Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Antsiranana

For one person, living is cheaper in Antsiranana: $299 a month against $543 in Mahajanga, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Mahajanga outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Jump to prices

Mahajanga

🇲🇬 Madagascar

$543

/mo nomad

Antsiranana

🇲🇬 Madagascar

$299

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mahajanga and in Antsiranana

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mahajanga and in Antsiranana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $543 per month in Mahajanga vs $299 in Antsiranana, rent included.

Mahajanga $543
Antsiranana $299

A couple spends around $801 per month in Mahajanga vs $601 in Antsiranana, rent included.

Mahajanga $801
Antsiranana $601

A family of three spends $1,058 per month in Mahajanga vs $902 in Antsiranana, rent included.

Mahajanga $1,058
Antsiranana $902

Mahajanga costs about 82% more than Antsiranana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Mahajanga and Antsiranana are more affordable than the global median – Mahajanga 60% lower, Antsiranana 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 MGA 8,937

$1.58 MGA 7,203

24.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.78 MGA 81.1K

$16.06 MGA 73.2K

10.71%

Cappuccino

$0.64 MGA 2,904

$1.09 MGA 4,978

-41.28%

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

$0.87 MGA 3,952

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 MGA 3,888

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 MGA 4,695

$1.20 MGA 5,483

-14.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MGA 7,183

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MGA 6,187

$1.55 MGA 7,085

-12.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 MGA 3,856

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 MGA 2,906

$0.89 MGA 4,042

-28.09%

Eggs

$2.18 MGA 9,954

$3.14 MGA 14.3K

-30.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.58 MGA 30.0K

$17.21 MGA 78.5K

-61.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 MGA 31.1K

$7.76 MGA 35.4K

-12.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.50 MGA 16.0K

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 MGA 5,122

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 MGA 2,663

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 MGA 3,140

$2.79 MGA 12.7K

-75.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 MGA 3,112

$1.50 MGA 6,830

-54.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 MGA 2,229

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 MGA 2,326

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 MGA 1,452

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MGA 2,430

$0.67 MGA 3,064

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 MGA 8,185

Wine (Bottle)

$8.69 MGA 39.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 MGA 3,480

$0.57 MGA 2,609

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 MGA 3,878

$2.72 MGA 12.4K

-68.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 MGA 999

$0.23 MGA 1,053

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.63 MGA 30.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MGA 6,127

$1.33 MGA 6,058

0.75%

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

$44.85 MGA 204.6K

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

$6.67 MGA 30.4K

$22.20 MGA 101.3K

-69.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.21 MGA 101.3K

$57.3 MGA 261.2K

-61.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.94 MGA 81.8K

$13.46 MGA 61.4K

33.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.06 MGA 164.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 MGA 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MGA 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$659 MGA 3.0M

$331 MGA 1.5M

99.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 MGA 2.0M

$220 MGA 1.0M

101.58%

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

Last update for Mahajanga: October 18, 2026

Last update for Antsiranana: October 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga versus $16.00 in Antsiranana. Groceries tell a different story – $146 in Mahajanga vs $157 in Antsiranana – so Mahajanga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇲🇬 Mahajanga

🇲🇬 Antsiranana

🕒 Local time

13:53 1:53 PM

Same time as Mahajanga

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

246,022

129,320

💱 Currency

Malagasy Ariary MGA Ar

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 MGA = 2.19 USD

10,000 MGA = 1.95 EUR

10,000 MGA = 2.19 USD

10,000 MGA = 1.95 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Mahajanga Antsiranana 500 km

From you

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Antsiranana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $543 in Mahajanga, $299 in Antsiranana – roughly 82% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $815 per month in Mahajanga and $448 in Antsiranana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga and $16.00 in Antsiranana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $543 in Mahajanga and $299 in Antsiranana. That's a gap of about 82%.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $543 in Mahajanga and $299 in Antsiranana, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Antsiranana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Antsiranana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mahajanga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.