Mahajanga vs Nanyuki
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Mahajanga is approximately 4.3x more expensive than Nanyuki based on cost of living including rent. This makes Nanyuki a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Nanyuki has a FIRE Score of 85/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 55, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Nanyuki is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowMadagascar
Mahajanga
Kenya
Nanyuki
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Nanyuki
Nanyuki is a cheap highland town that punches far above its weight for expats who can earn remotely, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $77/mo and a comfortable single life at $473/mo. The catch is the local economy: an average net salary of $115/mo means almost nobody here is living on local wages, and the $2,000/mo income floor for Class K or the $4,583/mo for the Kenya Digital Nomad Visa tells you who this place is actually built for. Safety sits at a middling 55/100 and healthcare is only fair, so treat it as a bargain base, not a soft landing. If your money comes from elsewhere, the math is absurdly good; if it comes from Nanyuki, it is not.
About Kenya
Kenya suits budget-focused retirees comfortable trading big-city safety for cheap living, not those chasing polish. Rent outside the center runs $140.77/mo and English is widely spoken, but the Safety Index sits at just 44 with low expat safety ratings. The Kenya does not offer a specific retirement visa, but long-stay options exist needs only $2,000/mo income, though political stability at -0.71 and a complex citizenship path mean this is a residency, not a homecoming.
Nanyuki costs roughly 10.5x less than Mahajanga. The cost gap makes Nanyuki the stronger pick for financial independence. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Mahajanga is approximately 4.3x more expensive than Nanyuki based on cost of living including rent. This makes Nanyuki a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Nanyuki has a FIRE Score of 85/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 55, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Nanyuki is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Mahajanga
Mahajanga is a cheap, warm, low-rise port town where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $383/mo and still eat out for $2 a meal, which is why its FIRE score of 74/100 outshines its retiree score of 44/100. The catch is everything that comes with a 34/100 cost of living index: poor healthcare, limited English, a small expat community, and 13 Mbps internet that will test your patience. If you want tropical heat, a $335/mo city-center one-bedroom, and cyclone season from November to March, it delivers; if you need good hospitals or a deep social scene, look elsewhere.
About Madagascar
A 1BR apartment in the city center runs $314 a month, less than a parking spot in most US downtowns, and total costs land near $406 monthly. But healthcare scores just 26.4, with limited English-speaking doctors, and political stability sits at -0.91. The retirement visa only needs EUR 500/mo income. This works only if you accept real medical risk in exchange for the savings.
$2,485/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Nanyuki
Nanyuki is a cheap highland town that punches far above its weight for expats who can earn remotely, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $77/mo and a comfortable single life at $473/mo. The catch is the local economy: an average net salary of $115/mo means almost nobody here is living on local wages, and the $2,000/mo income floor for Class K or the $4,583/mo for the Kenya Digital Nomad Visa tells you who this place is actually built for. Safety sits at a middling 55/100 and healthcare is only fair, so treat it as a bargain base, not a soft landing. If your money comes from elsewhere, the math is absurdly good; if it comes from Nanyuki, it is not.
About Kenya
Kenya suits budget-focused retirees comfortable trading big-city safety for cheap living, not those chasing polish. Rent outside the center runs $140.77/mo and English is widely spoken, but the Safety Index sits at just 44 with low expat safety ratings. The Kenya does not offer a specific retirement visa, but long-stay options exist needs only $2,000/mo income, though political stability at -0.71 and a complex citizenship path mean this is a residency, not a homecoming.
$2,561/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Mahajanga | Nanyuki |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $334.65 | $76.99 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $267.72 | $65.44 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $669.29 | $230.96 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $446.19 | $192.47 |
| Safety Index | 53 | 55 |
| Internet Speed | 12.7Mbps | 22.8Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Mahajanga | Nanyuki |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $515/mo | $439/mo |
| Excluding rent | $247/mo | $374/mo |
| Rent | $268/mo | $65.00/mo |
| Groceries | $127/mo | $113/mo |
| Dining out | $20.00/mo | $62.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $26.00/mo | $93.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $74.00/mo | $106/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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