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: $667 in Antananarivo versus $486 in Ambatolampy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,055 in Antananarivo versus $715 in Ambatolampy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,442 in Antananarivo versus $943 in Ambatolampy.

Living in Antananarivo is roughly 37% more expensive than in Ambatolampy, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antananarivo 51% lower, Ambatolampy 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 MGA 11.8K

$2.76 MGA 11.9K

-0.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.18 MGA 91.6K

$10.58 MGA 45.8K

100.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 MGA 25.3K

$5.86 MGA 25.4K

Cappuccino

$1.68 MGA 7,250

$1.71 MGA 7,410

-1.75%

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

$0.79 MGA 3,408

$0.83 MGA 3,605

-4.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 MGA 1,886

$0.44 MGA 1,889

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 MGA 4,600

$1.03 MGA 4,445

2.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 MGA 9,868

$2.31 MGA 9,985

-1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 MGA 4,231

$0.85 MGA 3,661

15.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,470

$1.03 MGA 4,439

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,165

$0.73 MGA 3,146

Eggs

$2.07 MGA 8,933

$2.06 MGA 8,910

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 MGA 37.0K

$8.93 MGA 38.6K

-4.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 MGA 19.3K

$4.48 MGA 19.4K

-0.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.96 MGA 21.4K

$4.88 MGA 21.1K

1.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 MGA 4,886

$1.13 MGA 4,891

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 MGA 2,452

$0.59 MGA 2,556

-3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 MGA 4,515

$1.07 MGA 4,635

-2.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 MGA 3,862

$0.85 MGA 3,692

4.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MGA 2,488

$0.57 MGA 2,466

1.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 MGA 4,449

$1.03 MGA 4,475

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MGA 1,537

$0.33 MGA 1,407

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MGA 3,051

$0.74 MGA 3,203

-4.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.64 MGA 7,110

$1.60 MGA 6,902

2.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.32 MGA 23.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MGA 4,584

$1.01 MGA 4,371

4.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MGA 8,288

$1.85 MGA 7,994

3.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 MGA 531

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 MGA 15.1K

$3.44 MGA 14.9K

1.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 MGA 8,862

$2.14 MGA 9,250

-4.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.67 MGA 20.2K

$4.59 MGA 19.9K

1.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 MGA 4,980

$0.88 MGA 3,818

30.68%

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

$12.2K MGA 52.6M

$12.5K MGA 53.9M

-2.34%

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

$26.2K MGA 113.3M

$25.8K MGA 111.8M

1.40%

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

$77.5 MGA 335.4K

$75.4 MGA 326.2K

2.81%

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

$17.67 MGA 76.4K

$17.16 MGA 74.2K

2.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 MGA 256.6K

$59.0 MGA 255.3K

0.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.14 MGA 130.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.33 MGA 31.7K

Cinema Ticket

$5.68 MGA 24.6K

$5.91 MGA 25.6K

-3.89%

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

$25.87 MGA 111.9K

$25.65 MGA 111.0K

0.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K MGA 65.9M

$15.1K MGA 65.3M

1.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.09 MGA 130.2K

$29.76 MGA 128.7K

1.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.84 MGA 124.8K

$28.89 MGA 124.9K

-0.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 MGA 342.0K

$79.8 MGA 345.3K

-0.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 MGA 310.3K

$72.0 MGA 311.5K

-0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 MGA 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 MGA 673.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 MGA 3.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 MGA 1.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$673 MGA 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$593 MGA 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 MGA 582.1K

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 Antananarivo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ambatolampy: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $21.00 in Antananarivo vs $11.00 in Ambatolampy. Groceries flip the comparison at $145 vs $145, with Antananarivo cheaper for home cooking.

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 37% 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 $1,000 in Antananarivo and $729 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.

Childcare runs $25.87 in Antananarivo versus $25.65 in Ambatolampy. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ambatolampy – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $21.00 in Antananarivo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 37% less than in Antananarivo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.