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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $387 per month in Manakara vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $590 per month in Manakara vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $794 per month in Manakara vs $2,167 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 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 MGA 9,375

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-64.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.83 MGA 63.6K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-54.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 MGA 15.3K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-51.50%

Cappuccino

$1.15 MGA 4,934

$1.72 COP 5,600

-33.14%

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

$0.58 MGA 2,477

$1.05 COP 3,420

-44.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MGA 2,487

$0.77 COP 2,515

-24.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 MGA 4,920

$1.69 COP 5,488

-31.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MGA 6,285

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-53.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MGA 7,411

$1.05 COP 3,423

64.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MGA 4,351

$1.30 COP 4,236

-22.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,911

$1.40 COP 4,544

-51.43%

Eggs

$2.31 MGA 9,906

$2.16 COP 7,047

6.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.46 MGA 27.7K

$4.39 COP 14.3K

47.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 MGA 14.4K

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-42.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 MGA 15.6K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-57.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MGA 4,359

$2.28 COP 7,426

-55.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,956

$1.11 COP 3,604

-37.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.35 MGA 1,489

$1.53 COP 4,983

-77.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,920

$1.35 COP 4,410

-49.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,352

$1.13 COP 3,674

-51.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,278

$1.13 COP 3,692

-32.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,479

$0.85 COP 2,753

-60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 MGA 2,793

$0.91 COP 2,975

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 6,063

$2.34 COP 7,630

-39.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.78 MGA 20.5K

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-61.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MGA 4,448

$1.20 COP 3,909

-13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 MGA 5,337

$2.49 COP 8,104

-50.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 900

$0.84 COP 2,728

-75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.57 MGA 75.4K

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-56.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 MGA 4,636

$1.42 COP 4,623

-23.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 MGA 9,215

$1.92 COP 6,235

11.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 MGA 14.0K

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-57.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 4,859

$0.99 COP 3,223

14.14%

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

$15.8K MGA 67.6M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

-12.63%

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

$20.3K MGA 87.2M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-23.65%

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

$42.54 MGA 182.5K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-47.36%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.1 MGA 232.1K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

123.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.46 MGA 49.2K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

-54.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$22.28 MGA 95.6K

$305 COP 993.5K

-92.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.21 MGA 69.5K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-72.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.29 MGA 87.0K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-36.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.92 MGA 196.9K

$101 COP 327.9K

-54.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.81 MGA 192.2K

$108 COP 350.8K

-58.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$123 MGA 527.1K

$617 COP 2.0M

-80.07%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 402% 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 $193 – 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 166%, 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 $581 per month in Manakara and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $22.28 per month in Manakara and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $387, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.