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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $410 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $629 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $848 in Manakara, rent included.

Medellin costs about 300% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Manakara is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

$2.26 MGA 9,807

255.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.7K

$15.04 MGA 65.2K

221.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.0K

$3.67 MGA 15.9K

156.68%

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,045

$1.26 MGA 5,478

133.33%

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

$1.86 COP 5,738

$0.59 MGA 2,552

215.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,481

$0.60 MGA 2,598

143.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,887

$1.25 MGA 5,424

156.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

$1.52 MGA 6,568

275.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,431

$1.89 MGA 8,201

-23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,393

$1.06 MGA 4,600

126.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,230

$0.70 MGA 3,050

142.86%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,901

$2.35 MGA 10.2K

22.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.0K

$6.90 MGA 29.9K

45.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.7K

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

176.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.7K

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

294.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

$1.00 MGA 4,321

298.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,880

$0.75 MGA 3,241

110.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,627

$0.36 MGA 1,566

497.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,082

$0.75 MGA 3,270

206.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,172

$0.62 MGA 2,673

222.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,648

$0.79 MGA 3,403

91.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,703

$0.34 MGA 1,472

252.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,948

$0.72 MGA 3,101

77.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

$1.47 MGA 6,348

161.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

$4.70 MGA 20.4K

198.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,259

$1.12 MGA 4,869

52.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,444

$1.34 MGA 5,824

104.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,836

$0.22 MGA 953

468.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.9K

$36.40 MGA 157.7K

114.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,018

$1.17 MGA 5,083

11.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,684

$2.36 MGA 10.2K

-8.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

$3.55 MGA 15.4K

133.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,174

$1.19 MGA 5,172

14.29%

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

$27.5K COP 84.6M

$16.1K MGA 69.9M

70.33%

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

$36.5K COP 112.5M

$21.5K MGA 93.1M

70.03%

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

$169 COP 519.5K

$44.88 MGA 194.4K

275.94%

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.2K

$55.8 MGA 242.0K

-49.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.8K

$12.07 MGA 52.3K

278.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

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

$803 COP 2.5M

$22.71 MGA 98.4K

3437.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 269.0K

$17.15 MGA 74.3K

409.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 182.8K

$21.34 MGA 92.5K

178.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 427.7K

$48.43 MGA 209.9K

186.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.2K

$46.11 MGA 199.8K

121.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

$120 MGA 521.5K

444.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

-54.42%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Manakara: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 444% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $137 – 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 300%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $615 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Medellin and $22.71 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 119% 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 $410, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.