Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Ambatolampy Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Ambatolampy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $571 in Antananarivo versus $8.30 in Ambatolampy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,045 in Antananarivo versus $14.00 in Ambatolampy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,519 in Antananarivo versus $20.34 in Ambatolampy.

Living in Antananarivo is roughly 6783% more expensive than Ambatolampy, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antananarivo 57% lower, Ambatolampy 99% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.34 MGA 14.0K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.75 MGA 78.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MGA 20.2K

Cappuccino

$1.29 MGA 5,424

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

$1.06 MGA 4,432

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,494

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 MGA 3,137

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MGA 6,583

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 MGA 4,710

$0.79 MGA 3,309

41.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MGA 4,567

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 MGA 3,113

Eggs

$2.07 MGA 8,664

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.33 MGA 43.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 MGA 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.42 MGA 18.5K

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MGA 5,510

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 MGA 2,492

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 MGA 4,516

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,189

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,060

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,212

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,437

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 MGA 2,905

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 MGA 10.9K

Wine (Bottle)

$5.49 MGA 23.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 MGA 3,438

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MGA 5,347

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 MGA 491

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 MGA 12.2K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 MGA 7,158

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.39 MGA 18.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 MGA 5,148

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

$12.0K MGA 50.4M

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

$24.0K MGA 100.8M

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

$58.5 MGA 245.5K

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

$15.69 MGA 65.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.42 MGA 198.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.55 MGA 153.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 MGA 26.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 MGA 28.4K

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

$72.2 MGA 302.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K MGA 48.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.63 MGA 128.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 MGA 124.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 MGA 326.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 MGA 320.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MGA 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.8 MGA 326.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 MGA 2.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 MGA 1.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$699 MGA 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 MGA 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 MGA 509.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Antananarivo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ambatolampy: May 31, 2026

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

Antananarivo vs Ambatolampy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambatolampy wins on cost – living expenses run 6783% lower than in Antananarivo. 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 $857 in Antananarivo and $12.45 in Ambatolampy 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1818% higher in Antananarivo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $571 per month in Antananarivo versus $8.30 in Ambatolampy – a 6783% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 6783% less than in Antananarivo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.