Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Antsirabe Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Antsirabe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $572 in Mahajanga versus $466 in Antsirabe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $848 in Mahajanga versus $715 in Antsirabe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,124 in Mahajanga versus $965 in Antsirabe.

Living in Mahajanga is roughly 23% more expensive than in Antsirabe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mahajanga 59% lower, Antsirabe 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 MGA 8,832

$1.14 MGA 4,940

78.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 MGA 81.1K

$16.12 MGA 69.8K

16.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.97 MGA 25.9K

Cappuccino

$0.73 MGA 3,167

$1.36 MGA 5,899

-46.32%

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

$0.97 MGA 4,207

$0.79 MGA 3,408

22.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MGA 3,936

$0.46 MGA 1,997

97.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 MGA 4,613

$1.05 MGA 4,555

0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 MGA 6,911

$2.27 MGA 9,847

-29.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MGA 6,070

$0.97 MGA 4,203

44.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MGA 3,655

$1.03 MGA 4,457

-18.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,681

$0.74 MGA 3,194

-16.22%

Eggs

$2.26 MGA 9,775

$2.14 MGA 9,285

5.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.88 MGA 29.8K

$8.85 MGA 38.3K

-22.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 MGA 29.7K

$4.50 MGA 19.5K

52.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.77 MGA 16.3K

$4.87 MGA 21.1K

-22.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 MGA 5,155

$1.13 MGA 4,893

5.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,904

$0.57 MGA 2,450

17.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,109

$1.03 MGA 4,465

-30.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,883

$0.84 MGA 3,654

-20.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,301

$0.57 MGA 2,473

-7.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 MGA 2,451

$0.96 MGA 4,180

-40.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,469

$0.35 MGA 1,523

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MGA 2,430

$0.45 MGA 1,947

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.59 MGA 6,895

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 MGA 39.9K

$5.10 MGA 22.1K

80.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MGA 3,640

$1.02 MGA 4,399

-17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MGA 4,120

$1.90 MGA 8,250

-50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MGA 992

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 MGA 14.9K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 MGA 9,210

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.71 MGA 20.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MGA 5,975

$1.17 MGA 5,052

17.95%

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

$12.1K MGA 52.5M

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

$26.0K MGA 112.7M

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

$46.01 MGA 199.4K

$76.5 MGA 331.3K

-39.82%

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

$7.17 MGA 31.1K

$17.50 MGA 75.8K

-59.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.57 MGA 102.1K

$57.7 MGA 250.0K

-59.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.43 MGA 79.9K

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 MGA 25.1K

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

$25.69 MGA 111.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K MGA 65.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.96 MGA 129.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.66 MGA 124.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MGA 345.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 MGA 307.5K

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 Antsirabe: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Mahajanga vs $16.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $142 per month, with Antsirabe 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 Antsirabe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Antsirabe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $857 in Mahajanga and $699 in Antsirabe 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Mahajanga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Antsirabe – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $19.00 in Mahajanga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Antsirabe 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.

Safety-wise, Mahajanga and Antsirabe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Antsirabe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Mahajanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.