Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Bansko

For one person, living is cheaper in Antananarivo: $649 a month against $968 in Bansko, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Antananarivo, Madagascar
Bansko, Bulgaria
Antananarivo
🇲🇬 Madagascar
$649
/mo nomad
Bansko
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$968
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Antananarivo and in Bansko

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Antananarivo and in Bansko actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $649 per month in Antananarivo vs $968 in Bansko, rent included.

  • Antananarivo $649
  • Bansko $968

A couple spends around $1,001 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,479 in Bansko, rent included.

  • Antananarivo $1,001
  • Bansko $1,479

A family of three spends $1,354 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,989 in Bansko, rent included.

  • Antananarivo $1,354
  • Bansko $1,989

Antananarivo is about 33% cheaper than Bansko, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Antananarivo and Bansko are more affordable than the global median – Antananarivo 52% lower, Bansko 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.60 MGA 11.9K
$8.83 BGN 15.37
-70.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.83 MGA 90.7K
$45.43 BGN 79.1
-56.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 MGA 24.6K
$8.92 BGN 15.52
-39.69%
Cappuccino
$1.60 MGA 7,329
$2.33 BGN 4.06
-31.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 MGA 3,478
$1.49 BGN 2.60
-48.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 MGA 1,897
$0.83 BGN 1.44
-49.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 MGA 4,435
$1.75 BGN 3.05
-44.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 MGA 9,857
$2.01 BGN 3.49
7.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 MGA 4,226
$1.72 BGN 3.00
-46.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 MGA 4,626
$0.86 BGN 1.49
17.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 MGA 3,176
$1.46 BGN 2.55
-52.74%
Eggs
$2.00 MGA 9,136
$2.33 BGN 4.06
-14.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.31 MGA 38.0K
$9.54 BGN 16.60
-12.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.44 MGA 20.3K
$6.30 BGN 10.96
-29.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.68 MGA 21.4K
$8.64 BGN 15.04
-45.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 MGA 4,745
$1.32 BGN 2.29
-21.21%
Banana (1kg)
$0.53 MGA 2,434
$1.65 BGN 2.86
-67.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 MGA 4,542
$1.74 BGN 3.02
-43.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 MGA 3,763
$1.94 BGN 3.38
-57.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 MGA 2,657
$0.95 BGN 1.66
-38.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 MGA 4,149
$0.72 BGN 1.26
26.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 MGA 1,577
$0.55 BGN 0.96
-36.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 MGA 3,218
$0.59 BGN 1.03
18.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.58 MGA 7,208
$3.33 BGN 5.79
-52.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.94 MGA 22.6K
$5.08 BGN 8.84
-2.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 MGA 4,480
$1.12 BGN 1.95
-12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 MGA 8,112
$1.73 BGN 3.01
2.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.12 MGA 561
$0.89 BGN 1.55
-86.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.08 BGN 47.11
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 MGA 15.6K
$1.64 BGN 2.85
107.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.24 MGA 10.2K
$0.91 BGN 1.59
146.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.53 MGA 20.7K
$10.00 BGN 17.39
-54.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 MGA 5,312
$1.50 BGN 2.61
-22.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.6K MGA 53.1M
$28.6K BGN 49.7K
-59.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K MGA 113.6M
$21.2K BGN 36.9K
17.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.6 MGA 336.4K
$92.5 BGN 161
-20.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.88 MGA 77.2K
$14.59 BGN 25.39
15.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2 MGA 257.1K
$12.13 BGN 21.11
363.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.59 MGA 130.7K
$31.84 BGN 55.4
-10.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.13 MGA 32.6K
$8.46 BGN 14.72
-15.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.47 MGA 25.0K
$5.51 BGN 9.59
-0.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$24.67 MGA 112.8K
$227 BGN 395
-89.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.3K MGA 124.8M
$2,311 BGN 4,021
1081.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.87 MGA 132.0K
$30.56 BGN 53.2
-5.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.99 MGA 123.4K
$18.95 BGN 32.97
42.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 MGA 343.0K
$45.80 BGN 79.7
63.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.7 MGA 309.3K
$48.28 BGN 84.0
40.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$320 MGA 1.5M
$510 BGN 887
-37.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$149 MGA 679.2K
$364 BGN 634
-59.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$726 MGA 3.3M
$624 BGN 1,085
16.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 MGA 1.5M
$566 BGN 985
-43.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$669 MGA 3.1M
$1,166 BGN 2,028
-42.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$574 MGA 2.6M
$969 BGN 1,686
-40.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antananarivo
Bansko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$130 MGA 596.3K
$1,680 BGN 2,923
-92.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.75
2.99
426.76%

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

Last update for Antananarivo: November 2, 2026

Last update for Bansko: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Antananarivo
$149
Bansko
$364 145% $216
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antananarivo
$147
Bansko
$119 18.7% $27
Groceries & Markets
Antananarivo
$139
Bansko
$193 38.4% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Antananarivo
$89
Bansko
$65 27.7% $25
Eating Out
Antananarivo
$70
Bansko
$147 110% $77
Sport & Entertainment
Antananarivo
$40
Bansko
$43 8.4% $3.3
Getting Around
Antananarivo
$15 *
Bansko
$37 144% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Antananarivo versus $510 in Bansko. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Bansko are about 13 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Antananarivo versus $45 in Bansko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $139 vs $193 – making Antananarivo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇬 Antananarivo
🇧🇬 Bansko
🕒 Local time
03:22 3:22 AM
02:22 2:22 AM
1 h behind Antananarivo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,274,225 Capital
8,000
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

BGN, USD, EUR to MGA – Malagasy Ariary Converter

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 4,572 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.19 USD). 1 EUR = 5,132 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.95 EUR).

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Antananarivo Bansko 7,190 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Antananarivo
  • Bansko

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bansko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antananarivo cheaper than Bansko?
Yes – Bansko is pricier by about 49%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $973 per month in Antananarivo and $1,452 in Bansko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Antananarivo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $320 there versus $510 in Bansko.
What are total monthly expenses in Antananarivo and in Bansko?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $649 in Antananarivo and $968 in Bansko. That makes Antananarivo about 33% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $25 per month in Antananarivo and $227 in Bansko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is Antananarivo or Bansko more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Antananarivo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Antananarivo. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bansko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Antananarivo vs other spots: cost of living compared

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