🙂A single person spends $298 per month in Antsiranana vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $596 per month in Antsiranana vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $893 per month in Antsiranana vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Antsiranana is about 76% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Antsiranana and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Antsiranana78% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57MGA 6,775
$11.72MX$204
-86.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.48MGA 66.8K
$41.89MX$731
-63.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.51MX$183
-
Cappuccino
$1.13MGA 4,883
$3.59MX$62.5
-68.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51MX$26.31
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.92MX$15.96
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.19MGA 5,114
$2.96MX$51.6
-59.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.41MX$76.9
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60MGA 6,905
$1.40MX$24.35
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.88MX$32.87
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81MGA 3,490
$1.56MX$27.19
-48.08%
Eggs
$3.25MGA 14.0K
$2.61MX$45.50
24.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.50MGA 75.5K
$8.32MX$145
110.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.90MGA 34.1K
$8.35MX$146
-5.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.86MX$189
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.71MX$47.31
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.51MX$26.25
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16MGA 4,991
$1.87MX$32.67
-37.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MGA 6,798
$2.19MX$38.19
-27.85%
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.86MX$32.40
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.23MX$38.90
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.07MX$18.63
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64MGA 2,766
$1.09MX$18.94
-41.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83MGA 7,875
$4.19MX$73.0
-56.32%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.43MX$182
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MGA 2,651
$1.66MX$28.91
-63.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66MGA 11.5K
$2.61MX$45.56
1.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23MGA 995
$0.54MX$9.45
-57.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$456
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.08MX$53.7
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.40MX$41.94
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.82MGA 29.4K
$3.13MX$54.5
117.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MGA 5,813
$1.31MX$22.87
3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.3KMX$406.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$81.3MX$1,418
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.40MGA 96.6K
$22.56MX$393
-0.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0MGA 250.1K
$30.05MX$524
92.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.27MGA 57.2K
$52.9MX$923
-74.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.92MX$85.8
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$201MX$3,502
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,175MX$90.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$35.92MX$627
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.13MX$700
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$79.7MX$1,390
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.39MGA 152.7K
$86.5MX$1,508
-59.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$978MX$17.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$470MX$8,206
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$334MGA 1.4M
$1,651MX$28.8K
-79.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$224MGA 965.1K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-81.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$115.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antsiranana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antsiranana: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Antsiranana versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $252 – making Antsiranana 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
Antsiranana vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Antsiranana and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $298 in Antsiranana, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 322% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Antsiranana compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $448 per month in Antsiranana and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Antsiranana and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Antsiranana or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $298 in Antsiranana and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Antsiranana, where all-in costs run around $298, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Antsiranana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Antsiranana and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $298 in Antsiranana to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Antsiranana and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Antsiranana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Antsiranana vs other spots: cost of living compared