Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Toamasina Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Toamasina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $377 per month in Mahajanga vs $429 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $709 per month in Mahajanga vs $694 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,041 per month in Mahajanga vs $960 in Toamasina, rent included.

Mahajanga is about 12% cheaper than Toamasina, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mahajanga and Toamasina are more affordable than the global median – Mahajanga 72% lower, Toamasina 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 MGA 8,249

$2.59 MGA 10.8K

-23.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.84 MGA 74.8K

$15.25 MGA 63.9K

16.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.37 MGA 18.3K

Cappuccino

$0.69 MGA 2,880

$1.16 MGA 4,865

-40.52%

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

$0.86 MGA 3,595

$0.69 MGA 2,875

24.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 MGA 3,666

$0.69 MGA 2,887

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 MGA 4,294

$0.75 MGA 3,139

36.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MGA 6,586

$1.13 MGA 4,727

38.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 MGA 4,390

$0.98 MGA 4,094

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 MGA 2,496

$0.64 MGA 2,696

-6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 MGA 2,552

$0.70 MGA 2,933

-12.86%

Eggs

$1.91 MGA 8,023

$1.85 MGA 7,745

3.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.52 MGA 27.3K

$10.51 MGA 44.1K

-37.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 MGA 22.3K

$6.57 MGA 27.6K

-19.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.32 MGA 13.9K

$4.98 MGA 20.9K

-33.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 MGA 3,825

$1.46 MGA 6,139

-37.67%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 MGA 2,404

$0.87 MGA 3,640

-34.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,188

$1.35 MGA 5,673

-43.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 MGA 2,100

$0.76 MGA 3,204

-34.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 MGA 2,092

$0.48 MGA 2,004

4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 MGA 1,885

$0.69 MGA 2,909

-34.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 MGA 1,675

$0.35 MGA 1,449

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MGA 2,444

$0.50 MGA 2,111

16.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.13 MGA 4,725

$1.79 MGA 7,505

-36.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.41 MGA 39.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 MGA 3,298

$0.91 MGA 3,815

-13.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,309

$1.13 MGA 4,741

-8.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 MGA 526

$0.34 MGA 1,440

-61.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.07 MGA 38.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 MGA 4,578

$1.07 MGA 4,503

1.87%

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

$43.80 MGA 183.6K

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

$6.62 MGA 27.7K

$19.12 MGA 80.2K

-65.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.07 MGA 92.5K

$66.6 MGA 279.1K

-66.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.06 MGA 75.7K

$21.91 MGA 91.9K

-17.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 MGA 28.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.98 MGA 37.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.47 MGA 27.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 MGA 229.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.94 MGA 154.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 MGA 1.4M

$135 MGA 566.0K

147.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 MGA 457.5K

$55.7 MGA 233.6K

95.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 MGA 2.8M

$453 MGA 1.9M

47.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 MGA 1.9M

$133 MGA 558.1K

234.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$143 MGA 599.1K

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

Last update for Mahajanga: June 1, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $334 in Mahajanga 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga versus $15.00 in Toamasina. Groceries tell a different story – $132 in Mahajanga vs $145 in Toamasina – so Mahajanga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Toamasina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toamasina costs about 14% more than Mahajanga, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $566 per month in Mahajanga and $644 in Toamasina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahajanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $377 in Mahajanga and $429 in Toamasina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Toamasina, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $377 in Mahajanga and $429 in Toamasina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mahajanga – 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 Mahajanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toamasina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.