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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $667 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,055 per month in Antananarivo vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,442 per month in Antananarivo vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Antananarivo is about 61% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Antananarivo sits 51% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 MGA 11.8K

$8.03 COP 25.3K

-65.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.18 MGA 91.6K

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-56.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 MGA 25.3K

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-40.02%

Cappuccino

$1.68 MGA 7,250

$2.91 COP 9,167

-42.27%

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

$0.79 MGA 3,408

$1.94 COP 6,122

-59.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 MGA 1,886

$1.52 COP 4,792

-71.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 MGA 4,600

$3.09 COP 9,740

-65.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 MGA 9,868

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-60.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 MGA 4,231

$1.36 COP 4,296

-27.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MGA 4,470

$2.39 COP 7,519

-56.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,165

$1.70 COP 5,356

-57.06%

Eggs

$2.07 MGA 8,933

$2.87 COP 9,038

-27.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 MGA 37.0K

$9.94 COP 31.3K

-14.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 MGA 19.3K

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-58.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.96 MGA 21.4K

$14.73 COP 46.4K

-66.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 MGA 4,886

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-72.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 MGA 2,452

$1.57 COP 4,950

-63.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 MGA 4,515

$2.13 COP 6,695

-51.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 MGA 3,862

$2.21 COP 6,972

-59.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MGA 2,488

$2.05 COP 6,447

-71.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 MGA 4,449

$1.50 COP 4,737

-31.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MGA 1,537

$1.19 COP 3,747

-69.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MGA 3,051

$1.16 COP 3,647

-38.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.64 MGA 7,110

$3.90 COP 12.3K

-57.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.32 MGA 23.0K

$14.44 COP 45.5K

-63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MGA 4,584

$1.58 COP 4,987

-32.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MGA 8,288

$2.83 COP 8,905

-32.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 MGA 531

$1.17 COP 3,679

-89.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 MGA 15.1K

$1.28 COP 4,045

173.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 MGA 8,862

$2.09 COP 6,589

-1.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.67 MGA 20.2K

$8.62 COP 27.1K

-45.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 MGA 4,980

$1.30 COP 4,088

-11.54%

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

$12.2K MGA 52.6M

$27.7K COP 87.1M

-56.00%

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

$26.2K MGA 113.3M

$35.5K COP 111.8M

-26.21%

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

$77.5 MGA 335.4K

$176 COP 554.5K

-55.97%

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

$17.67 MGA 76.4K

$13.37 COP 42.1K

32.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 MGA 256.6K

$29.89 COP 94.1K

98.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.14 MGA 130.4K

$44.76 COP 141.0K

-32.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.33 MGA 31.7K

$17.06 COP 53.7K

-57.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.68 MGA 24.6K

$6.20 COP 19.5K

-8.39%

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

$25.87 MGA 111.9K

$793 COP 2.5M

-96.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K MGA 65.9M

$9,019 COP 28.4M

69.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.09 MGA 130.2K

$85.6 COP 269.6K

-64.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.84 MGA 124.8K

$58.5 COP 184.1K

-50.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 MGA 342.0K

$136 COP 429.3K

-41.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 MGA 310.3K

$103 COP 324.7K

-30.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 MGA 1.5M

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-68.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 MGA 673.1K

$680 COP 2.1M

-77.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 MGA 3.3M

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-61.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 MGA 1.4M

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-71.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$673 MGA 2.9M

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-83.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$593 MGA 2.6M

$1,701 COP 5.4M

-65.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 MGA 582.1K

$665 COP 2.1M

-79.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.75

10.94

43.97%

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

Last update for Antananarivo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $338 in Antananarivo versus $1,060 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 394% 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 $21.00 in Antananarivo versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $303 – 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 157%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,000 per month in Antananarivo and $2,574 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 $667 in Antananarivo and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $25.87 per month in Antananarivo and $793 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 $667, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.