Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mahajanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mahajanga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $383 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $704 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,025 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Medellin costs about 165% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Mahajanga are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Mahajanga 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$1.95 MGA 8,196

205.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$17.57 MGA 73.7K

89.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$0.70 MGA 2,947

132.86%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.93 MGA 3,895

17.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.91 MGA 3,806

-19.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.03 MGA 4,304

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.52 MGA 6,368

112.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.06 MGA 4,433

-0.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.64 MGA 2,684

101.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.56 MGA 2,344

135.71%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.94 MGA 8,125

17.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$6.80 MGA 28.5K

-36.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.40 MGA 22.7K

8.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

156.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$0.97 MGA 4,070

131.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.58 MGA 2,455

84.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.77 MGA 3,236

97.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.50 MGA 2,111

184.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.49 MGA 2,063

138.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.45 MGA 1,869

160.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.39 MGA 1,650

128.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.58 MGA 2,441

55.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$1.09 MGA 4,589

106.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$9.76 MGA 41.0K

13.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.82 MGA 3,444

39.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.02 MGA 4,276

133.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.14 MGA 601

500.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$9.07 MGA 38.0K

362.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.08 MGA 4,543

-6.48%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$45.03 MGA 188.9K

85.83%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$6.74 MGA 28.3K

40.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$21.77 MGA 91.3K

10.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$17.57 MGA 73.7K

44.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$327 MGA 1.4M

47.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$107 MGA 448.3K

255.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$670 MGA 2.8M

25.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$443 MGA 1.9M

63.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $327 in Mahajanga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $18.00 in Mahajanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $135 – making Mahajanga 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

Medellin vs Mahajanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 165% more than Mahajanga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $575 in Mahajanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahajanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $383 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Mahajanga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahajanga, where all-in costs run around $383, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Mahajanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahajanga costs $383 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Mahajanga. 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.