Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $571 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,045 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,519 per month in Antananarivo vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Antananarivo is about 44% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Antananarivo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Antananarivo 57% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.34 MGA 14.0K

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-44.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.75 MGA 78.6K

$32.86 COP 117.2K

-42.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MGA 20.2K

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-32.16%

Cappuccino

$1.29 MGA 5,424

$1.71 COP 6,105

-24.56%

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

$1.06 MGA 4,432

$1.10 COP 3,918

-3.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MGA 2,494

$0.78 COP 2,776

-24.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 MGA 3,137

$1.68 COP 5,987

-55.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MGA 6,583

$3.07 COP 10.9K

-48.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 MGA 4,710

$1.09 COP 3,899

2.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MGA 4,567

$1.26 COP 4,500

-13.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 MGA 3,113

$1.38 COP 4,914

-46.38%

Eggs

$2.07 MGA 8,664

$2.19 COP 7,813

-5.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.33 MGA 43.3K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

134.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 MGA 19.1K

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-19.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.42 MGA 18.5K

$8.89 COP 31.7K

-50.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MGA 5,510

$2.34 COP 8,334

-44.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 MGA 2,492

$1.06 COP 3,771

-44.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 MGA 4,516

$1.50 COP 5,365

-28.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,189

$1.38 COP 4,915

-27.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,060

$1.15 COP 4,104

-36.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,212

$1.16 COP 4,148

-13.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,437

$0.89 COP 3,176

-61.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 MGA 2,905

$0.84 COP 2,992

-17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 MGA 10.9K

$2.28 COP 8,131

14.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.49 MGA 23.0K

$10.64 COP 37.9K

-48.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 MGA 3,438

$1.20 COP 4,276

-31.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MGA 5,347

$2.47 COP 8,809

-48.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 MGA 491

$0.86 COP 3,051

-86.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 MGA 12.2K

$1.47 COP 5,255

98.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 MGA 7,158

$1.96 COP 6,997

-12.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.39 MGA 18.4K

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-43.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 MGA 5,148

$0.95 COP 3,403

29.47%

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

$12.0K MGA 50.4M

$18.1K COP 64.6M

-33.68%

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

$24.0K MGA 100.8M

$26.5K COP 94.4M

-9.24%

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

$58.5 MGA 245.5K

$82.3 COP 293.2K

-28.83%

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

$15.69 MGA 65.8K

$9.50 COP 33.9K

65.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.42 MGA 198.9K

$24.23 COP 86.4K

95.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.55 MGA 153.3K

$25.89 COP 92.3K

41.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 MGA 26.6K

$19.00 COP 67.7K

-66.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 MGA 28.4K

$3.93 COP 14.0K

72.52%

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

$72.2 MGA 302.8K

$309 COP 1.1M

-76.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K MGA 48.8M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

95.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.63 MGA 128.4K

$58.7 COP 209.1K

-47.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 MGA 124.2K

$32.35 COP 115.3K

-8.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 MGA 326.3K

$103 COP 365.7K

-24.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 MGA 320.0K

$108 COP 386.5K

-29.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MGA 1.6M

$476 COP 1.7M

-19.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.8 MGA 326.1K

$379 COP 1.4M

-79.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 MGA 2.4M

$838 COP 3.0M

-30.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 MGA 1.8M

$724 COP 2.6M

-39.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$699 MGA 2.9M

$2,791 COP 9.9M

-74.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$587 MGA 2.5M

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-51.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 MGA 509.8K

$512 COP 1.8M

-76.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.69%

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

Last update for Antananarivo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Antananarivo versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 321% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Antananarivo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $188 – 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $857 per month in Antananarivo and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Antananarivo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $571 in Antananarivo and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $72.2 per month in Antananarivo and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Antananarivo, where all-in costs run around $571, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Antananarivo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Antananarivo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.