,933

$0.58 MGA 2,441

20.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,910

$1.09 MGA 4,589

29.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.73 MGA 19.8K

$9.76 MGA 41.0K

-51.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,311

$0.82 MGA 3,444

25.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 MGA 5,459

$1.02 MGA 4,276

27.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 879

$0.14 MGA 601

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.89 MGA 75.1K

$9.07 MGA 38.0K

97.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 MGA 4,595

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 MGA 8,680

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 MGA 13.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 5,008

$1.08 MGA 4,543

10.19%

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

$15.6K MGA 65.6M

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

$20.6K MGA 86.4M

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

$42.75 MGA 179.4K

$45.03 MGA 188.9K

-5.06%

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

$6.74 MGA 28.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 MGA 228.3K

$21.77 MGA 91.3K

149.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.44 MGA 48.0K

$17.57 MGA 73.7K

-34.89%

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

$22.15 MGA 92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.74 MGA 70.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.87 MGA 87.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.39 MGA 190.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.88 MGA 188.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 MGA 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 MGA 448.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$670 MGA 2.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 MGA 1.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$127 MGA 531.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Manakara: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: June 7, 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 $135 – 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 $584 per month in Manakara and $575 in Mahajanga. 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 $383 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 $389 in Manakara and $383 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.