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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Antananarivo 51% lower, Toamasina 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75 MGA 11.9K
$2.23 MGA 9,655
23.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.88 MGA 90.5K
$16.56 MGA 71.8K
26.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.68 MGA 24.6K
$4.56 MGA 19.7K
24.56%
Cappuccino
$1.74 MGA 7,525
$1.17 MGA 5,090
48.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 MGA 3,622
$0.78 MGA 3,364
7.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 MGA 2,035
$0.56 MGA 2,412
-16.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 MGA 4,641
$1.04 MGA 4,493
2.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 MGA 10.1K
$1.37 MGA 5,915
70.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 MGA 4,296
$1.02 MGA 4,419
-2.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 MGA 4,463
$0.72 MGA 3,116
43.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 MGA 3,390
$0.97 MGA 4,189
-19.59%
Eggs
$2.18 MGA 9,433
$1.96 MGA 8,503
11.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.62 MGA 37.4K
$12.56 MGA 54.4K
-31.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.65 MGA 20.1K
$7.16 MGA 31.0K
-35.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.00 MGA 21.7K
$5.44 MGA 23.6K
-8.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 MGA 4,989
$1.65 MGA 7,133
-30.30%
Banana (1kg)
$0.56 MGA 2,445
$1.40 MGA 6,070
-60.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 MGA 4,527
$1.67 MGA 7,241
-37.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 MGA 3,748
$0.69 MGA 2,977
26.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 MGA 2,670
$0.66 MGA 2,846
-6.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 MGA 4,463
$0.53 MGA 2,307
94.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 MGA 1,589
$0.37 MGA 1,582
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 MGA 3,271
$0.48 MGA 2,080
56.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.68 MGA 7,282
$1.87 MGA 8,111
-10.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.38 MGA 23.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MGA 4,654
$0.90 MGA 3,881
18.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 MGA 8,106
$1.13 MGA 4,912
65.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.12 MGA 533
$0.33 MGA 1,451
-63.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 MGA 15.4K
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 MGA 8,861
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 MGA 20.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 MGA 5,013
$1.20 MGA 5,203
-3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.4K MGA 53.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K MGA 114.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 MGA 329.2K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50 MGA 75.8K
$33.45 MGA 144.9K
-47.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0 MGA 255.4K
$70.5 MGA 305.4K
-16.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.18 MGA 130.7K
$23.18 MGA 100.4K
30.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.34 MGA 31.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.86 MGA 25.4K
$7.10 MGA 30.8K
-17.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$26.31 MGA 114.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K MGA 67.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.37 MGA 131.6K
$9.27 MGA 40.2K
227.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.70 MGA 124.3K
$7.11 MGA 30.8K
303.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 MGA 340.5K
$57.9 MGA 250.8K
35.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4 MGA 318.0K
$39.47 MGA 171.0K
85.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$333 MGA 1.4M
$140 MGA 605.4K
138.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 MGA 686.7K
$57.3 MGA 248.2K
176.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$752 MGA 3.3M
$468 MGA 2.0M
60.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 MGA 1.4M
$140 MGA 608.0K
135.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$679 MGA 2.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$596 MGA 2.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$137 MGA 595.3K
$139 MGA 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.

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