Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $389 per month in Manakara vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $583 per month in Manakara vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $776 per month in Manakara vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Manakara is about 73% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Manakara sits 71% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.16 MGA 9,041

$13.18 MX$228

-83.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.90 MGA 62.5K

$53.9 MX$932

-72.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.53 MGA 14.8K

$9.42 MX$163

-62.53%

Cappuccino

$1.19 MGA 5,009

$3.55 MX$61.4

-66.48%

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

$0.61 MGA 2,571

$1.62 MX$27.98

-62.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 MGA 2,286

$1.11 MX$19.27

-50.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 MGA 5,001

$3.12 MX$54.0

-61.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,963

$4.63 MX$80.1

-69.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MGA 7,611

$1.70 MX$29.43

7.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MGA 4,123

$2.72 MX$47.02

-63.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,075

$1.91 MX$33.07

-61.78%

Eggs

$2.23 MGA 9,330

$2.54 MX$43.86

-12.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

$10.03 MX$174

-36.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

$8.09 MX$140

-58.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 MGA 14.8K

$11.62 MX$201

-69.71%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 MGA 3,977

$2.97 MX$51.3

-68.01%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,075

$1.81 MX$31.24

-59.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.35 MGA 1,453

$2.01 MX$34.82

-82.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,064

$2.03 MX$35.20

-64.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,266

$2.12 MX$36.75

-74.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,191

$2.27 MX$39.25

-66.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 MGA 1,315

$1.40 MX$24.22

-77.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,915

$1.13 MX$19.55

-38.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,900

$4.27 MX$73.9

-66.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.71 MGA 19.8K

$15.56 MX$269

-69.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MGA 4,468

$1.76 MX$30.39

-39.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 MGA 5,517

$3.60 MX$62.2

-63.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 877

$0.38 MX$6.62

-44.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.46 MGA 73.2K

$19.18 MX$332

-8.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 MGA 4,720

$1.38 MX$23.79

-18.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 MGA 9,140

$0.28 MX$4.78

678.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 MGA 14.3K

$5.45 MX$94.2

-37.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 4,992

$1.30 MX$22.55

-8.46%

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

$15.4K MGA 64.6M

$18.7K MX$323.2K

-17.58%

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

$20.4K MGA 85.6M

$23.1K MX$400.1K

-11.75%

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

$42.44 MGA 177.9K

$40.86 MX$707

3.87%

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

$26.81 MX$464

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.1 MGA 222.8K

$29.96 MX$518

77.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.41 MGA 47.8K

$52.0 MX$900

-78.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

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

$21.80 MGA 91.4K

$436 MX$7,544

-95.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.48 MGA 69.1K

$56.7 MX$980

-70.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.25 MGA 84.9K

$44.38 MX$768

-54.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.64 MGA 191.4K

$103 MX$1,780

-55.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.89 MGA 188.2K

$106 MX$1,825

-57.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$125 MGA 525.4K

$1,115 MX$19.3K

-88.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

111.64%

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

Last update for Manakara: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 790% higher in Mexico City, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $288 – 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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 277%, 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 $584 per month in Manakara and $2,201 in Mexico City. 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 $436 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 121% more in Mexico City, 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 Mexico City at $1,467. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City 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, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.