😐A single person spends $684 per month in Antananarivo vs $502 in Ambositra, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,059 per month in Antananarivo vs $769 in Ambositra, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,434 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,035 in Ambositra, rent included.
😐Antananarivo costs about 36% more than Ambositra, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Antananarivo and Ambositra are more affordable than the global median – Antananarivo50% lower, Ambositra63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85MGA 12.2K
$2.82MGA 12.1K
1.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.64MGA 88.6K
$20.53MGA 88.1K
0.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.77MGA 24.7K
$5.66MGA 24.3K
1.94%
Cappuccino
$1.75MGA 7,502
$1.66MGA 7,123
5.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78MGA 3,328
$0.83MGA 3,580
-6.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43MGA 1,842
$0.47MGA 2,021
-8.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02MGA 4,373
$1.02MGA 4,394
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30MGA 9,859
$2.29MGA 9,818
0.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10MGA 4,703
$1.08MGA 4,652
1.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08MGA 4,616
$1.06MGA 4,565
1.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.73MGA 3,123
$0.79MGA 3,411
-7.59%
Eggs
$2.05MGA 8,805
$2.05MGA 8,807
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MGA 36.4K
$8.93MGA 38.3K
-4.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.48MGA 19.2K
$4.56MGA 19.6K
-1.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.01MGA 21.5K
$4.99MGA 21.4K
0.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.09MGA 4,661
$1.12MGA 4,823
-2.68%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56MGA 2,409
$0.56MGA 2,419
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08MGA 4,623
$1.08MGA 4,622
-
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86MGA 3,673
$0.91MGA 3,916
-5.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58MGA 2,483
$0.62MGA 2,664
-6.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95MGA 4,096
$0.96MGA 4,106
-1.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32MGA 1,389
$0.36MGA 1,529
-11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71MGA 3,034
$0.76MGA 3,241
-6.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.66MGA 7,140
$1.67MGA 7,155
-0.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.11MGA 21.9K
$5.34MGA 22.9K
-4.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MGA 4,519
$1.02MGA 4,375
2.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85MGA 7,941
$1.94MGA 8,315
-4.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14MGA 607
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56MGA 15.3K
$3.44MGA 14.7K
3.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12MGA 9,105
$2.07MGA 8,892
2.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.66MGA 20.0K
$4.62MGA 19.8K
0.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22MGA 5,219
$1.24MGA 5,300
-1.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.3KMGA 52.9M
$12.4KMGA 53.3M
-0.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMGA 114.8M
$26.1KMGA 111.9M
2.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.5MGA 324.0K
$75.4MGA 323.7K
0.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.28MGA 74.1K
$17.68MGA 75.9K
-2.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6MGA 247.3K
$57.8MGA 248.1K
-0.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.17MGA 129.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.18MGA 30.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.21MGA 26.7K
$6.45MGA 27.7K
-3.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$25.37MGA 108.9K
$25.33MGA 108.7K
0.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3KMGA 65.7M
$15.4KMGA 65.9M
-0.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.21MGA 129.6K
$29.42MGA 126.2K
2.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.43MGA 122.0K
$28.88MGA 123.9K
-1.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MGA 337.9K
$80.2MGA 344.0K
-1.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8MGA 308.1K
$70.9MGA 304.1K
1.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333MGA 1.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157MGA 673.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$769MGA 3.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329MGA 1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$688MGA 3.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$585MGA 2.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$134MGA 572.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.75
15.75
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antananarivo: August 17, 2026
Last update for Ambositra: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Antananarivo versus $21.00 in Ambositra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $146 vs $149 – making Antananarivo 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
Antananarivo vs Ambositra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ambositra cheaper than Antananarivo?
Yes – Antananarivo is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,026 per month in Antananarivo and $754 in Ambositra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Antananarivo and in Ambositra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $684 in Antananarivo and $502 in Ambositra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $25.37 per month in Antananarivo and $25.33 in Ambositra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Antananarivo or Ambositra?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $684 in Antananarivo and $502 in Ambositra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Antananarivo or Ambositra more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ambositra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Antananarivo or Ambositra?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ambositra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Antananarivo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Antananarivo vs other spots: cost of living compared