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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $566 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $841 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,116 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Medellin costs about 197% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Mahajanga is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.3K

$2.12 MGA 9,256

278.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 151.0K

$18.29 MGA 79.8K

161.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.2K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,873

$0.70 MGA 3,066

347.14%

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

$1.91 COP 6,019

$0.96 MGA 4,192

98.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,763

$0.91 MGA 3,974

65.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,853

$1.02 MGA 4,458

205.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.1K

$1.60 MGA 6,985

259.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,558

$1.42 MGA 6,209

1.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,843

$0.84 MGA 3,680

196.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,595

$0.67 MGA 2,902

164.18%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,336

$2.20 MGA 9,595

34.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.8K

$6.75 MGA 29.5K

49.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.9K

$6.79 MGA 29.6K

49.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.1K

$3.64 MGA 15.9K

292.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.0K

$1.13 MGA 4,937

266.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,073

$0.62 MGA 2,694

159.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,083

$0.70 MGA 3,066

221.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,104

$0.71 MGA 3,109

216.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,444

$0.54 MGA 2,375

277.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,842

$0.56 MGA 2,447

175.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,691

$0.36 MGA 1,584

225.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,121

$0.57 MGA 2,477

129.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.2K

$9.22 MGA 40.2K

51.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,498

$0.80 MGA 3,474

117.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,053

$0.90 MGA 3,912

218.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,834

$0.25 MGA 1,091

388.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 253.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,899

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,306

$1.42 MGA 6,212

-3.52%

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

$27.8K COP 87.8M

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

$35.8K COP 112.8M

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

$177 COP 559.3K

$46.40 MGA 202.4K

282.11%

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

$13.88 COP 43.8K

$7.01 MGA 30.6K

98.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 93.8K

$22.85 MGA 99.7K

30.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 141.6K

$18.54 MGA 80.9K

142.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.0K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 282.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 186.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 435.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 322.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$351 MGA 1.5M

202.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$283 MGA 1.2M

133.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

$703 MGA 3.1M

168.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$455 MGA 2.0M

125.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $351 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $18.00 in Mahajanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $150 – 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 197% 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $849 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $566 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 103% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahajanga, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 $566 versus $1,681 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.