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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $572 per month in Mahajanga vs $471 in Toamasina, rent included.

A couple spends around $848 per month in Mahajanga vs $762 in Toamasina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,124 per month in Mahajanga vs $1,053 in Toamasina, rent included.

Mahajanga costs about 21% more than Toamasina, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mahajanga and Toamasina are more affordable than the global median – Mahajanga 59% lower, Toamasina 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 MGA 8,832

$2.23 MGA 9,655

-8.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 MGA 81.1K

$16.56 MGA 71.8K

12.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 MGA 19.7K

Cappuccino

$0.73 MGA 3,167

$1.17 MGA 5,090

-37.61%

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

$0.97 MGA 4,207

$0.78 MGA 3,364

24.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MGA 3,936

$0.56 MGA 2,412

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 MGA 4,613

$1.04 MGA 4,493

1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 MGA 6,911

$1.37 MGA 5,915

16.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MGA 6,070

$1.02 MGA 4,419

37.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MGA 3,655

$0.72 MGA 3,116

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,681

$0.97 MGA 4,189

-36.08%

Eggs

$2.26 MGA 9,775

$1.96 MGA 8,503

15.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.88 MGA 29.8K

$12.56 MGA 54.4K

-45.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 MGA 29.7K

$7.16 MGA 31.0K

-4.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.77 MGA 16.3K

$5.44 MGA 23.6K

-30.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 MGA 5,155

$1.65 MGA 7,133

-27.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,904

$1.40 MGA 6,070

-52.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MGA 3,109

$1.67 MGA 7,241

-56.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 MGA 2,883

$0.69 MGA 2,977

-2.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,301

$0.66 MGA 2,846

-19.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 MGA 2,451

$0.53 MGA 2,307

7.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,469

$0.37 MGA 1,582

-8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MGA 2,430

$0.48 MGA 2,080

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 MGA 8,111

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 MGA 39.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MGA 3,640

$0.90 MGA 3,881

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MGA 4,120

$1.13 MGA 4,912

-15.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MGA 992

$0.33 MGA 1,451

-30.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MGA 5,975

$1.20 MGA 5,203

15.00%

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

$46.01 MGA 199.4K

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

$7.17 MGA 31.1K

$33.45 MGA 144.9K

-78.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.57 MGA 102.1K

$70.5 MGA 305.4K

-66.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.43 MGA 79.9K

$23.18 MGA 100.4K

-20.49%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 MGA 30.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.27 MGA 40.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.11 MGA 30.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 MGA 250.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.47 MGA 171.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 MGA 1.5M

$140 MGA 605.4K

148.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 MGA 1.2M

$57.3 MGA 248.2K

382.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 MGA 3.1M

$468 MGA 2.0M

50.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MGA 2.0M

$140 MGA 608.0K

230.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$139 MGA 603.2K

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

Last update for Mahajanga: September 7, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $347 in Mahajanga versus $140 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 $19.00 in Mahajanga versus $17.00 in Toamasina. Groceries tell a different story – $152 in Mahajanga vs $163 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

Mahajanga costs about 21% more than Toamasina, 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 $857 per month in Mahajanga and $706 in Toamasina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Toamasina, 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 $572 in Mahajanga and $471 in Toamasina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Mahajanga – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $572 in Mahajanga and $471 in Toamasina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Toamasina – 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 Toamasina. 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.