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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $410 per month in Manakara vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $629 per month in Manakara vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $848 per month in Manakara vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Manakara is about 75% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Manakara sits 70% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 MGA 9,807

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-71.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.04 MGA 65.2K

$48.29 COP 148.7K

-68.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.67 MGA 15.9K

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-61.04%

Cappuccino

$1.26 MGA 5,478

$2.94 COP 9,045

-57.14%

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

$0.59 MGA 2,552

$1.86 COP 5,738

-68.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 MGA 2,598

$1.46 COP 4,481

-58.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 MGA 5,424

$3.21 COP 9,887

-61.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MGA 6,568

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-73.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MGA 8,201

$1.44 COP 4,431

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MGA 4,600

$2.40 COP 7,393

-55.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,050

$1.70 COP 5,230

-58.82%

Eggs

$2.35 MGA 10.2K

$2.89 COP 8,901

-18.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.90 MGA 29.9K

$10.06 COP 31.0K

-31.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-63.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-74.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,321

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-74.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,241

$1.58 COP 4,880

-52.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 MGA 1,566

$2.15 COP 6,627

-83.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,270

$2.30 COP 7,082

-67.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,673

$2.00 COP 6,172

-69.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MGA 3,403

$1.51 COP 4,648

-47.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,472

$1.20 COP 3,703

-71.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 MGA 3,101

$1.28 COP 3,948

-43.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 MGA 6,348

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-61.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.70 MGA 20.4K

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-66.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MGA 4,869

$1.71 COP 5,259

-34.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 MGA 5,824

$2.74 COP 8,444

-51.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 MGA 953

$1.25 COP 3,836

-82.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.40 MGA 157.7K

$77.9 COP 239.9K

-53.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 MGA 5,083

$1.31 COP 4,018

-10.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 MGA 10.2K

$2.17 COP 6,684

8.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 MGA 15.4K

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-57.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 5,172

$1.36 COP 4,174

-12.50%

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

$16.1K MGA 69.9M

$27.5K COP 84.6M

-41.29%

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

$21.5K MGA 93.1M

$36.5K COP 112.5M

-41.19%

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

$44.88 MGA 194.4K

$169 COP 519.5K

-73.40%

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 MGA 242.0K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

97.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.07 MGA 52.3K

$45.71 COP 140.8K

-73.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

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

$22.71 MGA 98.4K

$803 COP 2.5M

-97.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.15 MGA 74.3K

$87.4 COP 269.0K

-80.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.34 MGA 92.5K

$59.4 COP 182.8K

-64.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.43 MGA 209.9K

$139 COP 427.7K

-65.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 MGA 199.8K

$102 COP 314.2K

-54.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 MGA 521.5K

$655 COP 2.0M

-81.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

119.38%

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

Last update for Manakara: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 444% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $300 – 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 300%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $615 per month in Manakara and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $22.71 per month in Manakara and $803 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 119% 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 $410, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.