Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Manakara and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $410 per month in Manakara vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $629 per month in Manakara vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $848 per month in Manakara vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Manakara is about 69% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manakara and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Manakara 70% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 MGA 9,807

$11.96 MX$203

-81.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.04 MGA 65.2K

$47.38 MX$805

-68.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.67 MGA 15.9K

$11.75 MX$200

-68.77%

Cappuccino

$1.26 MGA 5,478

$4.12 MX$70.1

-69.42%

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

$0.59 MGA 2,552

$1.40 MX$23.78

-57.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 MGA 2,598

$0.91 MX$15.50

-34.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 MGA 5,424

$3.21 MX$54.5

-61.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MGA 6,568

$7.07 MX$120

-78.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MGA 8,201

$1.68 MX$28.49

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MGA 4,600

$2.15 MX$36.53

-50.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,050

$1.77 MX$30.14

-60.45%

Eggs

$2.35 MGA 10.2K

$2.82 MX$47.83

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.90 MGA 29.9K

$9.20 MX$156

-25.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

$9.23 MX$157

-61.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

$12.64 MX$215

-71.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,321

$2.95 MX$50.1

-66.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,241

$1.58 MX$26.83

-52.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 MGA 1,566

$2.22 MX$37.76

-83.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,270

$2.36 MX$40.15

-68.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,673

$1.99 MX$33.86

-68.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MGA 3,403

$1.98 MX$33.63

-60.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,472

$1.24 MX$21.07

-72.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 MGA 3,101

$1.21 MX$20.58

-40.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 MGA 6,348

$4.60 MX$78.2

-68.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.70 MGA 20.4K

$10.52 MX$179

-55.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MGA 4,869

$1.69 MX$28.74

-33.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 MGA 5,824

$2.77 MX$47.13

-51.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 MGA 953

$0.60 MX$10.24

-63.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.40 MGA 157.7K

$29.70 MX$505

22.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 MGA 5,083

$5.24 MX$89.0

-77.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 MGA 10.2K

$3.65 MX$62.0

-35.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 MGA 15.4K

$5.78 MX$98.3

-38.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 5,172

$1.54 MX$26.13

-22.73%

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

$16.1K MGA 69.9M

$22.8K MX$387.4K

-29.26%

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

$21.5K MGA 93.1M

$25.8K MX$438.5K

-16.75%

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

$44.88 MGA 194.4K

$90.7 MX$1,540

-50.50%

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

$25.19 MX$428

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 MGA 242.0K

$31.75 MX$539

75.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.07 MGA 52.3K

$68.8 MX$1,169

-82.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$499

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.6

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

$22.71 MGA 98.4K

$226 MX$3,834

-89.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.15 MGA 74.3K

$47.38 MX$805

-63.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.34 MGA 92.5K

$43.45 MX$738

-50.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.43 MGA 209.9K

$80.2 MX$1,363

-39.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 MGA 199.8K

$91.4 MX$1,552

-49.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,943

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 MGA 521.5K

$773 MX$13.1K

-84.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

109.61%

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

Last update for Manakara: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 542% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $278 – 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 Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 218%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 103% more in Playa del Carmen, 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 Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen 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, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.