Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Toamasina Cost of Living Comparison Between Antananarivo and Toamasina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $579 per month in Antananarivo vs $436 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,036 per month in Antananarivo vs $696 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,493 per month in Antananarivo vs $957 in Toamasina, rent included.

Antananarivo costs about 33% more than Toamasina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Antananarivo and Toamasina are more affordable than the global median – Antananarivo 57% lower, Toamasina 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 MGA 14.2K
$2.59 MGA 11.1K
28.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.84 MGA 80.8K
$15.45 MGA 66.3K
21.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 MGA 21.2K
$4.54 MGA 19.5K
9.03%
Cappuccino
$1.29 MGA 5,534
$1.16 MGA 4,982
11.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 MGA 4,501
$0.67 MGA 2,887
56.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 MGA 2,577
$0.74 MGA 3,191
-18.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.80 MGA 3,428
$0.77 MGA 3,285
3.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MGA 6,850
$1.10 MGA 4,703
45.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 MGA 4,799
$0.99 MGA 4,261
13.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 MGA 4,675
$0.68 MGA 2,933
60.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 MGA 3,297
$0.64 MGA 2,758
20.31%
Eggs
$1.98 MGA 8,472
$1.91 MGA 8,186
3.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.33 MGA 44.3K
$10.77 MGA 46.2K
-4.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.69 MGA 20.1K
$6.59 MGA 28.3K
-28.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.49 MGA 19.3K
$5.09 MGA 21.8K
-11.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 MGA 5,788
$1.43 MGA 6,129
-5.59%
Banana (1kg)
$0.60 MGA 2,556
$0.80 MGA 3,445
-25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 MGA 4,608
$1.32 MGA 5,659
-18.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 MGA 4,450
$0.77 MGA 3,289
35.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 MGA 3,128
$0.49 MGA 2,082
48.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 MGA 4,239
$0.69 MGA 2,977
43.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 MGA 1,488
$0.35 MGA 1,486
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 MGA 3,008
$0.49 MGA 2,119
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60 MGA 11.1K
$1.80 MGA 7,699
44.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.06 MGA 21.7K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 MGA 3,739
$0.89 MGA 3,838
-2.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 MGA 5,205
$1.13 MGA 4,836
7.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.12 MGA 514
$0.32 MGA 1,355
-62.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 MGA 12.6K
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 MGA 7,089
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.49 MGA 19.2K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 MGA 5,249
$1.12 MGA 4,811
8.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K MGA 51.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K MGA 103.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.0 MGA 248.8K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.65 MGA 67.1K
$19.19 MGA 82.3K
-18.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.19 MGA 198.1K
$66.1 MGA 283.5K
-30.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.71 MGA 153.1K
$22.00 MGA 94.3K
62.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.41 MGA 27.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.54 MGA 28.1K
$6.78 MGA 29.1K
-3.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.1 MGA 305.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K MGA 50.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.34 MGA 134.4K
$8.67 MGA 37.2K
261.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.26 MGA 129.8K
$6.81 MGA 29.2K
344.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 MGA 330.8K
$56.4 MGA 242.0K
36.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9 MGA 325.5K
$36.59 MGA 156.9K
107.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 MGA 1.7M
$132 MGA 566.9K
192.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.8 MGA 337.9K
$56.6 MGA 242.6K
39.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 MGA 2.5M
$442 MGA 1.9M
30.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$439 MGA 1.9M
$133 MGA 570.3K
230.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$688 MGA 3.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$574 MGA 2.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$122 MGA 522.4K
$141 MGA 603.7K
-13.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
0
-

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

Last update for Antananarivo: July 11, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Antananarivo versus $132 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 16% 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 $19.00 in Antananarivo versus $15.00 in Toamasina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $145 – making Toamasina 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 Toamasina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toamasina cheaper than Antananarivo?
Yes – Antananarivo is pricier by about 33%, 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 $869 per month in Antananarivo and $653 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?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Antananarivo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Antananarivo or in Toamasina?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Antananarivo and $15.00 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 $579 in Antananarivo and $436 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

Similar cities