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 $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $387 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $590 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $794 in Manakara, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 276% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Manakara is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$228

$2.19 MGA 9,379

496.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$936

$14.83 MGA 63.6K

262.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

$3.56 MGA 15.3K

171.91%

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.1

$1.15 MGA 4,937

225.22%

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

$1.62 MX$28.13

$0.58 MGA 2,478

179.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.23

$0.58 MGA 2,488

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$1.15 MGA 4,922

180.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.5

$1.47 MGA 6,288

222.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.68

$1.73 MGA 7,415

-4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$47.95

$1.01 MGA 4,353

172.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.63

$0.68 MGA 2,912

175.00%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.54

$2.31 MGA 9,911

8.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

$6.46 MGA 27.7K

57.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

$3.37 MGA 14.4K

144.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$206

$3.65 MGA 15.7K

223.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.4

$1.02 MGA 4,361

195.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.54

$0.69 MGA 2,957

162.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.81

$0.35 MGA 1,490

471.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.74

$0.68 MGA 2,921

194.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.30

$0.55 MGA 2,353

278.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.56

$0.76 MGA 3,279

198.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.36

$0.34 MGA 1,480

329.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.74

$0.65 MGA 2,794

66.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$75.7

$1.41 MGA 6,066

208.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$296

$4.78 MGA 20.5K

255.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.18

$1.04 MGA 4,450

66.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.3

$1.24 MGA 5,339

188.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$0.21 MGA 901

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

$17.57 MGA 75.4K

6.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.08

$1.08 MGA 4,638

23.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.87

$2.15 MGA 9,219

-86.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.5

$3.27 MGA 14.0K

60.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$1.13 MGA 4,862

18.58%

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

$19.4K MX$338.0K

$15.8K MGA 67.6M

23.23%

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

$23.8K MX$415.0K

$20.3K MGA 87.2M

17.23%

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

$40.69 MX$709

$42.54 MGA 182.5K

-4.35%

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

$26.87 MX$468

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$531

$54.1 MGA 232.2K

-43.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$919

$11.46 MGA 49.2K

360.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$113

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

$428 MX$7,454

$22.28 MGA 95.6K

1821.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$997

$16.21 MGA 69.5K

253.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$792

$20.29 MGA 87.1K

124.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,812

$45.92 MGA 197.0K

126.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

$44.81 MGA 192.3K

140.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

$123 MGA 527.4K

744.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

-52.75%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Manakara: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 744% 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: $292 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

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

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 276%, 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 $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $581 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $428 per month in Mexico City 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 124% 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 $387, than in Mexico City at $1,456. 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.