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 $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $389 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $583 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $776 in Manakara, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 277% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Manakara is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$2.16 MGA 9,041

510.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

$14.90 MGA 62.5K

261.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$3.53 MGA 14.8K

166.86%

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$1.19 MGA 5,009

198.32%

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

$1.62 MX$27.98

$0.61 MGA 2,571

165.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

$0.55 MGA 2,286

101.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

$1.19 MGA 5,001

162.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

$1.42 MGA 5,963

226.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

$1.82 MGA 7,611

-6.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

$0.98 MGA 4,123

177.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

$0.73 MGA 3,075

161.64%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

$2.23 MGA 9,330

13.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

58.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

140.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

$3.52 MGA 14.8K

230.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

$0.95 MGA 3,977

212.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

$0.73 MGA 3,075

147.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

$0.35 MGA 1,453

474.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

$0.73 MGA 3,064

178.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

$0.54 MGA 2,266

292.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

$0.76 MGA 3,191

198.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

$0.31 MGA 1,315

351.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

$0.70 MGA 2,915

61.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

$1.41 MGA 5,900

202.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

$4.71 MGA 19.8K

230.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

$1.07 MGA 4,468

64.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

$1.32 MGA 5,517

172.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

$0.21 MGA 877

80.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

$17.46 MGA 73.2K

9.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.79

$1.13 MGA 4,720

22.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

$2.18 MGA 9,140

-87.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

$3.42 MGA 14.3K

59.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

$1.19 MGA 4,992

9.24%

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

$18.7K MX$323.2K

$15.4K MGA 64.6M

21.33%

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

$23.1K MX$400.1K

$20.4K MGA 85.6M

13.31%

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

$40.86 MX$707

$42.44 MGA 177.9K

-3.72%

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

$26.81 MX$464

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

$53.1 MGA 222.8K

-43.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

$11.41 MGA 47.8K

355.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

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

$436 MX$7,544

$21.80 MGA 91.4K

1900.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$980

$16.48 MGA 69.1K

243.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$768

$20.25 MGA 84.9K

119.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,780

$45.64 MGA 191.4K

125.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,825

$44.89 MGA 188.2K

135.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

$125 MGA 525.4K

789.69%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manakara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 790% 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: $288 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 277%, 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 $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $584 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City 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 121% 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 $389, than in Mexico City at $1,467. 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.