Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $389 per month in Manakara vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $583 per month in Manakara vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $776 per month in Manakara vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Manakara is about 62% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manakara and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Manakara 71% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.16 MGA 9,041

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-63.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.90 MGA 62.5K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-54.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.53 MGA 14.8K

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-50.21%

Cappuccino

$1.19 MGA 5,009

$1.71 COP 6,115

-30.41%

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

$0.61 MGA 2,571

$1.10 COP 3,924

-44.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 MGA 2,286

$0.78 COP 2,781

-29.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 MGA 5,001

$1.68 COP 5,997

-29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,963

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-53.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MGA 7,611

$1.09 COP 3,906

66.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MGA 4,123

$1.26 COP 4,508

-22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,075

$1.38 COP 4,922

-47.10%

Eggs

$2.23 MGA 9,330

$2.19 COP 7,827

1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

43.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-40.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 MGA 14.8K

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-60.40%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 MGA 3,977

$2.34 COP 8,349

-59.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,075

$1.06 COP 3,777

-31.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.35 MGA 1,453

$1.50 COP 5,374

-76.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,064

$1.38 COP 4,924

-47.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,266

$1.15 COP 4,111

-53.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,191

$1.16 COP 4,155

-34.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 MGA 1,315

$0.89 COP 3,182

-65.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,915

$0.84 COP 2,997

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,900

$2.28 COP 8,145

-38.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.71 MGA 19.8K

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-55.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MGA 4,468

$1.20 COP 4,284

-10.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 MGA 5,517

$2.47 COP 8,824

-46.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 877

$0.86 COP 3,056

-75.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.46 MGA 73.2K

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-57.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 MGA 4,720

$1.47 COP 5,264

-23.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 MGA 9,140

$1.96 COP 7,009

11.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 MGA 14.3K

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-55.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 4,992

$0.95 COP 3,409

25.26%

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

$15.4K MGA 64.6M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

-15.05%

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

$20.4K MGA 85.6M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-22.93%

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

$42.44 MGA 177.9K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-48.40%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.1 MGA 222.8K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

119.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.41 MGA 47.8K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

-55.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$21.80 MGA 91.4K

$309 COP 1.1M

-92.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.48 MGA 69.1K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-71.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.25 MGA 84.9K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-37.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.64 MGA 191.4K

$103 COP 366.4K

-55.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.89 MGA 188.2K

$108 COP 387.2K

-58.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$125 MGA 525.4K

$512 COP 1.8M

-75.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

78.70%

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

Last update for Manakara: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 308% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Manakara versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $188 – 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 160%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $584 per month in Manakara and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $21.80 per month in Manakara and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manakara, where all-in costs run around $389, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.