Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Ambatolampy Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Ambatolampy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $572 in Mahajanga versus $485 in Ambatolampy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $848 in Mahajanga versus $723 in Ambatolampy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,124 in Mahajanga versus $960 in Ambatolampy.

Living in Mahajanga is roughly 18% more expensive than in Ambatolampy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mahajanga 59% lower, Ambatolampy 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 MGA 8,832

$2.81 MGA 12.2K

-27.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 MGA 81.1K

$10.57 MGA 45.8K

77.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 MGA 25.4K

Cappuccino

$0.73 MGA 3,167

$1.72 MGA 7,462

-57.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MGA 4,207

$0.84 MGA 3,627

15.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MGA 3,936

$0.47 MGA 2,018

93.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 MGA 4,613

$1.01 MGA 4,382

4.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 MGA 6,911

$2.38 MGA 10.3K

-33.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MGA 6,070

$0.84 MGA 3,640

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MGA 3,655

$1.03 MGA 4,469

-18.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,681

$0.75 MGA 3,242

-17.33%

Eggs

$2.26 MGA 9,775

$2.06 MGA 8,921

9.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.88 MGA 29.8K

$8.80 MGA 38.1K

-21.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 MGA 29.7K

$4.54 MGA 19.7K

50.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.77 MGA 16.3K

$4.95 MGA 21.4K

-23.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 MGA 5,155

$1.14 MGA 4,939

4.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,904

$0.56 MGA 2,441

19.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,109

$1.05 MGA 4,549

-31.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,883

$0.89 MGA 3,871

-24.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,301

$0.58 MGA 2,493

-8.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 MGA 2,451

$0.96 MGA 4,153

-40.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,469

$0.32 MGA 1,406

6.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MGA 2,430

$0.73 MGA 3,169

-23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.64 MGA 7,124

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 MGA 39.9K

$5.23 MGA 22.7K

75.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MGA 3,640

$1.06 MGA 4,577

-20.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MGA 4,120

$1.91 MGA 8,265

-50.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MGA 992

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 MGA 15.3K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 MGA 8,925

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 MGA 20.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MGA 5,975

$0.84 MGA 3,635

64.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$12.3K MGA 53.2M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K MGA 115.7M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$46.01 MGA 199.4K

$77.5 MGA 335.8K

-40.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.17 MGA 31.1K

$17.12 MGA 74.2K

-58.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.57 MGA 102.1K

$58.0 MGA 251.3K

-59.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.43 MGA 79.9K

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 MGA 25.4K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$26.15 MGA 113.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K MGA 65.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.19 MGA 130.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.97 MGA 121.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.2 MGA 338.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 MGA 309.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 MGA 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 MGA 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 MGA 3.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MGA 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.75

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

Last update for Mahajanga: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ambatolampy: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Mahajanga vs $11.00 in Ambatolampy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $145 per month, with Ambatolampy cheaper across the board.

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

Mahajanga vs Ambatolampy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambatolampy wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Mahajanga. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambatolampy the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $857 in Mahajanga and $727 in Ambatolampy to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $572 per month in Mahajanga versus $485 in Ambatolampy – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Mahajanga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ambatolampy gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Ambatolampy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Mahajanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.