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 $387 per month in Manakara vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $590 per month in Manakara vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $794 per month in Manakara vs $3,017 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 71% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 MGA 9,375

$11.99 MX$210

-81.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.83 MGA 63.6K

$41.78 MX$733

-64.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.56 MGA 15.3K

$10.75 MX$189

-66.88%

Cappuccino

$1.15 MGA 4,934

$3.50 MX$61.3

-67.14%

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

$0.58 MGA 2,477

$1.45 MX$25.41

-60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 MGA 2,487

$0.88 MX$15.52

-34.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 MGA 4,920

$2.95 MX$51.7

-61.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MGA 6,285

$4.51 MX$79.1

-67.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MGA 7,411

$1.43 MX$25.12

20.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MGA 4,351

$1.84 MX$32.23

-45.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,911

$1.57 MX$27.51

-56.69%

Eggs

$2.31 MGA 9,906

$2.51 MX$44.06

-7.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.46 MGA 27.7K

$8.28 MX$145

-21.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 MGA 14.4K

$8.43 MX$148

-60.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.65 MGA 15.6K

$10.68 MX$187

-65.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MGA 4,359

$2.61 MX$45.76

-60.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 2,956

$1.44 MX$25.22

-52.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.35 MGA 1,489

$1.96 MX$34.41

-82.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 2,920

$2.09 MX$36.74

-67.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,352

$1.85 MX$32.47

-70.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,278

$2.17 MX$38.02

-64.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,479

$1.03 MX$18.09

-66.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 MGA 2,793

$1.07 MX$18.84

-39.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 6,063

$4.10 MX$72.0

-65.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.78 MGA 20.5K

$10.17 MX$178

-53.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MGA 4,448

$1.68 MX$29.38

-38.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 MGA 5,337

$2.53 MX$44.31

-50.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 900

$0.51 MX$8.93

-58.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.57 MGA 75.4K

$26.04 MX$457

-32.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 MGA 4,636

$3.23 MX$56.7

-66.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 MGA 9,215

$2.41 MX$42.19

-10.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 MGA 14.0K

$3.23 MX$56.6

1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 4,859

$1.32 MX$23.17

-14.39%

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

$15.8K MGA 67.6M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-46.96%

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

$20.3K MGA 87.2M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-14.09%

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

$42.54 MGA 182.5K

$82.0 MX$1,439

-48.13%

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

$22.95 MX$403

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.1 MGA 232.1K

$30.11 MX$528

79.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.46 MGA 49.2K

$52.0 MX$912

-77.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

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

$22.28 MGA 95.6K

$197 MX$3,463

-88.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.21 MGA 69.5K

$35.60 MX$624

-54.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.29 MGA 87.0K

$40.33 MX$707

-49.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.92 MGA 196.9K

$78.8 MX$1,381

-41.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.81 MGA 192.2K

$88.9 MX$1,560

-49.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$123 MGA 527.1K

$654 MX$11.5K

-81.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

110.16%

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

Last update for Manakara: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 432% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $249 – 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 224%, 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 $581 per month in Manakara and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $197 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 91% 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 $387, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.