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 $410 per month in Manakara vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $629 per month in Manakara vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $848 per month in Manakara vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Manakara is about 76% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Manakara sits 70% below the global median, while Mexico City is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 MGA 9,807

$12.14 MX$206

-81.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.04 MGA 65.2K

$53.9 MX$916

-72.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.67 MGA 15.9K

$11.09 MX$188

-66.91%

Cappuccino

$1.26 MGA 5,478

$4.10 MX$69.6

-69.27%

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

$0.59 MGA 2,552

$1.68 MX$28.57

-64.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 MGA 2,598

$1.39 MX$23.58

-56.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 MGA 5,424

$3.33 MX$56.6

-62.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MGA 6,568

$5.88 MX$99.9

-74.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MGA 8,201

$1.85 MX$31.45

2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MGA 4,600

$3.17 MX$53.9

-66.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,050

$2.07 MX$35.18

-66.18%

Eggs

$2.35 MGA 10.2K

$2.93 MX$49.74

-19.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.90 MGA 29.9K

$12.59 MX$214

-45.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

$10.11 MX$172

-64.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

$16.09 MX$273

-77.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,321

$3.39 MX$57.6

-70.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,241

$2.08 MX$35.31

-63.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 MGA 1,566

$2.12 MX$36.02

-83.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,270

$2.41 MX$41.01

-68.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,673

$2.13 MX$36.17

-70.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MGA 3,403

$2.01 MX$34.07

-60.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,472

$1.55 MX$26.25

-78.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 MGA 3,101

$1.36 MX$23.19

-47.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 MGA 6,348

$5.77 MX$98.0

-74.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.70 MGA 20.4K

$17.74 MX$301

-73.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MGA 4,869

$2.07 MX$35.16

-45.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 MGA 5,824

$4.61 MX$78.4

-70.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 MGA 953

$0.37 MX$6.21

-40.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.40 MGA 157.7K

$21.18 MX$360

71.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 MGA 5,083

$2.05 MX$34.89

-42.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 MGA 10.2K

$0.58 MX$9.80

306.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 MGA 15.4K

$6.07 MX$103

-41.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 5,172

$1.55 MX$26.38

-23.23%

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

$16.1K MGA 69.9M

$22.9K MX$388.6K

-29.49%

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

$21.5K MGA 93.1M

$27.2K MX$462.7K

-21.09%

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

$44.88 MGA 194.4K

$67.4 MX$1,145

-33.42%

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

$30.62 MX$520

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 MGA 242.0K

$37.24 MX$633

49.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.07 MGA 52.3K

$61.5 MX$1,044

-80.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$461

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

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

$22.71 MGA 98.4K

$456 MX$7,750

-95.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.15 MGA 74.3K

$74.2 MX$1,260

-76.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.34 MGA 92.5K

$57.0 MX$969

-62.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.43 MGA 209.9K

$115 MX$1,961

-58.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 MGA 199.8K

$122 MX$2,064

-62.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$68.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 MGA 521.5K

$1,082 MX$18.4K

-88.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

112.39%

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

Last update for Manakara: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 799% 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: $137 vs $345 – 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 309%, 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 $2,515 in Mexico City. 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 $456 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 152% 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 $410, than in Mexico City at $1,677. 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.