Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Manakara Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Manakara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $410 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $629 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $848 in Manakara, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 309% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 22% above the global median, while Manakara is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$2.26 MGA 9,807

437.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$916

$15.04 MGA 65.2K

258.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$3.67 MGA 15.9K

202.18%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.6

$1.26 MGA 5,478

225.40%

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

$1.68 MX$28.57

$0.59 MGA 2,552

184.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.58

$0.60 MGA 2,598

131.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.6

$1.25 MGA 5,424

166.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.9

$1.52 MGA 6,568

286.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.45

$1.89 MGA 8,201

-2.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.9

$1.06 MGA 4,600

199.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.18

$0.70 MGA 3,050

195.71%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.74

$2.35 MGA 10.2K

24.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$6.90 MGA 29.9K

82.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

180.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

346.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.6

$1.00 MGA 4,321

239.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.31

$0.75 MGA 3,241

177.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.02

$0.36 MGA 1,566

488.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$41.01

$0.75 MGA 3,270

221.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.17

$0.62 MGA 2,673

243.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.07

$0.79 MGA 3,403

154.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.25

$0.34 MGA 1,472

355.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.19

$0.72 MGA 3,101

88.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$98.0

$1.47 MGA 6,348

292.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$4.70 MGA 20.4K

277.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.16

$1.12 MGA 4,869

84.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.4

$1.34 MGA 5,824

244.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

$0.22 MGA 953

68.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$360

$36.40 MGA 157.7K

-41.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.89

$1.17 MGA 5,083

75.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.80

$2.36 MGA 10.2K

-75.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

$3.55 MGA 15.4K

70.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.38

$1.19 MGA 5,172

30.25%

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

$22.9K MX$388.6K

$16.1K MGA 69.9M

41.82%

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

$27.2K MX$462.7K

$21.5K MGA 93.1M

26.73%

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

$67.4 MX$1,145

$44.88 MGA 194.4K

50.20%

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

$30.62 MX$520

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$633

$55.8 MGA 242.0K

-33.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,044

$12.07 MGA 52.3K

409.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$461

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

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

$456 MX$7,750

$22.71 MGA 98.4K

1908.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,260

$17.15 MGA 74.3K

332.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$969

$21.34 MGA 92.5K

167.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,961

$48.43 MGA 209.9K

138.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,064

$46.11 MGA 199.8K

163.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$68.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$120 MGA 521.5K

798.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

-52.92%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Manakara: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 799% higher in Mexico City, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 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

Mexico City vs Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 309%, 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 $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $615 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $456 per month in Mexico City 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 152% more in Mexico City, 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 Mexico City at $1,677. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City 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, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.