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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $387 per month in Mahajanga vs $436 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $720 per month in Mahajanga vs $696 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,052 per month in Mahajanga vs $957 in Toamasina, rent included.

Mahajanga is about 11% cheaper than Toamasina, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mahajanga and Toamasina are more affordable than the global median – Mahajanga 71% lower, Toamasina 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 MGA 8,677

$2.59 MGA 11.1K

-22.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.10 MGA 77.6K

$15.45 MGA 66.3K

17.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 MGA 19.5K

Cappuccino

$0.68 MGA 2,931

$1.16 MGA 4,982

-41.38%

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

$0.92 MGA 3,962

$0.67 MGA 2,887

37.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MGA 3,773

$0.74 MGA 3,191

18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 MGA 4,398

$0.77 MGA 3,285

33.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 MGA 6,790

$1.10 MGA 4,703

43.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 MGA 4,636

$0.99 MGA 4,261

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 MGA 2,522

$0.68 MGA 2,933

-13.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.57 MGA 2,437

$0.64 MGA 2,758

-10.94%

Eggs

$1.91 MGA 8,212

$1.91 MGA 8,186

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.76 MGA 29.0K

$10.77 MGA 46.2K

-37.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MGA 22.3K

$6.59 MGA 28.3K

-20.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.30 MGA 14.1K

$5.09 MGA 21.8K

-35.17%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 MGA 4,173

$1.43 MGA 6,129

-32.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 MGA 2,515

$0.80 MGA 3,445

-26.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 MGA 3,301

$1.32 MGA 5,659

-41.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 MGA 2,178

$0.77 MGA 3,289

-33.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 MGA 2,152

$0.49 MGA 2,082

2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 MGA 2,038

$0.69 MGA 2,977

-30.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 MGA 1,845

$0.35 MGA 1,486

22.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MGA 2,734

$0.49 MGA 2,119

30.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.09 MGA 4,658

$1.80 MGA 7,699

-39.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.35 MGA 40.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 MGA 3,527

$0.89 MGA 3,838

-7.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 MGA 4,204

$1.13 MGA 4,836

-13.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 MGA 639

$0.32 MGA 1,355

-53.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.05 MGA 38.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 MGA 4,878

$1.12 MGA 4,811

1.79%

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

$43.84 MGA 188.0K

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

$6.78 MGA 29.1K

$19.19 MGA 82.3K

-64.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.52 MGA 96.6K

$66.1 MGA 283.5K

-65.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.61 MGA 75.5K

$22.00 MGA 94.3K

-19.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 MGA 29.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.67 MGA 37.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.81 MGA 29.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.4 MGA 242.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.59 MGA 156.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 MGA 1.5M

$132 MGA 566.9K

156.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 MGA 475.1K

$56.6 MGA 242.6K

95.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$664 MGA 2.8M

$442 MGA 1.9M

50.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 MGA 1.9M

$133 MGA 570.3K

240.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$141 MGA 603.7K

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

Last update for Mahajanga: July 13, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Mahajanga versus $132 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 – $133 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 12% 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 $581 per month in Mahajanga and $653 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 $387 in Mahajanga and $436 in Toamasina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $387 in Mahajanga and $436 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.