😐A single person spends $648 per month in Antananarivo vs $490 in Ambositra, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,009 per month in Antananarivo vs $745 in Ambositra, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,370 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,000 in Ambositra, rent included.
😐Antananarivo costs about 32% more than Ambositra, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Antananarivo and Ambositra are more affordable than the global median – Antananarivo52% lower, Ambositra63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.68MGA 11.9K
$2.69MGA 12.0K
-0.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.36MGA 90.5K
$20.82MGA 92.6K
-2.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.48MGA 24.3K
$5.79MGA 25.7K
-5.35%
Cappuccino
$1.60MGA 7,115
$1.65MGA 7,330
-3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MGA 3,633
$0.82MGA 3,660
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45MGA 1,988
$0.45MGA 2,007
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98MGA 4,368
$1.02MGA 4,519
-3.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31MGA 10.3K
$2.24MGA 9,944
3.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01MGA 4,473
$1.04MGA 4,615
-2.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00MGA 4,447
$1.01MGA 4,510
-0.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76MGA 3,358
$0.72MGA 3,217
5.56%
Eggs
$2.07MGA 9,218
$2.01MGA 8,948
2.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.66MGA 38.5K
$8.49MGA 37.7K
2.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.48MGA 19.9K
$4.43MGA 19.7K
1.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.95MGA 22.0K
$5.02MGA 22.3K
-1.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.11MGA 4,919
$1.06MGA 4,709
4.72%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58MGA 2,584
$0.54MGA 2,414
7.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04MGA 4,635
$1.07MGA 4,737
-2.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81MGA 3,596
$0.90MGA 3,995
-10.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60MGA 2,686
$0.60MGA 2,682
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MGA 4,394
$0.99MGA 4,398
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34MGA 1,524
$0.33MGA 1,466
3.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72MGA 3,199
$0.68MGA 3,023
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.55MGA 6,896
$1.62MGA 7,222
-4.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.12MGA 22.8K
$5.03MGA 22.4K
1.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98MGA 4,366
$1.04MGA 4,606
-5.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80MGA 8,012
$1.81MGA 8,056
-0.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15MGA 664
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.33MGA 14.8K
$3.38MGA 15.0K
-1.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05MGA 9,130
$2.01MGA 8,939
1.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.41MGA 19.6K
$4.57MGA 20.3K
-3.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18MGA 5,235
$1.13MGA 5,023
4.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.9KMGA 53.1M
$11.9KMGA 53.1M
-0.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1KMGA 111.6M
$25.6KMGA 113.9M
-2.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.8MGA 323.8K
$76.0MGA 337.8K
-4.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.01MGA 75.6K
$17.22MGA 76.6K
-1.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.6MGA 251.7K
$58.3MGA 259.1K
-2.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.33MGA 130.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.15MGA 31.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.61MGA 24.9K
$5.65MGA 25.1K
-0.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$25.35MGA 112.7K
$25.50MGA 113.4K
-0.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8KMGA 65.9M
$14.9KMGA 66.3M
-0.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.23MGA 130.0K
$28.78MGA 127.9K
1.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.19MGA 120.9K
$28.22MGA 125.5K
-3.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.1MGA 347.3K
$77.4MGA 343.9K
0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3MGA 303.8K
$70.2MGA 311.9K
-2.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327MGA 1.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152MGA 674.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735MGA 3.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$319MGA 1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$670MGA 3.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$561MGA 2.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antananarivo
Ambositra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$130MGA 576.0K
-
-
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: October 6, 2026
Last update for Ambositra: October 4, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Antananarivo versus $21.00 in Ambositra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $144 – 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 32%, 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 $972 per month in Antananarivo and $735 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 $648 in Antananarivo and $490 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 $25.35 per month in Antananarivo and $25.50 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 $648 in Antananarivo and $490 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