Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Manakara Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Manakara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $387 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $590 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $794 in Manakara, rent included.

Medellin costs about 166% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Manakara 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$2.19 MGA 9,379

181.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$14.83 MGA 63.6K

119.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$3.56 MGA 15.3K

106.18%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.15 MGA 4,937

49.57%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.58 MGA 2,478

81.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.58 MGA 2,488

32.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.15 MGA 4,922

46.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$1.47 MGA 6,288

115.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.73 MGA 7,415

-39.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.01 MGA 4,353

28.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$0.68 MGA 2,912

105.88%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.31 MGA 9,911

-6.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$6.46 MGA 27.7K

-32.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$3.37 MGA 14.4K

74.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$3.65 MGA 15.7K

136.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.02 MGA 4,361

123.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$0.69 MGA 2,957

60.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$0.35 MGA 1,490

337.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$0.68 MGA 2,921

98.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.55 MGA 2,353

105.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.76 MGA 3,279

48.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.34 MGA 1,480

150.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.65 MGA 2,794

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$1.41 MGA 6,066

65.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$4.78 MGA 20.5K

158.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.04 MGA 4,450

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.24 MGA 5,339

100.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.21 MGA 901

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$17.57 MGA 75.4K

130.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$1.08 MGA 4,638

31.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$2.15 MGA 9,219

-10.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$3.27 MGA 14.0K

134.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.13 MGA 4,862

-12.39%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$15.8K MGA 67.6M

14.46%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$20.3K MGA 87.2M

30.98%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$42.54 MGA 182.5K

89.96%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$54.1 MGA 232.2K

-55.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$11.46 MGA 49.2K

118.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$22.28 MGA 95.6K

1269.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$16.21 MGA 69.5K

258.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$20.29 MGA 87.1K

58.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$45.92 MGA 197.0K

119.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$44.81 MGA 192.3K

140.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$123 MGA 527.4K

401.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-44.04%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Manakara: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 402% higher in Medellin, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $130 – 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

Medellin vs Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 166%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $581 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $22.28 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manakara, where all-in costs run around $387, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.