😐A single person spends $571 per month in Antananarivo vs $429 in Toamasina, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,045 per month in Antananarivo vs $694 in Toamasina, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,519 per month in Antananarivo vs $960 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 – Antananarivo57% lower, Toamasina68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.34MGA 14.0K
$2.59MGA 10.8K
28.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.75MGA 78.6K
$15.25MGA 63.9K
22.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.81MGA 20.1K
$4.37MGA 18.3K
10.07%
Cappuccino
$1.29MGA 5,423
$1.16MGA 4,865
11.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06MGA 4,431
$0.69MGA 2,875
53.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MGA 2,493
$0.69MGA 2,887
-14.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.75MGA 3,136
$0.75MGA 3,139
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MGA 6,582
$1.13MGA 4,727
38.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12MGA 4,709
$0.98MGA 4,094
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09MGA 4,566
$0.64MGA 2,696
70.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.74MGA 3,112
$0.70MGA 2,933
5.71%
Eggs
$2.07MGA 8,662
$1.85MGA 7,745
11.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.33MGA 43.3K
$10.51MGA 44.1K
-1.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.55MGA 19.1K
$6.57MGA 27.6K
-30.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.42MGA 18.5K
$4.98MGA 20.9K
-11.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31MGA 5,509
$1.46MGA 6,139
-10.27%
Banana(1kg)
$0.59MGA 2,492
$0.87MGA 3,640
-32.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08MGA 4,515
$1.35MGA 5,673
-20.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.00MGA 4,188
$0.76MGA 3,204
31.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73MGA 3,060
$0.48MGA 2,004
52.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MGA 4,212
$0.69MGA 2,909
44.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34MGA 1,437
$0.35MGA 1,449
-2.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69MGA 2,904
$0.50MGA 2,111
38.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61MGA 10.9K
$1.79MGA 7,505
45.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.49MGA 23.0K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82MGA 3,437
$0.91MGA 3,815
-9.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28MGA 5,346
$1.13MGA 4,741
13.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.12MGA 491
$0.34MGA 1,440
-64.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92MGA 12.2K
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71MGA 7,157
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.39MGA 18.4K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23MGA 5,147
$1.07MGA 4,503
14.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.0KMGA 50.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KMGA 100.8M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.5MGA 245.4K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.69MGA 65.8K
$19.12MGA 80.2K
-17.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.42MGA 198.8K
$66.6MGA 279.1K
-28.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.55MGA 153.2K
$21.91MGA 91.9K
66.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34MGA 26.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.78MGA 28.4K
$6.86MGA 28.8K
-1.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.2MGA 302.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KMGA 48.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.63MGA 128.4K
$8.98MGA 37.7K
241.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.63MGA 124.2K
$6.47MGA 27.1K
357.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.8MGA 326.3K
$54.7MGA 229.4K
42.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3MGA 320.0K
$36.94MGA 154.9K
106.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$382MGA 1.6M
$135MGA 566.0K
183.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.8MGA 326.0K
$55.7MGA 233.6K
39.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584MGA 2.4M
$453MGA 1.9M
29.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$436MGA 1.8M
$133MGA 558.1K
227.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$699MGA 2.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$587MGA 2.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antananarivo
Toamasina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$122MGA 509.7K
$143MGA 599.1K
-14.93%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Toamasina: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Antananarivo versus $135 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 18% 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: $151 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 $857 per month in Antananarivo and $644 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 Toamasina?
Groceries cost about 5% 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 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 $571 in Antananarivo and $429 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