😐A single person spends $671 per month in Antananarivo vs $471 in Toamasina, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,036 per month in Antananarivo vs $762 in Toamasina, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,402 per month in Antananarivo vs $1,053 in Toamasina, rent included.
😐Antananarivo costs about 42% more than Toamasina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Antananarivo and Toamasina are more affordable than the global median – Antananarivo51% lower, Toamasina66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75MGA 11.9K
$2.23MGA 9,655
23.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.88MGA 90.5K
$16.56MGA 71.8K
26.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.68MGA 24.6K
$4.56MGA 19.7K
24.56%
Cappuccino
$1.74MGA 7,525
$1.17MGA 5,090
48.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84MGA 3,622
$0.78MGA 3,364
7.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47MGA 2,035
$0.56MGA 2,412
-16.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.07MGA 4,641
$1.04MGA 4,493
2.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33MGA 10.1K
$1.37MGA 5,915
70.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99MGA 4,296
$1.02MGA 4,419
-2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03MGA 4,463
$0.72MGA 3,116
43.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78MGA 3,390
$0.97MGA 4,189
-19.59%
Eggs
$2.18MGA 9,433
$1.96MGA 8,503
11.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.62MGA 37.4K
$12.56MGA 54.4K
-31.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.65MGA 20.1K
$7.16MGA 31.0K
-35.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.00MGA 21.7K
$5.44MGA 23.6K
-8.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15MGA 4,989
$1.65MGA 7,133
-30.30%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56MGA 2,445
$1.40MGA 6,070
-60.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04MGA 4,527
$1.67MGA 7,241
-37.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.87MGA 3,748
$0.69MGA 2,977
26.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.62MGA 2,670
$0.66MGA 2,846
-6.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03MGA 4,463
$0.53MGA 2,307
94.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37MGA 1,589
$0.37MGA 1,582
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75MGA 3,271
$0.48MGA 2,080
56.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.68MGA 7,282
$1.87MGA 8,111
-10.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.38MGA 23.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MGA 4,654
$0.90MGA 3,881
18.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87MGA 8,106
$1.13MGA 4,912
65.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.12MGA 533
$0.33MGA 1,451
-63.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55MGA 15.4K
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05MGA 8,861
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.62MGA 20.0K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16MGA 5,013
$1.20MGA 5,203
-3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.4KMGA 53.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMGA 114.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.0MGA 329.2K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50MGA 75.8K
$33.45MGA 144.9K
-47.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0MGA 255.4K
$70.5MGA 305.4K
-16.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.18MGA 130.7K
$23.18MGA 100.4K
30.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.34MGA 31.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.86MGA 25.4K
$7.10MGA 30.8K
-17.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$26.31MGA 114.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.5KMGA 67.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.37MGA 131.6K
$9.27MGA 40.2K
227.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.70MGA 124.3K
$7.11MGA 30.8K
303.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MGA 340.5K
$57.9MGA 250.8K
35.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4MGA 318.0K
$39.47MGA 171.0K
85.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333MGA 1.4M
$140MGA 605.4K
138.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158MGA 686.7K
$57.3MGA 248.2K
176.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$752MGA 3.3M
$468MGA 2.0M
60.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330MGA 1.4M
$140MGA 608.0K
135.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$679MGA 2.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$596MGA 2.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$137MGA 595.3K
$139MGA 603.2K
-1.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.75
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antananarivo: September 7, 2026
Last update for Toamasina: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Antananarivo versus $140 in Toamasina. 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 1% higher in Toamasina, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Antananarivo versus $17.00 in Toamasina. Groceries tell a different story – $148 in Antananarivo vs $163 in Toamasina – so Antananarivo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Toamasina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toamasina cheaper than Antananarivo?
Yes – Antananarivo is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,006 per month in Antananarivo and $706 in Toamasina. 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 Toamasina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Antananarivo and in Toamasina?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Antananarivo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Antananarivo or in Toamasina?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Antananarivo and $17.00 in Toamasina. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,200 enough for either Antananarivo or Toamasina?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $671 in Antananarivo and $471 in Toamasina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Antananarivo or Toamasina more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Toamasina – 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 Toamasina. 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