Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambatolampy and Mahajanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambatolampy and Mahajanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $482 in Ambatolampy versus $566 in Mahajanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $712 in Ambatolampy versus $841 in Mahajanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $943 in Ambatolampy versus $1,116 in Mahajanga.

Living in Ambatolampy costs roughly 15% less than in Mahajanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ambatolampy 65% lower, Mahajanga 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 MGA 11.8K

$2.12 MGA 9,256

27.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.57 MGA 46.1K

$18.29 MGA 79.8K

-42.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 MGA 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.73 MGA 7,526

$0.70 MGA 3,066

147.14%

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

$0.79 MGA 3,429

$0.96 MGA 4,192

-17.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 MGA 2,030

$0.91 MGA 3,974

-48.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 MGA 4,627

$1.02 MGA 4,458

3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 MGA 10.4K

$1.60 MGA 6,985

48.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MGA 3,935

$1.42 MGA 6,209

-36.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,483

$0.84 MGA 3,680

22.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,163

$0.67 MGA 2,902

7.46%

Eggs

$2.07 MGA 9,024

$2.20 MGA 9,595

-5.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 MGA 38.2K

$6.75 MGA 29.5K

29.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 MGA 20.5K

$6.79 MGA 29.6K

-30.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.93 MGA 21.5K

$3.64 MGA 15.9K

35.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 MGA 4,957

$1.13 MGA 4,937

0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 MGA 2,649

$0.62 MGA 2,694

-1.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 MGA 4,536

$0.70 MGA 3,066

48.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 MGA 3,938

$0.71 MGA 3,109

26.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MGA 2,512

$0.54 MGA 2,375

7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 MGA 4,154

$0.56 MGA 2,447

69.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 MGA 1,428

$0.36 MGA 1,584

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 3,038

$0.57 MGA 2,477

22.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 MGA 6,943

Wine (Bottle)

$5.10 MGA 22.2K

$9.22 MGA 40.2K

-44.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,485

$0.80 MGA 3,474

28.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 MGA 8,038

$0.90 MGA 3,912

104.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MGA 1,091

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 MGA 15.0K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 MGA 9,322

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.69 MGA 20.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 MGA 3,936

$1.42 MGA 6,212

-36.62%

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

$12.4K MGA 54.3M

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

$26.0K MGA 113.4M

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

$75.7 MGA 330.1K

$46.40 MGA 202.4K

63.08%

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

$17.45 MGA 76.1K

$7.01 MGA 30.6K

148.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.0 MGA 257.4K

$22.85 MGA 99.7K

158.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.54 MGA 80.9K

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 MGA 25.7K

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

$25.60 MGA 111.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K MGA 66.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.25 MGA 132.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.45 MGA 124.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MGA 343.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 MGA 309.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 MGA 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 MGA 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 MGA 3.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 MGA 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.75

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

Last update for Ambatolampy: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $11.00 in Ambatolampy vs $18.00 in Mahajanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $145 vs $150 per month, with Ambatolampy cheaper across the board.

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

Ambatolampy vs Mahajanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambatolampy wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Mahajanga. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambatolampy the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $723 in Ambatolampy and $849 in Mahajanga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $482 per month in Ambatolampy versus $566 in Mahajanga – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Mahajanga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ambatolampy gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Ambatolampy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Mahajanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.