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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $389 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $583 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $776 in Manakara, rent included.

Medellin costs about 160% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$2.16 MGA 9,043

177.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$14.90 MGA 62.5K

120.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$3.53 MGA 14.8K

100.85%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.19 MGA 5,010

43.70%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.61 MGA 2,572

80.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.55 MGA 2,286

41.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.19 MGA 5,002

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$1.42 MGA 5,965

116.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.82 MGA 7,612

-40.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.98 MGA 4,124

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$0.73 MGA 3,075

89.04%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.23 MGA 9,332

-1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

-30.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

67.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$3.52 MGA 14.8K

152.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$0.95 MGA 3,978

146.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$0.73 MGA 3,075

45.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$0.35 MGA 1,454

328.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$0.73 MGA 3,065

89.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$0.54 MGA 2,267

112.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$0.76 MGA 3,192

52.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.31 MGA 1,315

187.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.70 MGA 2,915

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$1.41 MGA 5,901

61.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$4.71 MGA 19.8K

125.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$1.07 MGA 4,469

12.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.32 MGA 5,519

87.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.21 MGA 877

309.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$17.46 MGA 73.2K

137.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$1.13 MGA 4,721

30.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$2.18 MGA 9,142

-10.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$3.42 MGA 14.3K

126.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.19 MGA 4,993

-20.17%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$15.4K MGA 64.6M

17.72%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$20.4K MGA 85.6M

29.75%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$42.44 MGA 178.0K

93.80%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$53.1 MGA 222.8K

-54.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$11.41 MGA 47.8K

126.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$21.80 MGA 91.4K

1319.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$16.48 MGA 69.1K

255.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$20.25 MGA 84.9K

59.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$45.64 MGA 191.4K

124.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$44.89 MGA 188.2K

141.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$125 MGA 525.5K

308.35%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manakara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 308% 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: $188 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 160%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $584 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $21.80 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% 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 $389, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.